South Dallas, particularly the Bonton neighborhood, continues to face significant challenges related to income, health, and education. The median family income in Bonton is $24,539, with more than 32 percent of residents living below the poverty line. Chronic disease rates are among the highest in Dallas County, and life expectancy for residents is the lowest in the area.
Capital One has announced ongoing investments aimed at improving conditions in South Dallas. The company’s efforts focus on expanding job access, supporting education initiatives, revitalizing communities, increasing affordable housing options, promoting small businesses, and advancing financial well-being. Capital One uses both community engagement and financing tools such as the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program to support local organizations.
One key partnership is with Bonton Farms. Originally a small garden project, Bonton Farms now includes two farms, a market, a café, and a coffee house. The organization addresses seven essential needs: transportation, education, financial resources, community support, health services, economic stability, and housing.
Capital One has supported Bonton Farms through grants and volunteer work by its associates. In recent years, discussions between Capital One associates and Bonton Farms led to using NMTCs for developing a new Wellness Center. "Capital One is proud not only to have helped make this vision a reality, but also to have guided the organization toward more financing opportunities which turned their plans into action," according to the company.
The new 11,000-square-foot Health and Wellness Center offers healthcare services, nutrition programs, financial education workshops, workforce training opportunities for over 7,000 low-income residents annually. It also features a financial resource hub and maker-space for entrepreneurship and trade skills development. An $8 million NMTC investment from Capital One supports both infrastructure improvements and programming at the center.
St. Philip’s School and Community Center is another long-standing institution in South Dallas that provides education and additional services to nearly 300 students each year. Its programs include food pantries, arts initiatives, athletics activities for residents facing high poverty rates and unemployment.
Capital One’s relationship with St. Philip’s includes unique contributions such as donating beehives from its North Dallas campus for environmental science programs; honey produced by these bees is distributed through St. Philip’s food pantry.
With support from Capital One and NMTC funding totaling $16 million for this project alone—St. Philip’s will expand its facilities with new instructional spaces for arts instruction; digital design labs; culinary arts studios; dance studios; expanded food pantry operations; plus an arts pavilion available for community events outside regular school hours.
Additionally,"The center will also lease space for a medical clinic operated by Baylor Scott & White Health creating a new hub for health and wellness in the neighborhood." Construction began in September 2024 with completion expected by December 2025.
According to Capital One,"The New Markets Tax Credit program is a powerful tool for community development catalyzing projects that might not otherwise happen in under-resourced neighborhoods." Over the past decade,the company has invested more than $250 million across 18 different NMTC projects throughout Dallas-Fort Worth—including nine projects specifically within South Dallas neighborhoods.
"With continued investment partnership,and innovation South Dallas can be a place where every resident has the opportunity to thrive.Capital One remains committed to supporting the organizations leaders,and dreams that will shape the community’s future."