USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 25, No. 25
June 18, 2025
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
CITY OF PENSACOLA SELECTED FOR NATIONAL
LEAGUE OF CITIES GRANT PROGRAM
Photos courtesy of Visit Pensacola By Morgan Cole
M
ayor D.C. Reeves recently announced that the City of Pensacola was selected to participate in the Southern Cities Economic Initiative (SCEI), a program led by the National League of Cities (NLC) in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The SCEI is a grant and peerlearning program led by the NLC that aims to help Southern cities address economic challenges and drive long-term economic growth. SCEI provides selected cities with funding and technical assistance to help plan and implement sustainable strategies that lead to expanded economic opportunities for residents and small businesses.
“One of the tenets of our strategic plan is ‘Thriving Innovation and Businesses,'” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said. “This program will help us develop a program of support for small businesses and entrepreneurship efforts, with a focus on women and minorities.” As part of the initiative, the City of Pensacola will be awarded $15,000 from NLC through grant funding provided by SCEI’s philanthropic partners, joining 19 other competitively selected cities from across the Southern United States. As part of this three-year initiative, selected cities will explore innovative approaches to support small businesses in their communities, strengthen their local workforce and boost the financial well-being of residents.
“Local governments play a critical role in driving economic growth and expanding opportunities for all residents,” NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony said. “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 for the SCEI to provide the tools to build stronger, more resilient economies.” SCEI programming includes tailored technical assistance, access to data and experts from the Federal Reserve Bank, peer learning opportunities, connections to national funders and assistance to leverage longer-term funding. Selected cities will also have the opportunity to apply for additional NLC grants of
up to $60,000 for 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. With tailored support and collaboration from NLC, national experts and peer municipalities, these cities will develop initiatives that will serve as future models of success for other cities across the nation. “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,” Reeves said. SCEI’s initial planning phase will run through October 31. 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 effort is built on a previous iteration of SCEI that supported 15 southern cities between 2021 and 2024 in successfully launching 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 This initiative is made possible through the generous support of philanthropic partners, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. To learn more about the SCEI and the NLC, visit nlc.org. ■
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