Bridges to Prosperity

Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) is a United States–based nonprofit organization that partners with local governments to connect communities via pedestrian trailbridges, in addition to providing technical assistance and resource mobilization.

The trailbridges are built to unlock opportunity, expand the reach of other development interventions, and ultimately eliminate poverty caused by rural isolation..[6] Bridges to Prosperity was established by Kenneth Frantz in 2001, after seeing a photo in National Geographic Magazine of a broken bridge over the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia, with ten men on either side of the broken span pulling themselves across the chasm by rope.

Rural roads, for example, can help prevent maternal deaths through timely access to childbirth-related care, boost girls' enrollment in school, and increase and diversify farmers' income by connecting them to markets.

Bridges to Prosperity partners with local governments and community leaders to develop, enable, and advocate for national infrastructure programs that acknowledge the needs of rural populations.

To help effect this system change approach, Bridges to Prosperity is furthering the following three initiatives as outlined in the organization's strategic plan: 1) gather the evidence supporting efficacy and efficiency of safe access as a fulcrum for rural development; 2) create collective action to elevate rural transport on the development agenda; and 3) support governments with technical assistance best practices and the capacity to make smart infrastructure investments.

Bridges to Prosperity provides co-branded bridge-building opportunities for companies around the world, ranging from financial services firms to construction industry giants.

By 2019 over 50 industry partners included Parsons Corporation, COWI, Alridge, Berger Charitable Foundation, Balfour Beatty, Europengineers, Institution of Civil Engineers, Kiewit, Michael Baker, NSBA, Railroad Construction Co, Thornton Tomasetti, WSP, American Bridge, Arup, Bechtel, Burohappold, FHECOR, HDR, Freyssinet, IBT, Knights Brown, KPFF, McNary Bergeron, Mott MacDonald, PCL, Price & Myers, Ramboll Fonden, Tony Gee, Traylor Bros, Walsh, and Weston & Sampson.

[7] The partnerships with local Rotary clubs allow quick customs clearance of wire rope imports and expedited business contacts and allow USA-based Rotarians to easily travel and participate in schemes as well as adding defense against potential corruption.

Support from former CEO Avery Bang's alma mater, the University of Iowa engineering school, and non-profit Continental Crossings[16] has led the construction of three additional bridges.

Children crossing a new trailbridge built with Bridges to Prosperity in El Salvador
Men pull each other across the Blue Nile River by rope prior to Bridges to Prosperity building a new bridge.
New Blue Nile River suspended bridge completed in 2009 serves over 10,000 rural Ethiopians.
Team members celebrate completion of Bosque, El Salvador bridge.
Bridges to Prosperity footbridge in Chaypara, central Peru
University of Iowa (Continental Crossing) engineering school footbridge in Honduras
Former CEO Avery Bang in 2018