Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

We want to take a moment to honor the dedication, resilience, and hard work of the small business owners and their teams in our community. Your passion fuels our economy, creates jobs, and brings dreams to life. Today, we celebrate YOU—the heart and soul of entrepreneurship!

We will continue to support and uplift our local small businesses, today and every day.

Happy Labor Day!

Meet Sabine Langer, CEO & Founder of Global Café!

Global is a unique food hall that offers authentic international cuisine at affordable prices, all prepared from scratch by immigrant and refugee food entrepreneurs.
The organization’s dedication to providing opportunities for individuals with no prior experience, offering free English lessons, and paying higher wages than other businesses, has helped its employees achieve significant resettlement milestones, such as buying a home or a personal vehicle.

In 2023, Global Café received recognition on the Inner City 100 Awards list for its outstanding growth. With a remarkable 146.6% four-year average growth rate, the café stands as a testament to the transformative power of empowerment and inclusivity.

Learn more about Langer and Global Café here: https://icic.org/whatsyourwhy/sabine-langer

Don't miss this year's National MBE Manufacturers Summit, which is returning to Atlanta Sept. 22-24. This annual event brings together Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) manufacturers, with a focus this year on the new manufacturing economy. This is your chance to bring a colleague, partner, or friend to experience this incredible event for free! Claim your BOGO deal today! https://mbemanufacturersummit.com

Buy one Summit ticket, get one free!

Celebrate Labor Day with this exclusive BOGO deal for the seventh National MBE Manufacturers Summit in Atlanta. Now through Sept. 3, buy one admission ticket ($299) and get a second one free! This is your chance to bring a colleague, partner, or friend to experience this incredible event.

See you Sept. 22-24 in Atlanta!

Register now! --> https://mbemanufacturersummit.com/

Healthy individuals need healthy communities, and healthy communities need healthy people to thrive.

Kaiser Permanente is working to improve the conditions for health and equity in the community by addressing the root causes of health, such as economic opportunity, affordable housing, safe and supportive schools, and a healthy environment. Kaiser has partnered with ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program to realize its vision for improved wellness outcomes through economic empowerment.

ICIC, in collaboration with Small Business Majority and One Visual Mind, has created an innovative tool for visualizing how structural racism affects entrepreneurism in the top 100 U.S. metropolitan areas. Structural Barriers to Small Business Success is a joint project combining public and private data sources to better understand the business ecosystems in the communities where they live by exploring the relationships between racial and socioeconomic factors and business presence (number of businesses) and business revenue.

Users can explore patterns in industry, revenue, and employment size in fine spatial detail across 100 major metropolitan areas. Additionally, users can explore metro- and state-level summaries of business revenue by business owner race/ethnicity, as well as economic and racial/ethnic characteristics of a neighborhood.

This interactive tool is designed to provide policymakers, community organizers, and other stakeholders with community-specific insights to support thriving business ecosystems in under-resourced communities and communities of color.

We invite you to explore our interactive tool today!

smallbizbarriers.smallbusinessmajority.org

Meet Keisha Mabry Haymore, a St. Louis entrepreneur who found success through the Regions-sponsored Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program!

Keisha's business, heyFriend!, thrived thanks to ICCC. “I did ICCC when I was questioning what to do with my business. You need exposure to resources and tools that take your company to the next level. ICCC empowers you to think strategically and intentionally about growing and scaling.” she says. Now, she's using her ICCC experience to grow another company, Heydays, a co-working space for women founders and founders of color, offering services like accounting, marketing, and virtual assistants.

In October, Regions is bringing ICCC to Miami for its first cohort. Apply now on our website to join a transformative workshop covering marketing, business strategy, talent retention, and more. Gain access to free one-on-one coaching, webinars, and a supportive network of entrepreneurs.
Keisha encourages all fellow entrepreneurs to take the leap and apply!

Learn more about Keisha’s story here: https://doingmoretoday.com/hey-lets-grow/

The U.S. is on the brink of a groundbreaking moment.

Three key federal laws—the IIJA, CHIPS Act, and IRA—authorize nearly $1.5 trillion to transform America's infrastructure, tech, and clean energy sectors. This historic opportunity can also help close racial wealth gaps, but only if businesses from historically disadvantaged groups are part of the manufacturing supply chains.

Our report, "Racial Equity in America’s New Industrial Transformation," reveals critical insights:
▪️ Black-owned and Hispanic-owned manufacturers make up just 0.5% and 0.8% of all manufacturers in key supply chains.
▪️ These minority-owned manufacturers are larger than their white-owned counterparts in 13 supply chains.
▪️ California and Texas are vital for both Black- and Hispanic-owned firms, similar to white-owned ones.

