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

In February ICIC and Massachusetts 6^th District Congressman Seth Moulton announced a partnership to strengthen the small business ecosystem in his district’s seven cities. Moulton’s North Shore district is the first in the nation to offer ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program as part of a region-wide strategy to stimulate business growth and job creation. 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

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is perhaps best known for its affordable housing programs or programs to help disadvantaged residents find safe, secure housing alternatives. These programs are critically important for our inner cities, as are HUD’s financing tools that help fill developers’ capital stacks when building new housing. Read More

Sometimes it feels as though there is nothing our policymakers in Washington can agree upon. But amid the discord affecting our nation’s capital is a glimmer of hope: Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Congressmen Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Rob Kind (D-WI) have reintroduced legislation that would incentivize the private sector to make long-term investments aimed at improving distressed communities. Read More