Improving Economies for Stronger Communities

About Improving Economies for Stronger Communities

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities uses program grants to connect private-sector growth with employment, often through universities and policy organizations. Recent awards include $309,285 to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, $274,349 to World Food Logistics Organization in Arlington, Virginia, and $220,783 to Cipe in Washington, DC. The pattern points to work that supports market linkages, trade facilitation, and workforce-related capacity rather than direct service to individuals. The foundation’s active programs show a repeated emphasis on cost-shared grants, technical assistance, and co-investment models. In Georgia, its Industry-led Skills Development Grants Fund is a $13 million effort designed to strengthen industry-relevant human capacity and link training with employment opportunities. Other program descriptions point to agricultural value chains, MSME support, institutional capacity strengthening, and trade systems, including sanitary and phytosanitary work and cold-chain development. The grant list also shows recurring support to several organizations across multiple years, including Purdue University, World Food Logistics Organization, Cipe, University of Florida, and Kansas State University. That repeat activity suggests ongoing project-based partnerships tied to specific economic development initiatives.

What Improving Economies for Stronger Communities Funds

Private sector growth appears across the foundation’s grantmaking and program design. A 2024 grant of $163,628 to Purdue University supported program services, following prior awards to the same institution in 2023 and 2025. Trade facilitation is another visible theme. The foundation gave $274,349 in 2025 to World Food Logistics Organization for program services, alongside program activity such as Trade Safe and T-FAST, which focus on SPS systems, agricultural trade, and regulatory modernization. Workforce development is reflected in the Industry-led Skills Development Grants Fund, a $13 million program in Georgia that co-invests in initiatives strengthening industry-relevant human capacity and links between training and employment. Institutional and policy capacity also shows up in awards to Cipe and Icma for program services. Agricultural systems are part of the mix as well, with grants connected to agricultural trade, cold chain systems, and market linkages in the active program descriptions.

How Improving Economies for Stronger Communities Gives