Martha De La Torre, founder and CEO of El Clasificado, a Spanish-language weekly, is the kind of person who embodies ICIC’s enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. Recently named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women of Influence, her success has stemmed from dedication to her business model, her employees, and her community. Read More

The influx of new residents, accompanied by a growing number of restaurants, coffee shops, retail outlets, and other amenities to serve them, has transformed many urban neighborhoods over the past decade. A walk through any low-income, inner city neighborhood, however, often reveals a different reality. While many of these neighborhoods have also grown in population, the mix and number of shops serving local consumers seem to differ from other parts of the city. Read More

As America’s workforce ages, new industries in need of cutting-edge skills are growing rapidly. Businesses are primed for hiring and creating new jobs, yet many workers find themselves in need of training and education to take advantage of these emerging opportunities. However, employer demand for skilled labor has started to align with the workforce’s appetite for training in ways that produce mutually beneficial outcomes. Read More

In cities across the U.S., rising commercial rents are threatening the viability of local, independently-owned businesses. Mom and pop shops are being priced out by national chains. Residential developers in search of a large-scale housing opportunity are pressuring the industry to relocate. A study by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) ... Read More

B Corporations are taking center stage as the future of what sustainable, thriving companies can look like. Standing for “beneficial,” B Corporations (or B Corps) have high levels of social and environmental engagement, transparent practices, and legal accountability. They meet certain legal and performance requirements set up by B Lab, ... Read More