As America’s workforce ages, new industries in need of cutting-edge skills are growing rapidly. Businesses are primed for hiring and creating new jobs, yet many workers find themselves in need of training and education to take advantage of these emerging opportunities. However, employer demand for skilled labor has started to align with the workforce’s appetite for training in ways that produce mutually beneficial outcomes. 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

While businesses have spent decades fleeing inner cities, their return to Chicago’s forgotten districts has helped create a new economic future for the city. Read More

While a cohesive company culture can drive employee loyalty and engagement, it can do more than that: it can actually drive company success. Read More

Despite the proliferation and growing support for incubators and accelerators, especially in the technology sector, data and research measuring their performance is surprisingly limited. Some incubators and accelerators simply don’t capture any data on their programs or the businesses they support. And those tracking robust performance metrics often lack benchmarks ... Read More