What's New at ICIC
Inner City Capital Connections Impact Report is Here
Impact matters, and we are extremely proud of what our alumni have accomplished. The report and overview are testaments of their hard work, grit, and determination. As they go from strength to strength, our alumni are helping drive inclusive prosperity in under-resourced communities across the nation.
For an in-depth look into our program’s impact, read our report.
For a statistical snapshot, read our overview.
The 2019 Inner City 100 List is Here
For over 20 years we've been recognizing and celebrating fast-growing small businesses. These businesses exemplify more than outstanding growth. They are forces of economic opportunity, optimism and transformation in their communities.
READ MORE
In his policy brief, ICIC Senior Vice President and Director of Research Howard Wial presents his fundamental principles to guide investments in Opportunity Zones.
READ MOREThe 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, Chevron, Kaiser Permanente, 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.
Inner city residents represent 11% of the population—that’s 36 million people. About a quarter of the population living in poverty live in the inner city. Inner cities represent 17% of U.S. unemployment, 25% of U.S. poverty, and 36% of U.S. minority poverty.
Events
There are no events at this time.
Blog
Small Business Forward Partners Create Economic Impact by Supporting a Diverse Group of Entrepreneurs
As part of its Small Business Forward initiative, JPMorgan Chase supports small businesses owned by women, people of color and veterans by investing in a dynamic cohort of entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs). In its first five years, Small Business Forward partnered with 21 ESOs to support over 8,300 small businesses ... Read More