Seedco: Helping Memphis' Poverty Stricken Citizens Get on Their Feet

Pure brilliant is the man with the plan who founded Seedco. Brilliance shining in a man who wanted to save the nation and had the intelligence to do so, Seedco developed in to one of the best non-profit organizations in the nation today. Seedco since has expanded into the poverty stricken cities across America. Seedco not only helps these cities with temporary relief, but builds a foundation of economic strategy that will continue success throughout the years to come. Seedco's plan to rebuild cities where destitution seems inevitable to most, is flawless. "What is Seedco's master plan?" many do ask. The answer lies in Seedco's mission statement, "Innovation through Economic Opportunity."

Seedco, my answer to the nation's economy, was founded in 1998 by William J. Grinker. William Grinker was the President and CEO of Seedco in New York City from 1998 until 2003 when he slowly began to retire from his success. From 2003 until 2005, he remained only as the CEO. William Grinker then named his friend and long time business partner from New York City Human Resources Administration, Diane Ballargeon, the new President and eventually CEO in 2005. Diane and William are both held responsible for the success of Seedco and the overall expansion into many of our nation's cities that are overwhelmed by poverty. Looking into Seedco's chain of command, you cannot help but to notice how many women have become top-managers in the world of business today. Women who have survived the issues of being a lesser qualified individual due to discriminations in the workforce. Closely, they are compared to be similar to the struggles that many face getting into our nation's workforce today.

Seedco has been expanding into cities that seem inevitable to suffer demise and never-ending poverty. Having started in the New York City area, Seedco then opened the Denver and Birmingham field offices. Next they would open Memphis and Buffalo in 2004. Next would bring the expansion of 2006 into Atlanta and New Orleans. . Many may say there is no hope for these cities. Many claim it is too late to rebuild these cities into the greatness by which they were once known. All the while, Seedco keeps expanding and saving our nation's cities, one at a time. Seedco holds the people responsible for their own success. No matter who takes the liability, my belief holds true that Seedco has come to save our nation from the recession that grows into depression every day.

In 2007, Seedco was selected by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and contracts were drawn between the two. Seedco was to implement and manage a program that would help thousands of Shelby County residents to be able to transition from their current state of poverty into economic stability. Seedco took the position as a proud parent who takes care of a temporarily sick child. Seedco has orchestrated this program in Memphis for just over a little over a year now. Some might not see a difference in the city as a whole, but as an employee; it is seen on a daily basis. Each week, I see the reports of how many Memphians are now working and being released from that co-dependent life. A life imprisoned by the dependency upon public assistance. Seedco now having a contract with DHS, a person will be given the opportunities of the programs Seedco has to offer when in the past, they had to find it for themselves.

First, Seedco provides an economic development to those small business ideas and the entrepreneur's dreams. Next, Seedco implements into the community their Community Entrepreneurs and Employers (CEE) program that develops solely on the idea that: strengthening the small businesses in a neighborhood will result in more jobs which ultimately results in their success.

Seedco Financial maintains other investment priorities which lead to its long list of achievements. One worthy of mentioning is the investment of 15.5 million dollars into the Memphis Westin Beale Street Hotel. This investment/ development provided Memphians with 200 new jobs. As Seedco's community financing lender, Seedco Financial now gets to step in and seek out opportunities that will reinforce Memphis' economic development as well. This proven initiative programs is called anchor lending. The anchor lending program provides funding for small business owners in the community for reasons of expansion and growth. This funding allows these small business owners to expand. Not only does this promote economic development, but these businesses make an agreement on the funds to hire a certain amount of positions; which in turn produces a workforce development. Being that Seedco has built partnerships with many non-profit employers, Seedco is finally ready to provide clients, belonging to DHS, their on-the-job training that will provide them with the skills needed to earn a better income.