Missed our webinar on June 24th? No worries! The replay is now available, and we've also published a FAQ about our research findings. Hear from experts like U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, Ying McGuire, and Howard Wial, on the implications of this transformative legislation.

Watch the replay and check out the FAQ to learn more! https://icic.org/research/industry-clusters/racial-equity-in-americas-new-industrial-transformation/

📢 Attention Florida Small-Business Owners! 📢

Regions Bank is bringing the ICCC tuition-free business development program to Miami for the first time ever!

Dubbed a "mini-MBA," ICCC offers executive-level business education tailored for local entrepreneurs. Learn from top professors from Harvard, Dartmouth, NYU, and more—all designed to fit your busy schedule and maximize results.

Mark your calendars for the all-day business education session on Tuesday, Oct. 8! 📅 This program is filled with aha moments and key takeaways you can't miss.

The application deadline is Sept. 13, but hurry—space is limited!

Don't miss this chance to grow your business! Apply now!

icic.org/iccc/apply

For a decade, Regions Bank has worked with ICIC to bring the Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program to Birmingham, Memphis, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, and Nashville. This year, for the first time, Regions is proudly bringing the program to Miami.

By providing local entrepreneurs access to capital, education, and resources for growth, Regions is helping create shared value by strengthening economically distressed small business ecosystems throughout its footprint.

Our partnership is about more than training. It is about creating more inclusive prosperity throughout the communities Regions serves.

At ICIC, we know that AI is not just the future; it's a current and evolving reality for small- and medium-sized businesses everywhere. That’s why we’ve launched the AI For Small Business Survey – and we need your help to make it count!

We invite the owners of small- and medium-sized businesses to take the 7-10 minute survey to help us gather insights into how business owners use AI, their comfort level with AI, and the barriers they may face to utilizing AI tools. As a token of appreciation, the first 300 respondents to complete the survey will receive a $20 Visa gift card.

Take the survey: https://icic.org/AIsurvey.

The survey will close on Friday, August 23. Your participation will make a real difference for countless entrepreneurs grappling with integrating AI into their business operations.

Have you seen the recent report, "Industrial Land Use in Saint Paul, Minnesota," released by ICIC's research team?

The study found that light industrial businesses, like breweries and small manufacturers, provide high-paying jobs without requiring postsecondary education. Despite providing significant value to the community, negative perceptions and real estate pressures threaten light industry by pushing for residential or retail conversions.

ICIC's research (2022-2024), sponsored by the Saint Paul Port Authority, highlights the vital role of these businesses:
🔹 Light industrial properties return $1.45 for each city dollar spent.
🔹 Industrial jobs pay higher average wages than non-industrial ones.
🔹 Industrial jobs are spreading beyond historic hubs.
🔹 Businesses located in the Port Authority’s redevelopment projects supported $9.3B in economic activity and 43,491 jobs in 2022.

Discover more in our detailed report!
https://icic.org/research/industry-clusters/industrial-land-use-saint-paul-mn/industrial-and-non-industrial-jobs-and-land-use-st-paul-mn/

In celebration of ICIC's 30th anniversary, we are excited to announce the Why I Give Campaign, a new opportunity for alumni of ICIC’s programs to honor our 30-year legacy and propel us into the future, empowering more entrepreneurs and small businesses to flourish in an increasingly competitive world.

We invite program alumni to join us in investing in ICIC’s next chapter and pay it forward for the next generation. Your generosity will help us break down barriers, expand opportunities, and empower more entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. Together, we can continue to drive job creation, close the racial wealth gap, and build stronger, more resilient communities.

Donate today to this pivotal campaign to commemorate ICIC’s past and secure its vibrant future.

https://icic.org/whyigive

Meet Beth Nodland, CEO of Juniper Environmental in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Beth, a North Dakota native, worked globally before returning to the Badlands to preserve the region’s history and culture. Founded in 2007, Juniper Environmental is the only certified woman-owned environmental and cultural consulting firm in North Dakota. The company, with 15 employees, conducts ecological, environmental, and geological studies, consults on water resources, infrastructure, and transportation planning, and utilizes geospatial technologies.

Beth connected with ICIC through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, becoming the first North Dakota business to complete one of their programs. This helped her navigate payment delays from large corporations and government agencies and facilitated the purchase of a historic building in downtown Bismarck, now Juniper’s headquarters.

Beth has since participated in multiple ICIC programs and says, “I feel like at various points, the program has invited me to reengage with the whole process and think about it again. There have been several times where I have revisited the goals that I set in that (first) program. It keeps re-inspiring me.”

