What's New at ICIC
Regional Economic Connectivity: A Strategy to Build Opportunity in Distressed Communities
This report by ICIC and SRI describes regional economic connectivity as an economic development strategy for under-resourced communities.
read the report
What's Your Why?
To commemorate ICIC’s three decades of fostering economic growth and opportunity in underserved communities through groundbreaking research and programs, we are asking program participants, funders, nominators, and staff, “What’s Your Why?” Members of our ecosystem are responding by sharing what motivates them and how their “why” connects them to ICIC. These varied and impactful stories help us to reflect on our journey, fuel our mission, and shape our future.
view stories share your why
Our 2023 Impact Report is Here!
We are delighted to present ICIC’s Annual Impact Report – which showcases transformational journeys and the grit and determination of small business owners. The work of ICIC is more than just a commitment; it is a dedication to creating jobs, income, and wealth for local residents in underserved communities throughout North America. Through this report, we reunite with entrepreneurs who are the heart of the small business community and reflect on their inspirational stories, which give us a renewed energy to execute our charge. As we unveil our yearly Impact Report, it is a moment to celebrate small businesses, often the unsung heroes of our economy.
Impact Report
Supporting Small Business Growth
ICIC offers seven tuition-free development programs that serve small businesses throughout their lifecycle—from startup to succession. Learn more about how our programs can help your small business grow.
View video descriptions
Breaking the Glass Bottleneck
Grove Impact and ICIC released a first-of-its-kind report that documents the many constraints Black and Hispanic real estate developers face and demonstrates the enormous economic potential in removing these barriers. "Breaking the Glass Bottleneck: The Economic Potential of Black and Hispanic Real Estate Developers and the Constraints They Face" explores how catalyzing greater diversity in the real estate industry could address long standing inequities.
Read the Report New York Times Article Webinar ReplayThe Authority on Inclusive Economic Prosperity
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) drives inclusive economic prosperity in under-resourced communities through innovative research and programs to create jobs, income, and wealth for local residents.
Founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City is a national nonprofit research and advisory organization and the leading authority on U.S. under-resourced economies and the businesses that thrive there.
Learn More About ICIC
Work with ICIC
Underserved communities are rich with opportunity. We help business, government and philanthropic leaders leverage local assets to transform communities. Our research team has helped to shape economic development strategies in more than twenty inner cities.
ICIC delivers the knowledge and the know-how to achieve sustainable economic and job growth.
Support ICIC
Whether supporting one of our high-impact urban business programs or the entire organization, our partners know they are choosing to support an organization dedicated to transforming inner cities across the country. Our partners include Bank of America, Chevron, Kaiser Permanente, various foundations and individual donors.
Learn how you can support ICIC’s work
What is an Inner City?
Inner cities are distressed urban and suburban areas of concentrated poverty and low income. Inner city residents represent 14% of the population—that’s 45 million people. Of U.S. residents living in poverty, 31 percent live in inner cities.
Events
BFG Information Session
Join ICIC’s Building for Growth staff and alumni for an overview of the program, which is now accepting applications for the 2024 program year.
Blog
What’s Bernadette’s Why? Partnerships
BC Design Haus is a woman- and Asian-owned, design and branding agency based in Pasadena, California. Bernadette Capulong, the company’s CEO, describes herself as an accidental entrepreneur, having turned to self-employment to replace her income after being laid off during the Great Recession. Since the firm’s official launch in 2015, she has led the company to achieve double-digit revenue growth year over year. BCDH was recognized nationally for its growth, appearing for the second year in a row on the Inner City 100 Awards list in 2023. This success would not be possible without Capulong’s persistent focus on building partnerships with her clients and her team. Her nearly decade-long journey as an entrepreneur has taught her five key lessons: seek out a program like Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, understand that owning a small business is a long game, seek advice from a mentor, hire the right people, and be good to your clients. Read More
ICIC drives inclusive economic prosperity in under-resourced communities through innovative research and programs to create jobs, income, and wealth for local residents.
Contact
PO Box 191297
Roxbury MA 02119
Phone: 617-238-1740
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