In 2000 Merrill Lynch and The Greenlining Institute announced a $159 million, three-year initiative to encourage new investments, economic opportunities and home ownership in Asian Pacific, Latino and African-American communities in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay area.

The new program includes:

- $120 million in lending for small businesses in underserved areas,
- more than $15 million to promote and support affordable housing efforts,
- nearly $16 million to continue Merrill Lynch’s efforts to recruit and retain Financial Consultants to reach out to individuals and small businesses in traditionally underserved ethnic communities, and
- about $8 million for various outreach and educational programs to support businesses and non-profit organizations.