What's New at ICIC
Measuring the Impact of PEP
An ICIC evaluation finds this Texas prison entrepreneurship program is not only creating opportunity for the formerly incarcerated, but is a model for reducing recidivism with significant economic and fiscal impact in Texas. Read More »
Inner City 100
October 1-2, 2018
Boston, MA
This year we will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of our Inner City 100 awards, an occassion to recognize and honor the fastest-growing small business in inner cities across the nation.
A platform for recognition, networking and learning, Inner City 100 opens doors for budding urban entrepreneurs and stimulates inner city business development and job creation. Learn More »
Register AgendaThe Authority on Inner Cities
Our mission at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City is to drive economic prosperity in America’s inner cities through private sector investment to create jobs, income and wealth for local residents.
Founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City is a national nonprofit research and advisory organization and the leading authority on U.S. inner city economies and the businesses that thrive there.
Learn More About ICIC
Work with ICIC
Inner cities are rich with opportunity. We help business, government and philanthropic leaders leverage local assets to transform communities. Our research and advisory team has helped to shape economic development strategies in more than twenty inner cities.
ICIC delivers the knowledge and the know-how to achieve sustainable economic and job growth.
Support ICIC
Whether supporting one of our high-impact urban business programs or the entire organization, our partners know they are choosing to support an organization dedicated to transforming inner cities across the country. Our partners include Bank of America, Staples, various foundations and individual donors.
Learn how you can support ICIC’s work
What is an Inner City?
Read Our Latest Research
They are distressed urban areas of concentrated poverty and unemployment. Take a peek at our rigorous definition of inner cities.
Inner city residents represent 10% of the population—that’s 32 million people. Nearly a quarter of the population living in poverty live in the inner city. Inner cities represent 16% of U.S. unemployment, 22% of U.S. poverty, and 32% of U.S. minority poverty.
Events
IC100: Awards & Conference
Blog
The War on Poverty and a Battle Plan for Inner City Victory
In 2014, Kim Zeuli was honored to speak at an inspiring convening of over 400 California leaders committed to tackling poverty in their communities. The Southern California Association of Governments and the Southern California Leadership Council organized The Fifty Years into the War on Poverty Summit to cultivate a broad coalition of stakeholders to help find solutions to poverty in their region. Read More