The cities of Jackson and Greenville have each received a grant to boost their local economies and provide more access to affordable housing.
National League of Cities – a nonprofit municipal advocacy group – announced Tuesday that Jackson and Greenville were two of 14 cities advancing to the second phase of its Southern Cities Economic Initiative, which is a “concerted effort to boost economic opportunity and resilience at the local level.”
During the first phase, cities such as Jackson and Greenville worked with NLC to identify specific opportunities to boost economic resilience tailored to their communities. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta provided data and subject matter experts to help them throughout the phase.
Now in the implementation phase, NLC will distribute $700,000 in grants among the 14 selected cities, with each receiving between $30,000 and $60,000.
The second phase runs through December 2027.
Cities in addition to Jackson and Greenville that advanced were Atlanta, Ga.; Center Point, Ala.; Charlottesville, Va.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Jonesboro, Ga.; Lauderhill, Fla.; Little Rock, Ark.; Monroe, La.; Natchitoches, La.; and Thomasville, N.C.
“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,” NLC CEO and executive director Clarence E. Anthony said. “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.”
NLC’s Southern Cities Economic Initiative is made possible through support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Jackson and Greenville would each be receiving a $700,000 grant. Jackson, Greenville, and the other 12 selected cities are receiving part of a $700,000 grant pool provided by the National League of Cities.
