Jacksonville received a grant of $15,000 from NLC through funding by SCEI’s philanthropic partners and will join 19 other cities from across the Southern United States to develop strategies that boost economic mobility for residents and drive long-term economic growth.
SCEI programming includes tailored technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, access to data and experts from the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as connections to national funders and assistance to leverage longer-term funding—including an opportunity to apply for additional NLC grants of up to $60,000 and deeper assistance with strategy implementation.
Jacksonville’s grant will support the launch of the Family-Friendly Workplace Recognition Program, which will incentivize local employers to adopt policies that support working families—such as access to childcare, transportation benefits, and flexible scheduling. Businesses will be recognized through a certification system and offered technical assistance and resources to help them implement inclusive practices.
Other cities selected to participate in the initiative include Atlanta, Ga.; Canton, Ga.; Center Point, Ala.; Charlottesville, Va.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Greenville, Miss.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Jackson, Miss.; Jonesboro, Ga.; Lauderhill, Fla.; Little Rock, Ark.; Monroe, La.; Morrisville, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Natchitoches, La.; New Orleans, La.; Pensacola, Fla.; Sunflower County, Miss.; and Thomasville, N.C.
The Kids Hope Alliance (KHA) will administer the grant for the city.
SCEI’s initial planning phase will run through October 31, 2025. Upon completion of the planning phase, participating cities will have an opportunity to advance to a more intensive implementation phase, which extends through December 2027.
The initiative is made possible through the generous support of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Learn more at https://www.nlc.org/initiative/southern-cities-economic-inclusion-scei-expanding-capacity-building-resilience.
