Cohen Announces $702K for Memphis Seedco to Help Families in Need, Reduce Poverty

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today announced that Memphis Seedco will receive $702,746 to help families in need and reduce poverty as part of the inaugural 2010 grant-selection process for the Social Innovation Fund of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

“With these new funds, hundreds of Memphis families will get the help they need to weather these tough economic times,” said Congressman Cohen. “Seedco has a great track record of helping low-income families in need. Seedco’s extensive experience and expertise in economic development will help our city’s most vulnerable residents tremendously.”

The Social Innovation Fund is a new initiative established under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act intended to benefit communities by growing nonprofit organizations in communities throughout the United States that are achieving real results with evidence of impact. The Fund will deploy $50 million to proven intermediary grant-making organizations who can then leverage the federal investment to generate millions more in funding to invest in high-impact local nonprofits working in three key issue areas – economic opportunity, healthy futures, and youth development and school support.

The inaugural class of 11grantees are intermediary grant-making organizations selected through a rigorous process involving 60 external experts. One of those selected, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, has selected Seedco as a subgrantee for their outstanding work in their field.

Seedco will work with Porter-Leath and Urban Strategies to offer a conditional cash transfer program to 600 low-income families in Memphis, Tennessee. Seedco will build on its expertise serving TANF and SNAP recipients to offer cash incentives, case management, workshops, and service referrals to participating families.

Through the national EarnBenefits program, Seedco helps low-wage workers and their families enhance their income by connecting to existing public benefits such as child care, health insurance, tax credits, as well as other supportive services. In 2010, through EarnBenefits, Seedco helped clients throughout Shelby County access more than $4.1 million in benefits that would have otherwise gone unutilized.

Seedco is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City that advances economic opportunity for people, businesses and communities in need. Founded in 1987, Seedco designs and implements innovative programs and services for workers, families, and businesses. The group advances community economic development through workforce development, work and family supports, and community finance and small business services.