Annual Impact Report
As we share ICIC’s 2025 Impact Report, themed The Year of Innovation, we celebrate the creativity, determination, and ingenuity that define the entrepreneurs and programs we support. For more than 30 years, ICIC has combined rigorous research with practical programs to help small businesses in under-resourced communities grow, create jobs, and strengthen local economies.
Innovation takes many forms. It appears when a business owner tests a new idea, adapts to a challenge, or finds a better way to serve their team and community. It also shows up in the ways ICIC programs evolve to meet the changing needs of entrepreneurs. In 2025, we explored innovation across our organization. From new approaches to executive education and technical assistance to applied research on how small business owners are using AI and other tools, we continued to refine how we support entrepreneurs.
This report highlights that dual focus. You will find stories from alumni who met real-world challenges with resourcefulness and intention, alongside updates on programs that have adapted and innovated to support small business owners more effectively. Together, these stories and insights illustrate the practical, human, and collaborative nature of innovation.
Behind every story and statistic is a business owner pushing forward, making decisions that shape their businesses, their communities, and the broader economy. As you explore this report, we invite you to see innovation not as a single moment but as an ongoing practice, a shared journey that helps ICIC and the entrepreneurs we serve build a more resilient and thriving economy for all.