Expanding Capacity, Building Resilience
Every day, municipal leaders across the South navigate complex economic challenges. Barriers such as limited job growth, restricted access to capital, and a lack of affordable housing make it difficult for cities to fully realize their economic potential. Natural disasters have further compounded these challenges, making recovery and sustainable progress even more difficult.
Despite these hurdles, the South is a region of remarkable strength, innovation, and resilience. By integrating strategic economic expansion efforts with broader community well-being initiatives, local leaders can build stronger, more resilient economies that support families, businesses and neighborhoods.
The Southern Cities Economic Initiative (SCEI) helps municipalities take actionable steps toward economic growth. Through a collaboration between National League of Cities and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta*, along with financial and strategic support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation, SCEI provides cities with tools and resources to implement sustainable strategies that lead to expanded economic opportunities for residents and small businesses.
*The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta does not provide funding, nor does it participate in participant selection or decisions of grant funding of SCEI participants.
The 2025 SCEI Cohort
The SCEI cohort cities — Atlanta, GA; Canton, GA; Center Point, AL; Charlottesville, VA; Fayetteville, AR; Greenville, MS; Harrisonburg, VA; Jacksonville, FL; Jackson, MS; Jonesboro, GA; Lauderhill, FL; Little Rock, AR; Monroe, LA; Morrisville, NC; Nashville, TN; Natchitoches, LA; New Orleans, LA; Pensacola, FL; Sunflower County, MS; and Thomasville, NC — have committed to developing and implementing strategies that foster local business growth, expand job opportunities, and strengthen economic resilience. With tailored support and collaboration from NLC, national experts, and peer municipalities, these cities are developing initiatives that can serve as models for cities nationwide.
Building on Past Success
“Thanks to SCEI, we were able to create the Builder’s Blueprint Program. This program expands opportunities for…our contractors and vendors. We are strengthening Chattanooga’s supplier diversity while creating critically needed economic opportunities.”
Mayor Tim Kelly, City of Chattanooga, TN
This effort is built on a previous iteration of SCEI that supported 15 southern cities between 2021 and 2024 to successfully launch economic initiatives, including:
- Expanding Small Business Support – Establishing new city departments focused on small business growth
- Enhancing Contracting Opportunities – Helping small, local businesses secure city contracts
- Leveraging Funding – Mobilizing millions in grants to support economic development
- Strengthening Workforce Initiatives – Launching youth employment programs in partnership with public school systems
- Increasing Access to Business Resources – Enacting legislation to expand services for disadvantaged business enterprises
More About SCEI
Want to learn more? Read this NLC brief, which highlights successes and experiences from past participating cities.
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