Mar. 03, 2026
Year Three results highlight employment gains and stability across ten counties
United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK) today released the Year Three report for the East Tennessee Collaborative (ETC), a regional pilot program supporting working families as they pursue stable employment, increased earnings and long-term financial independence.
To date, the program has served 872 families across ten counties in East Tennessee: Knox, Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Grainger, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott and Sevier. The pilot is supported through the Tennessee Department of Human Services under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Opportunity Act, and nine of UWGK’s nonprofit partner agencies deliver direct services to participants.
“Working families want to get ahead and provide for their children, but the path is not always straightforward,” said Chrystal Armstrong Brown, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Knoxville. “ETC helps remove barriers so families can build stability for themselves and their children over time.”
Key year-three outcomes include:
- Share of participating families living below the federal poverty line decreased from 66 percent to 35 percent
- 157 participants earned degrees, certificates or credentials tied to higher-paying jobs
- 63 percent of participants who experienced unemployment found employment
- Nearly 2,000 children benefited from increased household stability
The initiative also engages regional employers to address challenges that can disrupt employment and limit advancement. UWGK has partnered with employers representing more than 16,000 workers to improve access to childcare, transportation and flexible scheduling.
The report estimates that reduced reliance on public benefits among participating families will generate approximately $101 million in savings to the state over time, underscoring the long-term economic impact of increased earnings and stability.
The initiative will continue to track long-term outcomes and work with participants and partner organizations to sustain progress and opportunities for East Tennessee families.
To learn more about the initiative, visit uwgk.org.
