What's New at ICIC
ICIC's Innovation Summit
Join us in Los Angeles on April 22-23 for the Innovation Summit, a powerful two-day event designed for small and medium-sized business owners to explore the transformative power of innovation! Connect with forward-thinking entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and economic development experts while gaining cutting-edge insights on embracing the AI revolution, strengthening cybersecurity for your business, and navigating the complexities of a global digital economy.
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AI in Business Report
ICIC’s latest research report, “AI in Business: How Small Business Owners Are Learning, Using, and Navigating Challenges with AI Tools,” explores the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence (AI) presents for small businesses across the United States. The report delivers data-driven recommendations to help businesses, educators, and policymakers address the barriers to AI use by small businesses and ensure that AI adoption is both effective and inclusive.
View Report Webinar Replay
Intuit More with AI Tour
ICIC and Intuit have partnered to launch the More with AI Tour, a nationwide roadshow to educate small and mid-market businesses about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). Kicking off in 2025, the tour includes six in-person events held across the U.S. that will provide small and mid-market businesses with actionable insights and hands-on experience on a range of small business AI tools from Intuit and other companies.
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Meet the 2024 IC100 Award Winners!
Since 1999, ICIC has identified and celebrated the 100 fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced communities across the nation. The 2024 winners were unveiled in December at ICIC's Virtual 30th Anniversary Celebration. View the list to learn more about these incredible businesses.
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Why I Give
Join the Alumni Network in celebrating ICIC’s 30th anniversary through the Why I Give campaign! Your generosity will help us break down barriers, expand opportunities, and empower more entrepreneurs to reach their full potential.
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Structural Barriers to Small Business Success
Explore our interactive tool, created in partnership with Small Business Majority, that illustrates how structural racism affects the small business landscape in the U.S.
View the tool webinar replay
Racial Equity in America's New Industrial Transformation
ICIC recently published "Racial Equity in America's New Industrial Transformation," a first-of-its-kind report that details the impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act on Black- and Hispanic-owned manufacturers. This pivotal study maps out the current landscape and charts a course for significant change to ensure that the benefits of America's industrial renewal are equitably shared.
read the report webinar replay
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
Our 2024 Impact Report is Here!
We are thrilled to unveil our 2024 Impact Report themed “What’s Your Why?” This year’s report encapsulates our core mission: to drive economic growth in under-resourced communities by empowering small businesses and promoting sustainable, equitable development. We invite you to delve into the inspiring narratives of resilience, innovation, and determination shared by our program participants, funding partners, and ecosystem allies, showcasing the profound impact of our collective efforts.
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 descriptionsThe 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.
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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
Blog
A New Era in Party Tents: Tony Ehrbar’s Journey in Innovative Tent Solutions
Inner City 100 (IC100) award winner Tony Ehrbar turned a bold career shift into a thriving business by applying innovative thinking to the tent industry. After acquiring American Tent in 2014, he reimagined traditional approaches, growing the company from three employees to 40 and expanding into a 110,000-square-foot facility. His commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions—such as rethinking tent anchoring methods and incorporating revolutionary sustainable materials into his products—has fueled rapid growth, setting new industry standards. Tony believes innovation is key to sustainability, business success, and community impact. His forward-thinking strategies have helped American Tent scale significantly, earning national recognition as an IC100 award winner. 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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