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

For more than a decade, Regions Bank has been a vital community partner powering ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program. Together, they’ve kept the program tuition-free, expanded its national reach, and helped growth-minded entrepreneurs turn ideas into jobs and investment. Through this collaboration, ICCC has supported small-business owners from South Florida to St. Louis, across major Southern cities like Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham, and throughout markets such as Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, and Dallas.

Regions’ community engagement strategy aligns directly with ICCC’s mission: providing practical education, targeted coaching, access to capital, and a supportive peer network. Each cohort offers a no-cost, 40-hour “mini-MBA,” one-on-one coaching with ICCC experts and Regions associates, and connections to lenders and mentors that sustain growth long after the program ends.

Together, ICIC and Regions Bank are building ecosystems of capital, confidence, and community—helping under-resourced entrepreneurs scale their businesses and strengthen the neighborhoods they serve.

Veteran and military-connected entrepreneurs carry a remarkable drive into their work, shaped by years of service and problem-solving under pressure. Yet when it comes to building or expanding a business, many still face barriers that can stall momentum—finding the right funding, rebuilding networks after service, or learning the parts of business ownership that aren’t always intuitive. ICIC’s new ICCC Veterans’ Cohort, supported by Kaiser Permanente and launching in San Diego this winter, is designed to meet those needs head-on. The program offers executive education, one-on-one coaching, and a community of peers who understand the transition from service to entrepreneurship. It’s a space where founders can strengthen their strategy, build confidence, and gain access to opportunities that can move their businesses forward. Explore how the cohort is opening doors for veteran-owned businesses ready for their next chapter. Read More

Kenya and Kevin Jones of Jones Software Corporation earned the inaugural Intuit Innovation Award for their AI-powered learning solutions. With guidance from ICIC’s ICCC program, they strengthened growth strategies and forged key partnerships, scaling their impact. Their award-winning work, including contributions to the Microsoft Copilot launch, shows how vision and persistence create real impact. Read More