Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc.

Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc. Headquarters Address

534 E. 1st North St.
Morristown, TN 37814
(view in map)

About Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc.
Douglas-Cherokee's mission is to provide resources, tools, and opportunities that help low-income families and individuals achieve personal, economic, and social stability.

Douglas-Cherokee delivers social services to residents across 24 counties in Tennessee and 2 in Kentucky. We provide services and programs which include a wide range of individual contracts funded through federal, state, and local resources. Our experienced and dedicated employees work in cooperation with local, state, and national resources to provide services in a timely manner and cost-effective basis to those in need.

​DCEA helps provide support and early childhood care through Head Start and Early Head Start and elderly assistance through Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels, Affordable Housing and Community Connect. Educational support and advisement provided to school-age students through 21st Century Learning Centers, Lottery for Education Programs, SRAE, and Trio programs including, Educational Opportunity Centers, Talent Search, and Upward Bound. Families and individuals are also assisted with energy assistance, nutritional services, and other social services. 

DCEA was organized in 1965 as a non-profit corporation. The activities of DCEA are governed by a 27- member Board of Directors who represent all segments of the population living in each of the six counties. DCEA is a 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation and operates mainly under funds received from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, using Federal, State and local funds to provide special services.

The Promise of Community Action....Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. 
Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority- Changing Lives One Day at a Time
At Douglas-Cherokee, we envision a future without poverty in which individuals and families from all walks of life prosper in thriving, safe and healthy communities. Our mission is to provide resources, tools, and opportunities that help low-income families and individuals of all ages achieve personal, economic, and social stability. 

"I do what I do because I know I am making a difference (not only for clients but for staff too).
I want to come to work every day," Curt Amos, Head Start/Early Head Start Director.

"DCEA is a great place to have a career because they take care of employees who work hard," Kim Paxton, Community Services Director.

All Douglas-Cherokee full-time employees (excluding temporary and subs) receive the following benefits:
Up to 14 paid holidays per year
Paid sick leave
Paid vacation leave
State of Tennessee 401(K) savings plan

Full-time employees who work an average of 30 or more hours per week are eligible for the following benefits:
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System benefits
Employer Partially Paid Plans: health, dental, and/or vision insurance
Employer Paid Plans: Term Life and Employee Assistance (EAP)
Volunteer Benefits: Short-term and Long-term disability and Voluntary Life

As a DCEA employee, you may be eligible to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. PSLF is a program that forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan, while working full-time for a non-profit organization. However, your loan will only be forgiven in you meet all of the PSLF Program eligibility requirements. 

Number of Employees in Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc.

501 to 1,000

Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc. Location