Inside ICCC New Jersey 2025

Equipping Small Business Owners to Grow and Scale

By ICIC | December 23, 2025

Across the country, small business owners are looking for more than inspiration. They are looking for strategy, structure, and practical tools to help them grow in a fast-moving economy. The Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program, was built to meet that need.

ICCC New Jersey 2025 brings together growth-minded entrepreneurs who are innovating across industries while building businesses that create lasting community impact. Two current participants, Sarabjit Sawhney of South Amboy Kitchen and Lydia Barron of Lydia Barron Consulting Group, demonstrate how ingenuity takes shape when paired with intentional strategy and disciplined execution.

Their stories offer a clear view into what ICCC is designed to do and why entrepreneurs across the country are encouraged to apply to their own local cohorts.

The ICCC New Jersey 2025 Program at a Glance

ICCC New Jersey 2025 is a 40-hour executive education and coaching program designed for established small business owners who want to lead, grow, and innovate. Often described as a mini-MBA, the program combines executive education, one-on-one coaching, peer connections, and access to capital experts.

The program supports businesses located in under-resourced communities that have been operating for at least three years and generating $150,000 or more in annual revenue. Participants are owners ready to scale, strengthen financial readiness, and apply cutting-edge tools, including AI, to real business challenges.

The curriculum was designed in direct response to what small business owners said they need most and includes fully integrated AI training, a revamped digital learning platform with interactive tools and progress tracking, and expanded opportunities for peer and alumni networking. Participants also receive capital access coaching and research-based learning grounded in ICIC’s 30 years of nationwide small business impact.

ICCC New Jersey Participant Spotlight: South Amboy Kitchen

For Sarabjit Sawhney, founder of South Amboy Kitchen, innovation begins with access. The shared kitchen was created to support food entrepreneurs who face structural barriers to growth, from the cost of commercial kitchen space to the complexity of licensing and the isolation of building alone.

“When people are given access to tools, mentorship, and a collaborative environment, they don’t just succeed individually—they innovate, hire locally, and reinvest in the community.”

South Amboy Kitchen provides commercial kitchen space alongside co-packing, co-manufacturing, shared knowledge, and a thriving community built on collaboration. The focus is not only on infrastructure, but on economic mobility and long-term opportunity.

Participation in ICCC New Jersey 2025 has helped Sawhney translate momentum into strategy, particularly around financial readiness and sustainable scale.

“The most valuable insight I’ve gained from ICCC New Jersey is the importance of approaching growth with intentional structure rather than momentum alone.”

As the program continues, Sawhney is focused on expanding capacity, strengthening internal systems, and deepening support for entrepreneurs, with the goal of growing South Amboy Kitchen into a broader economic engine for the region.

ICCC New Jersey Participant Spotlight: Lydia Barron Consulting Group

Lydia Barron, founder of Lydia Barron Consulting Group, brings deep C-suite and executive leadership experience to the ICCC New Jersey 2025 cohort. Before launching her firm, Barron spent years operating inside large, complex organizations, working closely with senior leadership teams on strategy, governance, and transformation initiatives across regulated industries.

That executive vantage point informs her work today, helping organizations bridge the gap between strategy and execution across AI automation, cybersecurity, and technology modernization.

“Across financial services, healthcare, and other regulated industries, leadership teams often had clear strategy but struggled to translate it into execution across business, operations, and technology.”

Participation in ICCC New Jersey 2025 has given Barron space to apply that experience through a growth-stage founder lens, stepping back to assess focus, prioritization, and scale within her own firm.

“The kickoff session provided a strong framework for stepping back and assessing the firm with greater intentionality around focus, prioritization, and scaling.”

As the program continues, Barron is refining marketing strategy, client acquisition, and execution discipline to support the next phase of growth for Lydia Barron Consulting Group and strengthen how she advises clients navigating complex change.

A Record-Setting Cohort Focused on What Comes Next

ICCC New Jersey 2025 is managed by Caitlin Cowan, Senior Program Coordinator at ICIC, and attracted a record number of applications, reflecting strong demand from New Jersey business owners seeking practical, high-impact executive education. They say:

“The enthusiasm for ICCC New Jersey 2025 speaks to how valuable it is for business owners to be part of a connected ecosystem. The business owners in this cohort are engaging with peers, capital partners, and local resources across New Jersey to build businesses that are positioned for long-term growth and meaningful community impact.”

ICCC Program Director Diego Portillo Mazal added:

“A large part of the success of ICCC in New Jersey can be attributed to our partnership with Santander Bank and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Thanks to these partnerships, ICIC has been a trusted resource for business owners during turbulent times, from the Covid-19 pandemic onward. The program gives business owners the space to step back, think strategically, and set a clear direction for growth.”

Why Entrepreneurs Across the U.S. Apply to ICCC

The experiences of Sarabjit Sawhney and Lydia Barron highlight what makes ICCC a trusted resource for growth, job creation, and access to capital.

ICCC offers more than education. It provides structure, accountability, coaching, and real-world tools that help business owners move from ambition to execution.

Entrepreneurs ready to strengthen strategy, build financial readiness, and apply innovation to real growth challenges are encouraged to explore their local ICCC cohorts.

About the ICCC Program

ICCC is a 40-hour “mini-MBA” designed for established small business owners who want to lead, grow, and innovate in today’s fast-moving world. The ICCC program brings together executive education, networking, one-on-one coaching, and access to capital—empowering small businesses in under-resourced communities to break barriers, build stronger companies, and drive community impact. This expert-designed curriculum is offered at no cost to qualifying businesses, thanks to ICIC’s funding partners.

To learn more and apply, visit icic.org/iccc.