(Header photo shared via the City of Young Harris, Ga.)
From 2023 through 2025, the National League of Cities has partnered with municipalities nationwide to accelerate economic mobility at the local level through the Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program. This initiative provided targeted funding and technical assistance to help cities and towns implement practical solutions that improve residents’ economic mobility. Participating municipalities of all sizes nationwide worked with NLC and other key partners over a six-month span. As the 2025 Rapid Grant cohort has ended, several insights emerge from our rural cohort communities throughout the years.
Pinedale, Wyo.: Maximizing Resources Through Efficient Systems
The Town of Pinedale, Wyo. (pop. 2,005) utilized their rapid grant funds to transition from a fully paper-based permitting workflow to a streamlined digital system designed to increase transparency, reduce administrative errors and free limited staff capacity.
Prior to the grant, the town utilized a process that relied on hard copies and a massive tracking spreadsheet managed by the Planning Department. As a result, permits of all sizes, from fences to multi-million-dollar commercial projects, moved through the same manual pipeline, requiring constant case management to address issues such as missing forms and payments. Town officials noted upward of $100,000 in outstanding fees that had not been collected as part of the final step of the permitting process.
With the new digital permitting portal, Pinedale residents and businesses receive immediate status updates on their permits and reminders on outstanding tasks and fees. This transparency in the process for both parties creates a more predictable experience for applicants and a more efficient system for the town. Leveraging the rapid grant and NLC’s engagement, the Town of Pinedale is now piloting this system so that other Wyoming communities with similar staffing and capacity constraints can adopt it as well.
For Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock, this work has opened new potential: “For a small town, every hour of staff time matters. Digitizing permitting is reducing friction for residents and freed capacity so we can focus on other priorities that improve daily life. This grant didn’t just modernize a process — it opened the door for more predictable growth and better service delivery, not only in Pinedale but for other Wyoming communities that face similar challenges.”
Young Harris, Ga.: Meeting Multiple Community Audiences
Home to and named in conjunction with Young Harris College, the City of Young Harris, Ga. (pop. 1,098) features a large percentage of college students in its population.
In addition, according to city officials, Young Harris College owns a significant amount of the city’s footprint. Therefore, any economic mobility work focused on Young Harris needed to bring college students and other residents together.
For their economic mobility rapid grant program, city leaders convened two separate cohorts each offering four specialized financial literacy and empowerment courses from local experts. One cohort focused on freshmen at Young Harris College, while the second specifically targeted non-college residents. After completing all four courses, participants received a $200 incentive. Leveraging the incentives, the city “graduated” 40 freshmen with an additional 20 residents completing the four courses. Through the rapid grant program, the long-term impacts are just as important as the short-term ones.
Speaking on the importance of this program, Young Harris Mayor Andrea Gibby noted: “Financial literacy is about investing in personal and family stability. We should be teaching this in schools. The lack of knowledge creates fear and a deficit in long-term planning. This program is not just about having a house but about creating lasting wealth that helps families thrive. When families thrive, so do communities. The city is excited to continue the program past our engagement with NLC to continue to help our city and its residents prosper.”
Chester, Ark. & Linden, Ala.: Staying Rooted in Local Communities
For communities of all sizes, taking inspiration from the local area helps bring economic mobility into focus. Moving from theory to practical application in the betterment of the lives of residents represents the importance of economic mobility at the local level.
The Town of Chester, Ark. (pop. 144), a 2024 Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant cohort municipality, launched a Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative that blended financial empowerment courses with mental health and childcare services. At the conclusion of the 12-week course, three participants started their own co-op to create and sell local Arkansan crafts such as clay tiles and forged knives.
Another 2024 Rapid Grant recipient, the City of Linden, Ala. (pop. 1,930), pioneered a series of three financial empowerment events focused on 35 local high school students and their families. With each event featuring a specific theme, such as banking and saving or career readiness, the participants and their families were able to create a more dynamic and family-centered approach to their financial literacy work. As Linden Mayor Gwendolyn Rogers put it: “Our young people are the foundation of Linden’s future, and when we invest in them, and their families, we are building a stronger, more financially secure community for everyone, this program shows what’s possible when a city comes together with purpose and heart.”
Join NLC’s Economic Mobility Peer Network
If you’re interested in exploring economic mobility topics further, join the Economic Mobility Peer Network! This no-cost, municipal-focused network is a great way for you to learn more about economic mobility through monthly engagements, resource sharing and more!
About the Author
From the Event: How Rural Community Leaders Are Creating Opportunity
From the Event: Opportunity Zones: What Cities Need to Know
Three Things to Know Video Series: February 2026
Making the Case for Skills-Based City Governments
Aligned Action for Housing Solutions Livestream
