A Stronger Path Forward: $35,000 Grant Invests in Women and Families

The First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) Foundation is proud to announce a $35,000 grant from the Women’s Fund of East Tennessee’s Strong Women, Strong Futures initiative to support women and families already participating in STRONG Families NETN.

The two-year grant, beginning August 31, 2026, will help current STRONG Families participants overcome financial barriers to post-secondary education, workforce training, and career advancement.

Helping Women Keep Moving Forward

 

STRONG Families supports low-income families across Northeast Tennessee through family-centered coaching, financial education, milestone incentives, parenting support, and connections to community resources. The program recognizes that financial instability is often connected to other challenges, and families may need support in several areas before they can fully pursue their educational and career goals.

For women participating in STRONG Families, education and workforce training can be an important step toward securing a stable career and providing long-term financial security for their families. However, tuition, certifications, and other education-related expenses can create barriers—particularly for women balancing work, parenting, and household responsibilities.

This grant will help address those barriers for families already enrolled in STRONG Families, providing additional support as participants work toward their individual goals.

“There is still a tremendous need among the women participating in STRONG Families for support that helps them pursue educational opportunities and build sustainable careers,” said Leslie Thompson, TOPI Grant Manager with the First Tennessee Development District. “Many of these women are working hard to provide for their families while balancing the responsibilities of parenting and maintaining a household. By helping remove financial barriers to education and training, we can give these women a better opportunity to earn credentials, advance their careers, and secure the stability that comes with a good, sustainable job. This investment is about more than education—it’s about helping women build a stronger future for themselves and their families.”

Investing in Lasting Economic Mobility

The $35,000 award may help current participants with tuition, certifications, and other education-related expenses, complementing the coaching and wraparound support already provided through STRONG Families.

Over the past 3.5 years, STRONG Families has helped participants increase their involvement in post-secondary education and workforce training, secure and retain employment, and improve their financial health and overall well-being.

The Women’s Fund of East Tennessee’s investment will help build on that progress by ensuring women already working toward greater stability have the resources they need to continue moving forward.

The FTDD Foundation and STRONG Families NETN are grateful to the Women’s Fund of East Tennessee for investing in the potential of women and families across Northeast Tennessee.

When women have the opportunity to build strong careers and financial stability, families—and communities—become stronger, too.