NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, State Rep. Tom Leatherwood, R-Arlington, State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, and State Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, today announced more than $8.5 million to expand access to high-quality digital opportunities in Shelby County.
The county will receive 11 separate grants as part of $101.6 million in overall funding administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD). This investment will provide broadband access and digital opportunity programs to more than 97,000 Tennesseans across 75 counties.
“Digital opportunity programs can be incredible resources to help Tennesseans succeed in today’s job market,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “This is a significant investment and we are grateful to TNECD for their work advancing digital skills training and workforce development in Shelby County.”
Several grants to Shelby County include Digital Skills, Education and Workforce (DSEW) program funds, which support a variety of training and education programs to advance digital skills and workforce development, creating a pipeline for well-paying digital jobs. Additional funding comes through the Connected Community Facilities (CCF) program, which supports the construction and renovation of spaces that offer services for digital advancement in workforce, health care and education.
Local grant recipients include:
- Street Ministries, Inc: $710,361 serving parts of Shelby County through the DSEW program
- Persevere, Inc: $990,640 serving parts of Shelby and five other counties through the DSEW program
- Gestalt Community Schools: $989,604 serving parts of Shelby County through the DSEW program
- CodeCrew: $130,230 serving parts of Shelby County through the DSEW program
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis: $1 million serving parts of Shelby County through the DSEW program
- National Independent Venue Foundation: $296,460 serving parts of Shelby and four other counties through the DSEW program
- Autism Possible: $293,724 serving parts of Shelby and 13 other counties through the DSEW program
- Memphis Equity Through Arts, Inc: $173,790 serving parts of Shelby County through the DSEW program
- Music Box Inc: $401,434 serving parts of Shelby County through the DSEW program
- Soulsville Foundation: $1,978,470 serving parts of Shelby County through the CCF program
- City of Memphis: $1,584,000 serving parts of Shelby County through the CCF program
TNECD’s most recent digital opportunity grants will benefit more than 3 million Tennesseans across 66 counties.
All grant recipients must complete their projects by Dec. 31, 2026.
Additional information about Tennessee’s broadband initiatives can be found here.
State Reps. John Gillespie of House District 97, Tom Leatherwood of House District 99, Kevin Vaughan of House District 95, and Mark White of House District 83 each represent part of Shelby County.