Budget
$300,000.00
Description
Through our programs supporting small businesses, we provide the foundation and support for small businesses to take them to the "next level" in their evolution. Our "Next Level" program, supported in part by TVA, PNC, Truist Bank, and Regions, provides small business owners selected for the program the knowledge, management know-how, and the networks needed to grow their business to the "next level." This seven-month program provides sessions on such topics as marketing, finance, and developing a strategic growth and business plan. Each business successfully completing the is eligible to receive a business-level laptop and a mini-grant of up to $1000 for reinvestment into their business. Additionally, ULMT's newly developed Payroll Protection Program is working with area small businesses to help them become eligible for low or no-interest loans to help keep their doors open.
Program Successes
One of the graduates of the most recent "Next Level" program, a family-owned coffee and tea business, has seen its business move from solely online to having two physical locations and are in talks for product placement in several local grocery stores.
Beneficiaries
Black/African American
Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx
Economically disadvantaged people
Long-term Success
The long-term success of this program can be measured by the success of the businesses who have already "graduated" from the program. We anticipate that the future is definitely bright for those businesses who we .are able to work with
Short-term Success
We have now had three graduating "classes" from our Next Level program and close to 90% have seen increased profits for their businesses and have become eligible for additional funding through grants and low-interest loans.
Program Success Monitored By
Continued success of the businesses involved
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee

Budget
$750,000.00
Description
The Real Estate Developers (R.E.D.) Academy's purpose is to empower developers of color with opportunities to create environments that combine local knowledge, partnerships, and key strengths, including program design and project funding, to support the growth of their business and to support the Nashville community. R.E.D. Academy works to broaden participants' skills and opportunities while increasing affordable housing in the Nashville/Davidson county area through three key areas: Training: engaging formal real estate development training, workshops with development experts, and presenting challenges and opportunities for affordable housing; Mentorship: interaction and guidance from local mentors who have the expertise as developers in the real estate market; and Financing: R.E.D. Academy will have funding options available to build on the knowledge and training gained through participation in the program.
Program Successes
1) Completion of the R.E.D. Academy by program participants (fellows);
2) Opportunity for R.E.D. Academy fellows to be involved in residential and commercial development projects in the Nashville community;
3) Development of accessible, affordable housing options for Nashville residents
Beneficiaries
Adults
Minorities
Long-term Success
The long-term success of R.E.D. Academy will be measured by the success of the program's participants (fellows) to complete the program; successfully engage in and have a "seat at the table" for residential and commercial development projects within the Nashville/Davidson county area; and to secure appropriate funding that will allow them to design and develop affordable housing options within the Nashville community.
Short-term Success
Completion of all workshops, classes and seminars and graduation from the program
Program Success Monitored By
Success of R.E.D. Academy and its fellows will be monitored by program staff and the compliance officer for the Urban League
Program Areas Served
Nashville

Budget
$20,000.00
Description
Formerly known as the Summer Leadership Academy, the Young Leaders Academy is a three-week intense program for academically high achieving students. A blended academic curriculum engages youth in dynamic workshops. real-world projects and career exploration, allowing for self-discovery of personal passions.
Beneficiaries
Adolescents
Program Areas Served
Nashville/Davidson County

Budget
$70,000.00
Description
ULMT's Workforce Development Pre-Apprenticeship program is design to:
(1) assist employers in meeting their workforce needs through creative strategies; and
(2) help disadvantaged individuals in undeserved communities (i.e. Promise Zone Community) secure better access to high-skill, well-paid employment.

This program addresses three aspects of Pre-Apprenticeship with:

I. Community Outreach that informs, recruits and enrolls individuals in high-demand careers by helping individuals navigate complex requirements that provides a pathway to success.
II. Standard Industry training (i.e. construction) areas include:
• Soft skills Training
• NCCER Training - Industry Standard
• Training - by construction company
III. Wrap Around Retention Service - to reduce recidivism (case manage 15:1 ratio) in areas where individual fall out of employment and to support individual in their pathway to success.

