In 1981, when David Nyugen was 19, he found himself leaving Vietnam on a boat headed to Hong Kong, trying to make his way to America. 36 years later, David found himself making the mattress that lies in the Queen’s Bedroom of the White House. Read More

Every year at the Inner City 100 Awards and Conference, ICIC presents an entrepreneur with the Marcia Lamb Inner City Innovation Award, which recognizes visionary leadership at the forefront of creating positive change in urban economic development and inner cities. This year, the honor was presented to Bo Menkiti, CEO of The Menkiti Group and Keller Williams Capital Properties, real estate development and brokerage firms in Washington, DC. Read More

The relationship between universities and their surrounding communities can often prove challenging, with both groups struggling to find a common language for communicating needs and opportunities. In Washington, D.C., Howard University has long had a complex and multilayered relationship with the LeDroit Park neighborhood, located immediately southeast of the university. Read More

ICIC revealed the 100 fastest-growing inner city businesses in America at the 19th annual Inner City 100 Conference and Awards in Boston on October 3rd. The list, which seeks to celebrate and advance urban entrepreneurship, ranks companies by their growth rate during the previous five years. 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