Immediate Release
Lauderhill, FL
February 9, 2026

Lauderhill Selected by The National League of Cities' for Second Phase Grant to Boost Economic Growth and Resilience

Lauderhill, FL (January 23, 2026) — The City of Lauderhill is proud to announce that it was selected to participate in the next phase of the Southern Cities Economic Initiative (SCEI), a program led by the National League of Cities (NLC). The City of Lauderhill was awarded a second “implementation” grant from NLC through funding provided by SCEI’s philanthropic partners and will join 13 other cities from across the Southeastern United States to develop strategies that boost economic mobility for residents and drive long-term economic growth.

Participation in SCEI will support Lauderhill’s efforts through tailored technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, access to data and content experts from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta as well as connections to national funders and assistance to leverage longer-term funding. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta does not provide funding, nor did it participate in participant selection or decisions of grant funding of SCEI participants.

During the project’s initial planning phase, Lauderhill received a planning grant to support the foundational creation of the Build and Bloom incubator. These funds facilitated the development of a comprehensive business plan and the hosting of a community focus group, which gathered direct input from residents and entrepreneurs to help shape the program’s overall structure and layout.The implementation grant will be used to advance Lauderhill’s efforts in delivering the Build and Bloom incubator through cohort-based programming, workshops, and one-on-one support. Activities will focus on participant recruitment, program delivery, partner collaboration, and outcome tracking to ensure measurable impact and long-term sustainability.

Other cities selected to participate in the initiative include Atlanta, Ga.; Center Point, Ala.; Charlottesville, Va.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Greenville, Miss.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Jackson, Miss.; Jonesboro, Ga.; Little Rock, Ark.; Monroe, La.; Natchitoches, La.; New Orleans, La.; and Thomasville, N.C. 

"Lauderhill’s selection to join the Southern Cities Economic Initiative marks a pivotal step in empowering our residents and entrepreneurs with opportunity and growth. By leveraging targeted technical assistance, data-driven strategies, and the Build and Bloom incubator, we are building a pathway to lasting economic mobility and sustainable prosperity for our community.”  – Mayor Denise D. Grant

“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,” says NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony. “We are pleased to see this select group of 14 cities and work with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to build stronger, more resilient economies and create opportunities for all residents to thrive.”