Mayor D.C. Reeves is pleased to announce that Pensacola has been selected to participate in the Southern Cities Economic Initiative (SCEI), a program led by National League of Cities in partnership with Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Pensacola will receive 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.
Other cities selected to participate in the initiative include 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; Sunflower County, MS; and Thomasville, NC.
“One of the tenets of our Strategic Plan is ‘Thriving Innovation and Businesses,'” says Mayor Reeves. “This program will help us develop a program of support for small businesses and entrepreneurship efforts, with a focus on women and minorities. We appreciate the efforts of organizations like the National League of Cities and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta that recognize what we are trying to do within our city to help people succeed.”
“Local governments play a critical role in driving economic growth and expanding opportunities for all residents,” adds NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony. “The South has significant potential to lead on economic resilience and serve as a model for the nation. We are thrilled to collaborate with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on the Southern Cities Economic Initiative to provide the tools to build stronger, more resilient economies.”
SCEI’s initial planning phase will run through Oct. 31, 2025. Upon completion of the initial planning phase, participating cities will have an opportunity to advance to a more intensive implementation phase, which extends through December 2027.
This 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.
