NGIN INITIATIVES
Advancing Economic Mobility
Program Description
Through targeted technical assistance and funding, NGIN’s Advancing Economic Mobility (AEM) initiative equips local leaders with capital, technical assistance, data, and peer strategies to improve economic outcomes for low- and middle-income residents.
In 2023, AEM supported four organizations with technical assistance and project implementation grants, and spotlighted proven strategies from the Results for America Economic Mobility Catalog.
In 2024, the program expanded to six more communities, continuing to scale partnerships and solutions that drive upward mobility and strengthens partnerships between local governments and community-based organizations.
In addition, NGIN partnered with the Urban Institute to provide capacity-building support for 22 organizations to enhance awareness and implementation of the Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework, a resource that empowers local leaders to define priorities, drive action, and evaluate progress in creating conditions that foster upward mobility.
$260k+
in project implementation funding and technical assistance to participant cities
22+
organizations participated in training on economic mobility strategies, with ten sites also receiving direct funding to support implementation.
What is Economic Mobility?
Economic mobility is a combination of economic success, power and autonomy, and being valued within the community, as defined by the U.S. Partnership on Mobility from Poverty.
Watch How AEM is Powering Local Economic Mobility
See AEM’s impact at the local level—this video highlights the work of AEM orgs, Mini City in Atlanta and LISC Jacksonville, showcasing their efforts to expand access to services, prevent displacement, and strengthen collaboration with local government.
Participating AEM Cities
Cohort 1
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Clayton County Office of Economic Development: This entity serves as the leading office for Business Attraction, Expansion, Retention, Project Management, Site Selector Engagement, Prospect Interest and Small Business inquiries for Clayton County.
AEM Project Scope: Created a roadmap for a small business incubator and outreach plan in Clayton County. -
The Black Economic Leadership League of Rock Hill (B.E.L.L.): This organization exists to grow diverse and equitable business practices that promote the value of inclusive, innovative, progressive policies in economic growth and development, by fostering entrepreneurship, creating jobs, equitable distribution of city resources and leadership opportunities to help the City of Rock Hill achieve its goals.
AEM Project Scope: Advanced plans for an economic impact incubator to drive corridor revitalization in Rock Hill.
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Denkyem Co-op: This organization serves as a Social Purpose Corporation that provides access to affordable loans for locally owned businesses centered in lmi communities within the Seattle region.
AEM Project Scope: Built a fundraising strategy to grow community-based lending and staff capacity at Denkyem. -
Grow Greater Englewood: This organization is a social enterprise that works with residents and developers to create sustainable local food economies, green businesses, and land sovereignty to empower residents to create wellness and wealth.
AEM Project Scope: Launched the Ujima Hive, a shared hub for 10 local orgs advancing economic mobility in Englewood.
Cohort 2
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Mini City: Mini City enables cities, clinics, shelters, homeless care providers in their efforts to more efficiently assist, track and innovate for those they serve.
AEM Project Scope: Worked to scale a tech platform for unhoused residents by developing a kiosk deployment plan, creating a shareable analytics dashboard, and strengthening infrastructure to support government partnerships. -
CLTRE: Pronounced “culture”, CLTRE is a community development corporation designed to center culture as a way of life and showcase the locals and small-scale real estate projects that make neighborhoods unique.
AEM Project Scope: Led a place-based strategy to build community-owned real estate, support first-time homebuyers, and expand financial and business education programs. -
LISC Jacksonville: LISC Jacksonville is dedicated to transforming local neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity through funding initiatives and projects that promote neighborhood revitalization, family wealth creation, and community advocacy.
AEM Project Scope: Focused on reducing displacement by promoting estate planning and resolving heirs' property issues in high-risk neighborhoods through community-based outreach. -
Confronting Racism Coalition: The Confronting Racism Coalition is a group of volunteer residents in York, Pennsylvania, committed to creating a stronger York by promoting unity, inclusion, and opportunity.
AEM Project Scope: Designed an inclusive procurement training model for government and institutional partners to increase local sourcing and promote equitable economic development. -
Greater Topeka Partnership : The Greater Topeka Partnership serves as an umbrella agency comprised of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Topeka, Inc., GO Topeka and Visit Topeka. This organization supports the enhancement of economic development and quality of life in Topeka & Shawnee County.
AEM Project Scope: AEM Project: Developed a Prosperity Framework to guide local organizations and businesses in aligning with the City of Topeka’s economic development plan, Momentum 2027. -
The Black Founders Table: This organization aims to address the challenges and gaps that Black founders in Baltimore face within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
AEM Project Scope: Worked to improve access to government contracts for Black-owned businesses by creating a new pathway for founders to pilot tech solutions with the city.
More on Economic Mobility
Read the 2024 Report
Written by NGIN Advisor, Cuevas Peacock, this report outlines the activities and key findings of the AEM initiative over the duration of its three phases: the Identification and Prioritization of Public Goods, Dissemination of Public Goods and the Measurement and Evaluation of the comprehensive AEM.
Funded by the Gates Foundation
Advancing Economic Mobility (AEM) is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and plays a crucial role in assisting local economic leaders in fostering economic mobility for lower-to-middle-income (LMI) workers and residents through the utilization of data, tools, and resources.