Pizza Hut Canada, in collaboration with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), is making significant strides in empowering Canadian entrepreneurs through the Equal Slice Program. As a part of YUM’s Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, this partnership offers free education, mentorship, and grants to small business owners from underrepresented communities across Canada through the Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program. The Equal Slice Program allows participants to compete for $20,000 CAD grants aimed at fueling the growth and scalability of their businesses. Pizza Hut Canada's General Manager, Lauren Leahy, emphasizes the commitment to providing access to capital, coaching, and education through this initiative, fostering an ecosystem of fair opportunities. The program's impact is evident in the success stories of 2022 grant recipients, including Carolyn Simon of Choose Life Foods, Tique Chandler of Chandler Honey, Dodie Ellenbogen of County Bounty Artisanal Soda Co., Susan Keast of Resources Ink, and Danielle Murrell Cox of Zuri & Dre. In collaboration with ICIC, Pizza Hut Canada continues to be a driving force behind the growth and resilience of small businesses, embodying a shared vision for inclusive economic growth and community empowerment. Read More

Health is everyone’s business. It’s going to take all of us to create a stronger, healthier future for everyone in America. The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is proud to partner with Health Action Alliance to support the business community’s response to COVID-19. Read More

New research from the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City begins to integrate what are frequently treated as two separate policy initiatives: food waste and resilience planning. Read More

The City of Oakland believes in the work and the approach of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and we support the annual Inner City 100 Symposium as a great asset to showcase the importance of inner cities like Oakland’s. Read More

The Manufacturing Accelerator Program: High Growth Strategies for Manufacturers (MAP) is a new, tuition-free executive education initiative designed to help primarily BIPOC- and woman-owned manufacturing businesses achieve sustainable growth. Developed by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) in partnership with Harvard Business School Professor Lynda Applegate and the ... Read More