The City of Pensacola will host two open house events in August as part of its participation in the Southern Cities Economic Inclusion (SCEI) Cohort, a multi-year initiative designed to boost economic opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in the region.
Details: The first open house is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Sanders Beach Community Center, 913 S. I St. The second event will take place Tuesday, August 19, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Devillers Square, 321 N. Devilliers St.. Both events gather direct input from local business owners, identify existing support gaps, and strengthen connections among Pensacola’s business community.
- In addition to the open houses, the SCEI Cohort will host a Business Resource Breakfast Roundtable on Wednesday, August 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the J. Earle Bowden Building, 120 Church Street. This event will bring together Pensacola-area business resource organizations to share information about available services, identify collaboration opportunities, and address unmet needs in the business community.
The SCEI Cohort includes a diverse group of business leaders and support professionals from across the Pensacola area, with a local facilitator guiding discussions at each event.
BACKGROUND
Pensacola’s participation in these initiatives is part of the National League of Cities’ Southern Cities Economic Inclusion program, which supports cities across the Southern United States in developing strategies to enhance economic mobility and foster long-term economic growth. The city received a $15,000 planning grant through the SCEI initiative, which is funded by national philanthropic partners including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- Cohort Composition: 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), Pensacola (FL), Sunflower County (MS), and Thomasville (NC).
The current planning phase will run through October 31, after which participating cities may be selected to advance to a more intensive implementation phase extending through December 2027. Cities that advance to the implementation phase can receive additional grants of up to $60,000.
The Southern Cities Economic Inclusion Cohort operates in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and focuses on key areas including supporting small and minority-owned businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, strengthening the workforce, and expanding financial well-being for residents facing historic inequities.
- Previous SCEI participants have successfully implemented more inclusive procurement policies, adopted targeted approaches to policy development, and created direct engagement strategies to address racial and economic equity gaps.
Business owners and community members interested in participating in the upcoming events can attend any or all of the scheduled meetings. The initiative emphasizes collaborative learning and community input as essential components of developing effective, locally-tailored economic inclusion strategies.