Southwest TN Community College receives $500,000 grant from Assisi Foundation of Memphis for major entertainment project

For more information, contact Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Office of Marketing and Communications at 901-333-4247 or cm@southwest.tn.edu.

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) - Southwest Tennessee Community College looks to produce the next generation of creatives with a $500,000 grant from The Assisi Foundation of Memphis. 

The half-million dollars Assisi grant will support the Southwest Entertainment Production Initiative (SEPI), a major capital improvement campaign to revitalize the college’s Communication, Graphic and Fine Arts (CGFA) department. The goal is also to boost the region’s creative economy.
 
“Southwest Tennessee Community College is grateful to The Assisi Foundation for their investment in our college, and our students,” said Tracy D. Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College. “This initiative prepares students for in-demand careers in the entertainment industry and positions Southwest as a hub for innovation and talent development for our region’s growing entertainment industry.”

The initiative comes at a crucial time, as the Greater Memphis Chamber predicts the film, television, and sports industries will grow by 11–15% over the next five years. Jobs4TN reported over 5,500 job opportunities in the Arts and Entertainment sector in Shelby County in 2022 alone, with average wages nearing $26 per hour.
 
Jan Young, executive director of The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, emphasized the Foundation’s enthusiasm for the initiative, noting the far-reaching impact it will have on both students and the Memphis community. “The Board appreciated the thoughtful consideration of the benefits for Southwest students as well as the broader community with this effort,” said Young.
 
The SEPI initiative is a bold, multi-phased project, estimated to cost $4 million to modernize Southwest’s theatre and music facilities. The Assisi Foundation’s $500,000 grant will partially fund Phase II, which includes the full renovation of the Union Avenue Campus theater and the installation of new equipment and professional-grade production technology.

Phase I of the initiative launched with a $1.5M Tennessee GIVE 3.0 grant and focuses on the complete renovation of the music-recording studio, along with the installation of new studio equipment and music production software.

Patsy Fancher, Chair of the Department of Communication, Graphic and Fine Arts at Southwest, is the visionary behind the entertainment initiative. 

“This grant marks a turning point for our program,” said Fancher. “The theatre has long been a space where our students discover their voices, build confidence, and bring powerful stories to life. With this funding, we will create a safer, more modern, and inspiring environment that matches the talent and dedication of our students, our faculty, and the Memphis arts community. On behalf of the theatre program, our students, and the countless future performers who will grace our stage, thank the Assisi Foundation for believing in our vision.”
   
In addition to postsecondary degrees, Southwest will offer dual enrollment and summer camp experiences for high school students—creating a pipeline into Memphis’ growing entertainment ecosystem. The program also complements Southwest’s traditional arts degrees, broadening career pathways for students seeking both workforce entry and university transfer opportunities.