Initiative Has Helped More Than 900 Families Since Launch
(UCBJ) – The Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) has been recognized with a 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations for its Empower Upper Cumberland project, a program that pairs families with a Navigator who provides support for 12 to 24 months, helping identify benefit cliffs and connecting families to emergency gap funding when setbacks arise.
“Each year, the Impact Awards celebrate the remarkable work being done by regional development organizations to strengthen communities and improve quality of life,” said 2025-2026 NADO President Matthew Dolge, Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in North Carolina. “This year’s honorees demonstrate how strategic leadership, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to progress can create meaningful and lasting benefits across the country.”
The approach aims to help families advance financially without losing essential benefits.
“Families who remained engaged longer consistently experienced stronger outcomes, reinforcing that lasting progress is driven not only by the resources provided, but by trusted relationships, sustained support, and a coordinated community committed to helping families move forward,” according to a release.
NADO
The program has helped create more than 350 new childcare slots, while raising awareness around:
- Housing
- Healthcare access
- Workforce policy needs in the region
Empower has served more than 900 families. Numbers include:
- 474 families increased their income
- 89 reached self-sufficiency at or above 225 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
- Employment among participants rose from 68 percent to 78 percent
- 125 adults entered the workforce
- More than $9.2 million in annualized income growth reported
The NADO Impact Awards recognize regional development organizations for strengthening communities and economies.
For more information, visit https://www.nado.org/2026-impact-award-recipients/.
Copyright 2026 The Upper Cumberland Business Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Other stories you may want to check out:
