Fourteen years ago, Michaella Blissett Williams started working as a hairdresser in a basement studio in her brownstone apartment on Bergen Street in Brooklyn. Today, she’s about to open her fifth location. Her journey is a true ICIC success story as Williams’ business, [salon] 718, is a multi-year recipient of the ... Read More

At the Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) culminating conference on November 17 in New York City the program celebrated its 12th year of helping inner city entrepreneurs build capacity, get coaching and access capital. Throughout the day, business owners from around the country showcased products and services, shared success stories, and practiced pitching to investors. Read More

In many cities across the country, preservation of industrial land has become difficult as strong demand for housing has led to the redevelopment of many formerly industrial sites into mixed-use projects that feature housing, retail, and office space. This loss of industrial land raises important and timely questions about how cities are pursuing balanced and equitable economic development. ICIC’s own research has shown that many industrial jobs allow workers to earn a living wage: on average, workers earn 200 percent over federal minimum wage. In addition, industrial areas—often located in inner cities—can provide accessible employment opportunities for local residents. Read More

On November 16-17^th Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC), one of ICIC’s Urban Business Initiatives, held its annual culminating conference at Columbia University in New York City. ICCC helps firms achieve sustained growth through education and training, while increasing the flow of capital to urban businesses and underserved communities. In the last session of the conference, graduates put their ICCC education to work by pitching to potential capital providers. Read More

Small businesses are the backbone of urban economies: They play a critical role in creating jobs for local residents. Yet too often city leaders and economic developers are not prioritizing small businesses when allocating resources to drive growth, focusing their strategies instead on the attraction and retention of large businesses. Read More