What's New at ICIC
Small Business Resource Center: COVID-19 Crisis
As news about COVID-19 continues to evolve, we remain committed to supporting small businesses and driving inclusive economic prosperity. We know that small businesses, especially those in under-resourced communities, are likely to be hit the hardest, so we launched a resource center for our community.
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Now Accepting Applications & Nominations for the Inner City 100 Award
Every year, ICIC celebrates the 100 fastest-growing firms in urban, under-resourced communities through the Inner City 100. The awards are published annually in FORTUNE magazine.
For the first time ever, winners will be selected based on revenue growth and job creation!
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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 Authority on Inner Cities
ICIC drives inclusive economic prosperity in under resourced communities through innovative research and programs 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.
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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.
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Blog
Responding to the George Floyd tragedy
We have just witnessed in Minneapolis another in a seemingly endless series of grotesque, immoral examples of the bias, bigotry and racism that continue to afflict our society at virtually every level. Despite ICIC’s mission and vision to help create a level playing field for small businesses in our most under-resourced ... Read More