Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD), based in Middle Tennessee, has recently been recognized with a 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Empower Upper Cumberland project.
Empower Upper Cumberland was created to address the complex, interconnected challenges that keep families from achieving economic stability, not by solving one barrier at a time, but by addressing the whole picture. Every participating family is paired with a dedicated Navigator who understands their unique circumstances, helps identify potential benefit cliffs before they occur, and provides ongoing support for 12 to 24 months rather than closing the case after an initial need is addressed.
When unexpected setbacks threaten progress, emergency gap funding provides immediate stability. When accepting a raise or increasing work hours would result in losing essential benefits that outweigh the additional income, Empower’s cliff-mitigation fund and wage supports help bridge the gap so that career advancement truly improves a family’s financial future.
Behind Empower’s success is the collaborative work of UCDD and community partners, who identified systemic barriers through data, partnerships, and direct engagement with families. Their work has helped create more than 350 new childcare slots, elevated conversations around housing and healthcare access, and increased awareness of the policy and systems changes needed to strengthen the region’s workforce. By addressing both individual family needs and the broader systems that impact them, Empower has become a model for creating lasting community change.
Three years into the initiative, the results demonstrate the impact of this relationship-based approach. Empower has served more than 900 families, with 474 increasing their income and 89 reaching self-sufficiency at or above 225 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Employment increased from 68 percent to 78 percent, with 125 adults entering the workforce, while participating families realized more than $9.2 million in annualized income growth.
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.
Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience, and enhancing local economies through creative approaches to economic and community development. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies.
This year’s cohort included 94 impactful projects led by 58 organizations across 20 states. These award-winning efforts will be recognized during NADO’s 2026 Annual Training Conference, to be held this coming October in Reno, Nevada. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap that showcases summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at https://www.nado.org/2026-impact-award-recipients/.
“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.”