Another proven method of brilliance is Seedco's replicating its national EarnFair Alliance program. Partners of this alliance, now will go to work in making sure their clients are first work ready. Then, the clients will be connected with quality jobs that offer opportunities of advancement and benefits. Now, Seedco understands that for a family to rise above poverty in this given age, the family will need support whilst climbing up that economic ladder. Seedco not only gives clients the skills needed for a promising and well paid position within a partner company, but now they also give the clients incentives for maintaining retention with these employers. Another support program Seedco has introduced is called EarnBenefits. This is a program that connects the low-wage workers with income enhancing benefits such as health coverage, child care, savings account options, and even transportation costs.

Last but not least, Seedco brings opportunities of affordable homeownership opportunities to its participating families. Seedco also has a partnership with the Memphis Housing Authority. This partnership brings with it a wide variety of programs that are designed in helping families with anything from first time house buying to investing in affordable housing stock. Seedco even offers the Memphis Homeownership Development Loan Fund which offers critical and below market financing to community-driven development corporations and non-profit organizations. Resulting in housing that can be purchased affordably. All of these organizations, workers, and companies in Memphis are all part of a huge team, or partners.

In continuing a successful program and ensuring quality of all participants, Seedco maintains a customized computer system designed for monitoring data along with a specific data analyst team that monitors the programs that are ran on a daily basis. This involves the monitoring and analyzing of both the clients and the partners, along with the procedures involved within all aspects of Seedco's programs. This team also ensures that everyone is doing their part. Anything in relation to finances, activities, agreements, and support are always under some type of watchful eye.

The outreach of Seedco is beyond a point that any one person could imagine. I never had a clue as to who Seedco was nor how much they were involved in the communities. Seedco is actually involved with most of our employers, our banks, our day cares, our landlords, our city departments, and even our schools. The program is easy to follow and maintain. All that is required is the will in a person to improve their life. When the client goes to DHS and fills out the paperwork for assistance, Seedco automatically steps in and starts implementing their program that will bring our city out of poverty. "Innovation through economic opportunity," is now a clearly visible mission.

Seedco's master plan is a constantly revolving economical cycle. It starts when Seedco gives the employer workers. Then the workers give the client job training, until they are trained and passed as job ready. Meanwhile, the client gets financial funding, benefits, and other support services needed to help them along the way. Next, the employer sees profit and growth. During the same time, the clients are making more money and decide to look into buying a house or maybe even their own small business. This starts the housing development cycle. At the same time in the workforce department, the employer who now has growth and revenue decides to expand, and he needs more help to do so. Finally, the cycle begins again on a new circle of employment. All of this improves the economy. Seedco does improve our city, the people that are in it, and eventually improving the entire state.

Add together the elements of turning a city once full of poverty into a city filled with professionals, partnering with companies and employers, adding some lending and investments and you have the organization called Seedco. The seed they have planted will save our nation. With a little water, our nation will rise again. In the time being, we will continue to expand to another new poverty controlled city. Seedco is not here to stop public assistance, but they are here to monitor it so that it reaches only in the hands that need it, and not the hands that are always out. Seedco is trying to rebuild our nation one step at a time. Offering a helping hand to our community, the uninsured families, the single mothers, even the small businesses to where in the end, everyone will see profits. Seedco comes and plants the seed that keeps on growing only for those who are willing to water it. Drawing us to the only conclusion, Seedco saves us daily from a nation that is trying to fall into a depression. Seedco rescues those who are willing to make a better life for themselves. Since 2007, the Shelby County welfare percentage has fell 49.6%. This is not in refusals and cut offs. This is the end result of a state that is willing to work for the nicer things in life. Statistically the conclusion is clear. Who is the savior that will rebuild our nation's economy, one city at a time? In all reality, Seedco is only one of the saviors trying to rebuild our great nation, one city at a time. The others are the people who are willing to water that seed. They are people that in the midst of the hardest times will never lose faith. Most of all, they are the people that will always have hope, and they are always willing to try to change something for the likes of the better. Keeping hope alive and always willing to try to improve our lives, the two greatest saviors our nation could ever have are Seedco and the people.