Program Successes
Current Example;

4 out of 5 Pre-Apprenticeship Participants in the ULMT /Hensel Phelps program in process of completing six weeks of construction training in the follow areas: NCCER, OSHA 10, CPR and Tool Safety. Upon completion each participant will receive jobs with Hensel Phelps at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. Jobs in plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc. that start at $17.00 / hr. with case management support for the participants during the 90 day probation period. Successful completion of the probationary period qualifies each participant in the pre-apprenticeship program to get a pay increase upwards of $20++/ hr. and enter into a full Apprenticeship Program with Hensel Phelps for their journeyman's licence.
Category
Employment  - Job Training & Employment 
Beneficiaries
General Public
Unemployed, Underemployed, Dislocated
Adults
Long-term Success
There is evidence that employers are becoming more aggressive and creative in their pursuit of qualified workers, looking for new strategies to tap three distinct populations:
• incumbent employees (e.g., the traditional workforce);
• youth (e.g., through school-to-career initiatives); and
• "transitional" workers (e.g., through welfare-to-work programs).

For example, School to Work Initiatives:
• Recent surveys of employer participation in school-to-work initiatives have shown that remarkably high numbers of employers provide young people with access to their workplaces as a way to improve career exposure and readiness.

ULMT long-term success will be to utilize these tactics to create a pipeline of qualified workers.

Short-term Success
In this employment environment, effective matching is increasingly important, and the inefficiencies of current mechanisms for finding (or creating) qualified workers for available jobs are of increasing concerns to many employers. Employers' are steadily rising soft skills expectations for entry level workers further highlighting the shortcomings of existing job-matching systems.

• Improving the job-matching (recruitment) process can dramatically increase a company's productivity. Proper job-matching can reduce turnover and the need for intensive supervision, while making team-building more effective. The longer workers stay with a firm, the more likely they are to receive on-the-job training, increasing their value and often their loyalty to the company.

ULMT'S short-term success is strategies for locating non-traditional sources of potential employees. Working with leaders in undeserved communities like the Promise Zone communities.
Program Success Monitored By
Program success is monitored by:
• Number of individual serve (demographics)
• Type of industry training received
• Job Placement (type of job secured )
• Pre / Post income levels for participants placed in jobs (careers)
• Unemployment Rate per participants zip code
• Collective impact on per capital income per participants zip code

Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee

Budget
$150,000.00
Description
Project Ready is a National Urban League initiative designed to improve academic performance, personal and social development, and cultural/historical awareness. We target students in grades 9-11. University partners include Lipscomb, Tennessee State, Fisk and Vanderbilt (Peabody) Universities. Students engage in monthly Saturday Academies during fall/winter/spring out-of-school times to develop new skills and fine-tune existing skills. Specific instruction in ACT prep, communication skills to include writing and speach is provided along with leadership training. Exposure to post secondary opportunities and environments is integrated into the experience through college tours, programming on college campuses and presentations from college professors.
Program Areas Served
None

Budget
$125,000.00
Description
Provide employment services for Middle Tennessee residents. ULMT offers job seekers job leads and match with potential employers. ULMT conduct seminars, coaching in resume writing, interview skills and job readiness sessions. ULMT host monthly employer presentations, and job fairs annually. ULMT partnership with organization to support re-entry services and support.
Beneficiaries
Unemployed, Underemployed, Dislocated
Adults
Minorities
Long-term Success
To work toward filling employment gaps and successfully addressing disparities in employment for impacted persons throughout our nine-county service area. Specifically, we will work collectively with other local nonprofits, employers, and community organizations to identify, train and employ individuals in the high-demand career fields of business services, construction services, IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, ad hospitality, as have been identified by the Advancing Workforce Equity report.
Program Success Monitored By
Number of persons successfully employed in the career fields identified and remaining employed in their positions for at least 18 months,
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee

Budget
$25,000.00
Description
The ULMT Read and Rise Literacy Initiative serves students in grades K-4. We partner with local churches and their zoned elementary school to provide after school literacy training two afternoons a week for an additional 6 hours of literacy instruction. Results from two years of implementation show significant, demonstrated increases for student participants. In addition to the program offered during the academic year, ULMT has provided a 2-3 week summer reading camp. The program features a variety of instructional and fun activities all geared toward enhancing the participants' enjoyment of reading and related activities. In total, ULMT has served 150 students over two years with our literacy initiative.
Beneficiaries
Children
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee

Budget
$20,000.00
Description
Programs that engage the community in volunteer efforts that support the mission and vision of the urban league and the upliftment of the clients that we serve. Current volunteer groups include: - ULMT Young Professionals (ages 25-40) - ULMT GUILD (40 and above)
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee