30 Aug 2024 Nantes business networks bring together 110 companies around the Dotation d’Action Territoriale
Break Poverty was in Nantes on Tuesday, September 10, to launch an unprecedented mobilization around the Territorial Action Fund with local businesses. Initiated by six major business networks—CCI, CJD, CPME, DRO, MEDEF, and Réseau Entreprendre—over 100 business leaders came together to act collectively to combat youth poverty in Nantes neighborhoods.
Nantes : A City of Contrasts
In 2018, the City of Nantes was chosen as a testing ground for measures under the National Poverty Reduction Strategy. The goal : an accelerated and strengthened implementation of the strategy, according to the Minister of Solidarity, Agnès Buzyn.
In this context, after testing its approach in Romans-sur-Isère, the Break Poverty Foundation decided to implement the Territorial Action Fund in Nantes, making the city the first pilot metropolitan area for the program.
The choice of Nantes might seem surprising given the strong socio-economic indicators. Indeed, Nantes has a higher average standard of living compared to the national average and a lower poverty rate. However, poverty rates in Nantes’s priority neighborhoods—42% compared to the national average of 14%—are higher than those in priority neighborhoods in Île-de-France.
“We were a bit shocked by the apparent prosperity of the city, its economic dynamism, its very low unemployment rate, and then neighborhoods that seem a bit neglected, with a high poverty rate, difficulties accessing employment, and issues with school dropout.”
— Vincent Roux, Réseau Entreprendre
Break Poverty Foundation has therefore decided to focus on the 15 priority neighborhoods in Nantes (Bellevue, Malakoff, Bottière Pin Sec, etc.) where the majority of young people live below the poverty line. Born into poverty, facing school dropout, or unemployment, these young people are likely to remain in poverty as adults if no action is taken.
A Transformative Program : The Territorial Action Fund
After assessing the social needs of Nantes’s neighborhoods, Break Poverty Foundation’s teams selected 17 associative projects likely to provide concrete solutions for young people in these areas. Chosen for their relevance and effectiveness, these projects aim to reach 10,000 beneficiaries out of the 20,000 residents in Nantes’s priority neighborhoods. The fund now invites local businesses to unite to finance the projects of their choice, with the goal of raising €2,000,000 over three years. Once partnerships are established, businesses and supported projects will benefit from Break Poverty’s support for three years to ensure the program’s success.
An Unprecedented Mobilization of Nantes Business Leaders
In Romans-sur-Isère, Break Poverty raised €1.4 million from businesses to fund 6 projects over 3 years. The positive reception from businesses in Nantes suggests even more impressive results within the metropolitan area.
On September 10, nearly 150 business leaders gathered at the initiative of CCI, CJD, CPME, DRO, Réseau Entreprendre, and MEDEF to learn more about the initiative. Participants heard from 4 associations supported by the program (Résilience Factory, Regart’s, Escalade Entreprises, and La Cravate Solidaire) and listened to feedback from four business leaders who have decided to get involved (Yves Gilet from Keran, Pierre-Yves Loaëc from Nobilito, Laurent Métral from CIC Ouest, and Lionel Fournier from Harmonie Mutuelle).
A mobilization commensurate with the stakes: in Nantes, to lift 10,000 young people out of poverty, 17 projects need to be financed with €2 million over three years. These projects cover four priority areas for preventing youth poverty: support for early childhood, prevention of school dropout, bridging the gap between young people and the business world, and access to first employment.
The next step for Break Poverty will be to finalize the funding for the projects in order to launch them by the end of the year.
To receive the presentation from the September 10 meeting, please contact Break Poverty at the following email address : mlepord@breakpoverty.com
Press contact : Valerie Daher, vdaher@breakpoverty.com
Photo credit : Progrès, Unsplash.