Savannah, known for its scenic streets, historic buildings, and inviting public spaces, faces a deeper challenge beneath its picturesque surface: economic inequality. Over one in five residents lives below the poverty line, with the rate rising to nearly 30 percent among those under 18. In the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, more than half of students in all 10 high schools qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and six schools report participation rates exceeding 70 percent. According to the Urban Institute, 77.5 percent of students attending high-poverty schools in Chatham County are non-Hispanic Black, highlighting entrenched disparities.
To confront these systemic issues, the Racial Equity and Leadership (REAL) Task Force was established as a public-private collaboration to assess quality-of-life indicators and propose actionable solutions. Their 2021 findings revealed that workers of color in Savannah face an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent—more than double Georgia’s statewide average of 3.7 percent. Additionally, 89 percent of female-headed households with young children live in poverty. A major factor perpetuating this cycle is the lack of accessible, affordable childcare, which restricts parents’ ability to work or pursue education, thereby limiting upward mobility for entire families.
The childcare sector itself struggles with staffing shortages. A survey of local facilities found that 83.3 percent cite recruitment and retention as their top challenge, with nearly 75 percent operating below full capacity due to a shortage of qualified professionals.
In response, the City of Savannah launched the EMERGE Job Training Program, a workforce development initiative targeting underserved populations and addressing labor gaps in high-demand fields such as early childhood education, healthcare, manufacturing, and culinary services. The program offers free, industry-recognized credentials and hands-on experience to eligible residents. Participants also receive wraparound support, including transportation assistance, childcare referrals, and job readiness coaching. Success is monitored at 45, 90, and 180 days post-training to ensure sustained employment.
One of EMERGE’s most effective components is the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification course. This 12-week program prepares individuals to work in licensed childcare centers and meets national standards set by the Council for Professional Recognition. Since its launch, over 100 participants have completed the training, earning CPR and fire safety certifications. Most graduates have passed the national CDA exam, bolstering the city’s pool of qualified early educators.
Building on this momentum, Savannah introduced Jump Start, a youth-focused expansion of EMERGE developed in partnership with Groves High School. Funded by the National League of Cities’ Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant, the initiative enables high school students to earn a CDA credential and gain practical experience before graduation. Scholarships cover course fees, exam costs, and transportation, removing financial barriers. Participation in NLC’s Economic Mobility Peer Network has also allowed Savannah to learn from other cities and refine its approach.
Students in the Jump Start program gain real-world experience at the Groves High School childcare center while receiving holistic support through the Moses Jackson Advancement Center (MJAC). Services include mentorship, job coaching, financial literacy training, and parenting education—creating a family-centered model that enhances engagement and long-term outcomes. Orientation sessions involve both students and their guardians, fostering early buy-in and stronger school-family collaboration.
By equipping young people with credentials and experience, Jump Start not only prepares them for immediate employment but also builds a sustainable pipeline of trained educators to address Savannah’s childcare workforce shortage.
The city’s investment in EMERGE and Jump Start reflects a strategic alignment of workforce development, education, and equity goals. By empowering both adults and youth with tools to enter high-need fields, Savannah is narrowing labor market gaps and expanding economic opportunity for its most vulnerable populations. As communities nationwide face youth disengagement, labor shortages, and persistent inequality, Savannah’s model demonstrates how targeted partnerships and comprehensive support systems can catalyze mobility for individuals and entire neighborhoods.
— news from National League of Cities
— News Original —
Jump Starting Economic Mobility: How Savannah Is Investing in Its Youth Workforce
streets, historic architecture and charming public squares. Beneath this scenic beauty, however, lies the persistent challenge of navigating economic disparities. 20.4 percent of all residents live below the poverty line, and this rate increases to 29.1 percent for residents under the age of 18. n nWithin the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, all 10 public high schools serve populations in which over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (PDF), with six reporting rates above 70 percent. According to the Urban Institute Mobility Metrics, 77.5 percent attending high-poverty schools in Chatham County identify as non-Hispanic Black. n nTo respond to these inequities, the Racial Equity and Leadership (REAL) Task Force was convened as a public-private partnership to examine quality of life indicators, identifying inequities and making recommendations for the Savannah area. n nThe REAL Task Force’s 2021 report indicated workers of color in Savannah experience an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent, more than double the state average of 3.7 percent. The report also noted that 89 percent of female-led households with children under five live in poverty. One of the key contributors (PDF) to this cycle is inadequate access to affordable, quality childcare, which limits a parent’s ability to work, pursue education or participate in job training, effectively stalling economic advancement for entire families. n nThe lack of childcare workers is evident locally and across the state of Georgia. In fact, 83.3 percent of childcare facilities surveyed indicated the biggest business challenge faced was staffing and recruiting; nearly three in four childcare facilities indicated they were not operating at full capacity with more than a third citing a lack in skilled and qualified workers. n nMeeting the Challenge with EMERGE n nTo break this cycle, the City of Savannah launched the EMERGE Job Training Program, a workforce development initiative targeting underserved residents and addressing persistent labor shortages in high-demand sectors such as early childhood education, healthcare, manufacturing and culinary services. n nSince its inception, EMERGE has focused on equipping participants with stackable, industry-aligned credentials and practical work experience, at no cost to eligible residents. Each cohort receives wraparound services, including transportation assistance, childcare referrals and job readiness training. EMERGE tracks outcomes at 45-, 90- and 180-days post-training to ensure long-term success and retention in the workforce. n nOne of the program’s most impactful offerings has been the Child Development Associate (CDA) training, which directly addresses the City of Savannah’s shortage of qualified early childhood educators. The 12-week course prepares participants to work in licensed childcare facilities and aligns with national standards set by the Council for Professional Recognition. Since its launch, more than 100 participants have graduated, earning CPR and Fire Safety certifications. The vast majority of program graduates received their CDA certification after passing the national exam, adding new certified educators to Savannah’s early childhood workforce. n nCreating Partnerships to Invest in the Next Generation n nBuilding on EMERGE’s success, the City of Savannah introduced Jump Start, a new initiative tailored to high school students. In partnership with Groves High School, the city launched this program to give students access to the CDA credential and hands-on experience in early childhood education before graduation. Through funding received from the National League of Cities Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant, Savannah’s Jump Start program tackles several barriers to youth employment by providing scholarships to students for the CDA course, exam fee and transportation. Additionally, participating in NLC’s Economic Mobility Peer Network (EMPN) has provided learning opportunities from other cities to improve our program design, connect with other municipalities and engage in a myriad of economic mobility topics. n nDuring the CDA course, students receive on-site work experience at the Groves High School childcare facility while simultaneously accessing wraparound support through the Moses Jackson Advancement Center (MJAC). This includes mentorship, job coaching, parenting education and financial literacy, creating a whole-family support model that improves retention and cultivates long-term success. n nOrientation sessions include both students and their parents and guardians, which ensures buy-in from the start and fosters stronger school-family partnerships. Jump Start will not only prepare students for immediate employment upon graduation but also establish a pipeline of trained, credentialed educators ready to fill critical shortages in the City of Savannah’s childcare sector. n nJump Starting the Future n nThe City of Savannah’s investment in the EMERGE and Jump Start programs demonstrates how local governments can creatively align workforce development, education and economic equity goals. By giving both adults and youth the tools, credentials and support to enter high-need fields, the city is directly addressing labor market gaps while expanding economic opportunity for its most vulnerable residents. n nAs cities across the country grapple with labor shortages, youth disengagement and persistent inequality, I believe that the City of Savannah’s model shows how strategic partnerships and wraparound services can jump start mobility, not just for individuals, but for entire communities.