The Sycamore Institute

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from the Sycamore team! Today, we’re celebrating the people whose hard work keeps Tennessee moving forward.

09/04/2026

Our newest brief is out: Financial Hardship and Affordability in Tennessee

This report offers insights about the cost of basic needs, rates of financial hardship, and income in Tennessee.

Some key takeaways include:

🔸 Basic needs in Tennessee cost significantly more than federal poverty thresholds.
🔸 Incomes and the costs of some basic needs in Tennessee have increased faster than inflation since 2019.
🔸 Rates of financial hardship in Tennessee generally declined between 2019 and 2024, but changes in the number of affected households and people were more mixed across counties.

Learn more: https://sycamoretn.org/financial-hardship-affordability/

09/03/2026

Tennessee isn't the first state to introduce paid choice lanes. Seven other states have express lanes, and ten let drivers pay to use HOV lanes. Learn more about the legislation bringing paid choice lanes to Tennessee:

https://sycamoretn.org/2023-transportation-summary/

09/02/2026

Tennessee has a lot going on, and we wanted to take a closer look at the trends shaping our state. Our Spotlight 2027 series kicks off with “Who Are Tennesseans?” Explore what the data tells us about the people who call Tennessee home.

Learn more https://sycamoretn.org/who-are-tennesseans/

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

Building trust and credibility isn't easy. We're proud to be a trusted source, helping spark honest, thoughtful, and impactful conversations across Tennessee.

08/25/2026

We've got issue (briefs)!

We just launched a new series: Spotlight 2027. Throughout the rest of the year, we'll be releasing a series of briefs on the policies, trends, and challenges that could define Tennessee's next chapter.

We’re kicking things off with three briefs that provide key context on Tennessee’s people, finances, and schools: https://sycamoretn.org/2027-key-insights/

08/19/2026

Workforce development touches nearly every stage of Tennesseans' educational and career journeys, from K-12 and postsecondary education to job training and employer partnerships.

Our newest report provides an overview of the state's workforce development landscape, including the programs, agencies, and federal laws that shape workforce efforts across Tennessee.

Learn more: https://sycamoretn.org/workforce-in-tn/

08/17/2026

Ten years ago, Sycamore Institute was just an idea: that Tennessee would be stronger if more people had access to trusted, impartial information about the issues shaping our state.


Today, that idea has become an organization with a decade of research, partnerships, and impact behind it.


To mark our 10th anniversary, we asked the people who helped build, guide, and support Sycamore to tell the story in their own words. Their reflections remind us where we've been, why this work matters, and what keeps us moving forward.

Ten years ago, Sycamore Institute was just an idea: that Tennessee ...

08/14/2026

Since today is National Financial Awareness Day, we’re shining a spotlight on our analysis of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Tennessee. Did you know that as of January 2026, nearly 700,000 Tennesseans receive SNAP benefits each month? Scroll through to learn more about SNAP funding and how it's changed. Learn more: https://sycamoretn.org/snap-in-tn/