Program Implementation Funding Will Drive Workforce Development, Small Business Growth, Entrepreneurship, Child Care Solutions, Local Business Incubation, Housing and Homeownership
Washington D.C. – National League of Cities has advanced 14 southern U.S. cities to a new phase of its Southern Cities Economic Initiative (SCEI), which is a concerted effort to boost economic opportunity and resilience at the local level. To kick off this second phase, “the implementation phase,” NLC is awarding more than $700,000 in grant funding to selected cities to support on-the-ground implementation of locally driven economic mobility strategies and programs.
During the first phase of the SCEI program, cities worked with NLC to identify specific opportunities to boost economic resilience tailored to their communities, with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta providing data and subject matter experts. Now, this new implementation phase will focus on putting those plans into action, thanks to funding from SCEI’s philanthropic partners. Cities will use their grant funds to support initiatives that support local workforce development, expand child care solutions, increase access to housing and homeownership, incubate nascent local businesses and create new pathways for entrepreneurship. This phase runs through December 2027.
“The South is a region of remarkable strength, innovation and resilience, and cities across the region are primed to overcome the barriers of limited job growth, access to capital and affordable housing,” says NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony. “We are pleased to see this select group of 14 cities work with us and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to build stronger, more resilient economies and create opportunities for all residents to thrive.”
Cities advancing to the implementation phase are Atlanta, Ga.; Center Point, Ala.; Charlottesville, Va.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Greenville, Miss.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Jackson, Miss.; Jonesboro, Ga.; Lauderhill, Fla.; Little Rock, Ark.; Monroe, La.; Natchitoches, La.; and Thomasville, N.C.
This initiative is made possible through the support of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta does not provide funding and did not participate in the selection process or grant funding decisions. Visit the Southern Cities Economic Initiative page to learn more.
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