ICCC New Jersey 2025 brings together established small business owners who are focused on scaling their companies and strengthening their communities. Through Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC), entrepreneurs receive hands-on technical assistance, executive education, one-on-one coaching, and access to capital expertise designed to help them grow with structure and intention. Sarabjit Sawhney, founder of South Amboy Kitchen, and Lydia Barron, founder of Lydia Barron Consulting Group, share how ICCC supports business owners as they apply strategic thinking, financial discipline, and practical tools to real-world growth challenges—translating ambition into sustainable, long-term success. Read More

ICIC’s ICCC program, in partnership with Amazon and Arctaris Impact Investors, recently marked the completion of the 2025 Amazon Accelerate and Empower Program at a capstone event hosted by Miles College. Forty four small businesses from across the Delta Region completed the ten week curriculum, gaining tools to strengthen procurement readiness, refine strategy, and expand capacity. Among them was Active Energy Services, a veteran owned, woman owned Tennessee contractor whose leaders, Tena and Rich Everett, credit the program with sharpening their vision and elevating their operations. Through expert led instruction, one to one coaching, and a collaborative cohort experience, they refined their messaging, strengthened internal processes, and identified new opportunities for growth. The capstone showcased the progress of every participating firm, underscoring the program’s value for business owners seeking structure, clarity, and high level guidance as they scale their business. Read More

ICIC's recent research has emerged as a catalyst for change in diversifying real estate development, shedding light on the stark underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic developers who collectively make up less than 1% of private developers nationwide. The groundbreaking report, "Breaking the Glass Bottleneck," quantifies this representation crisis and emphasizes the pivotal role of access to public and private resources for the growth of developers of color. The research has not only unveiled disparities but has also influenced policies and initiatives, including the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Emerging Developer Report, which identifies key opportunities and challenges faced by developers of color. As the industry grapples with challenges, ICIC's research stands as a guiding force toward positive transformation and equitable opportunities in real estate development. Read More

The Opportunity Zone program is the nation’s latest public policy attempt to encourage private investment in America’s economically distressed areas. In his policy brief, ICIC Senior Vice President and Director of Research Howard Wial argues that Opportunity Zones will benefit distressed communities only if investors, local governments, community organizations, and other organizations with a stake in the economic progress of low-income communities abide by four fundamental principles to guide investments in the zones. Read More

Written by Zachary Nieder and Kim Zeuli As we wrote in our Arts and Culture Organizations—The Overlooked Anchors blog in May, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and the Kresge Foundation’s Arts and Culture Program have joined forces to explore the degree of anchor engagement among arts and culture ... Read More