Press & Media
A $25 million investment in rural families
Empower Upper Cumberland is Tennessee's largest community-based poverty reduction program—serving 14 rural counties with dedicated Navigators, career pathways, and benefits cliff mitigation.
The numbers that matter
Key program metrics for journalists and researchers. All figures reflect current program data.
State investment
Tennessee TANF Opportunity Act
Families served
14 rural counties
Net annual income growth
440 of 756 families earning more
Unemployed → employed
Employment rate: 67% → 78%
Families graduated
Reached 225% FPL (self-sufficiency)
Children impacted
Across 14 counties
Voices behind the program
Commissioner Clarence CarterTennessee Department of Human ServicesFor too long, we've measured the wrong things in anti-poverty work. This program measures what matters—whether families actually achieve lasting economic independence.
Megan SpurgeonDirector, Empower Upper CumberlandWe don't close a case when the paperwork is done. We stay until the family is stable—and that changes everything about how this work gets done.
Elizabeth NelsonProgram GraduateFor the first time, I know my kids will have a future that looks different from my past.
By the numbers
Economic Mobility
- Average family crossed the poverty line (74% → 101% FPL)
- Income gainers averaged 69% → 132% FPL
- 84 families reached full self-sufficiency (225% FPL)
- 65% of families in deep poverty increased their income
Employment & Income
- 417 families earning $7.8M more per year
- Employment rate rose from 66% to 78%
- 128 people moved from unemployed to employed
- 49% of exiting families left with full-time jobs with benefits
Reach & Program Model
- 1,945 children impacted across 14 rural counties
- Highly engaged families saw nearly 4× more income growth
- 85% of families who hit a benefit cliff came out ahead (118 of 139)
- $25M state TANF investment
- Independent RCT evaluation by MEF Associates
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers for journalists and researchers.
What is Empower Upper Cumberland?
Empower Upper Cumberland is a comprehensive poverty reduction program serving 14 rural counties in Tennessee's Upper Cumberland region. Operated by UCHRA and funded through a $25 million TANF Opportunity Act grant, it pairs families with dedicated Navigators who provide long-term support, career pathways, and benefits cliff mitigation.
How is the program funded?
The program is funded through a 4-year, $25 million grant under Tennessee's TANF Opportunity Act, administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. EUC was selected from 83 applicants statewide for this investment.
What results has the program achieved?
The average enrolled family crossed the federal poverty line, moving from 75% to 103% FPL. Across 756 families with follow-up data, net household income grew by $6.4M annually—with 440 families earning more than at enrollment. 84 families have reached full self-sufficiency (225% FPL). The employment rate rose from 67% to 78% across 14 counties.
How is the program being evaluated?
EUC is undergoing a rigorous randomized control trial (RCT) conducted by MEF Associates. This is among the most rigorous evaluations of a TANF-funded program in the country.
What makes this different from other programs?
Three things: dedicated Navigators who stay with families for 18–24 months (not rotating caseloads), strategic benefits cliff mitigation that prevents families from losing ground when income rises, and career pathways aligned to regional employer needs—not just any job, but livable-wage careers.
What counties are served?
The program serves all 14 counties in the Upper Cumberland region: Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, and White.
Media Contacts
For press inquiries, interviews, or additional materials.