Learn more about Beth, Juniper Environmental, and the ICIC programs that helped her business flourish in our 2023 annual report:

https://reports.icic.org/impact-report-2023/

Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is back in Canada for the fourth time in 2024, thanks to Pizza Hut Canada's support through YUM’s Unlocking Opportunity Initiative! 🎉

ICCC’s Equal Slice Program offers free education, mentorship, and grants to small business owners from underrepresented communities. Participants have a chance to win one of five $20,000 CAD grants to boost their businesses!

📅 This year, ICCC will present two Canada Cohorts, so mark your calendars:

In-person Opening Seminar in Toronto: October 9th, 2024

Virtual Opening Seminar: October 28th & 31st, 2024

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity! Learn more and join the program: icic.org/iccc

Join us for an exciting evening at the ICIC Back Bay Business Mixer!

Network with fellow Inner City Alumni Network (ICAN) members, local partners, and the ICIC team on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. at the Ernst & Young Boston Office in Back Bay.

Enjoy complimentary refreshments, reconnect with old friends, and make new connections. This is the perfect opportunity to expand your network and share ideas. Don't miss out!

🗓️ Save the date and get ready for an evening of connections and conversations! Register here: https://icic.org/ican/boston

Tag a fellow entrepreneur who should join you!

ICIC is proud to be the national outreach and selection partner for Goldman Sachs' innovative and influential 10,000 Small Businesses initiative—a role we've embraced since its launch in 2009.

This program has been an incredible success, with over 14,000 businesses graduating, employing more than 245,000 people, and generating over $17 billion in annual revenue.

In 2023, Goldman Sachs committed $100 million to expand this top-tier program to rural America. A Goldman Sachs survey found that while 86% of small businesses in rural communities plan to grow, only 7% feel they receive adequate private sector support.

Small businesses are the backbone of rural America, providing essential jobs and driving local economies. The 10KSB program has already launched in Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota, with plans to reach additional rural small business owners across 20 states over the next five years.

Learn more about this impactful initiative here: https://reports.icic.org/impact-report-2023/program-updates/10000-small-

August is National Black Business Month!

Join us in celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black-owned businesses across the U.S. In 2023, ICIC proudly served over 3,000 businesses in 56 states, territories, and Canadian provinces. Impressively, 72% of these were BIPOC-owned, and 65% were woman-owned.

Last December, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Inner City 100 (IC100) awards, recognizing businesses that drive job growth and community prosperity. Of our 2023 winners, 57% were BIPOC-led.

Special shoutout to the top 5 Black-owned businesses on the 2023 IC100 list:
Jones Software Corporation ( #5)
J.A.H. Financial Services & Real Estate ( #10)
Live Your Song ( #11)
Aspire Construction & Design ( #13)
Overwatch Services DBA City Safe Partners Security ( #15)

Let's honor Black business owners and recognize the vital support they receive from these transformative programs. Together, we can continue to empower and uplift our communities!

We’re excited to be featured in Boston Business Journal’s Partners with a Purpose article, highlighting our partnership with Forward Financing! Partners with a Purpose is the BBJ’s monthly spotlighting of effective and unique partnerships between businesses and nonprofits.

With closely aligned missions, the partnership allows us to provide entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities with critical business education and access to capital.

https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2024/07/05/partners-with-a-purpose-forward-financing-icic.html

ICIC's Inner City Alumni Network (ICAN) returns to Atlanta tomorrow, Thursday, July 11! Entrepreneurs, this is your opportunity to participate in invaluable business networking and forge essential connections for your business growth. See you there! https://icic.org/icanatl

🤝 Innovate Atlanta: Igniting B2B Connections
🗓 Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 6-8 p.m.
📍 5Church Midtown

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 Wishing everyone a safe and joyful holiday!

ICYMI, the June edition of Insights highlighting Santander's Cultivate Small Business program is now available! https://mailchi.mp/icic.org/june-insights

Happy Pride Month🏳️‍🌈! ICIC is celebrating Pride Month by highlighting Marcus Williams, the Principal Consultant of MW Consulting.

Williams is a native of Washington, D.C. who grew up in a troubled, underserved neighborhood. Despite the statistics and news suggesting that a black boy from his community, raised in a toxic family environment, would not succeed, Williams defied the odds and surpassed expectations.

As a member of multiple marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, Williams approaches entrepreneurship from a unique perspective. He shares, “It’s a constant reminder to have an inclusive lens on everything that I do.” Growing up as a black man in a disadvantaged neighborhood, Williams understands the need for additional resources in these communities. In both his personal life and business, he is dedicated to providing opportunities to young people who are facing similar challenges as he did as a child.

Read more of Marcus Williams' incredible journey at https://icic.org/whatsyourwhy/marcus-williams.

🌈

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This day honors the stories, achievements, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, and provides an opportunity to celebrate and learn about the unique cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

In celebration of this holiday, we are highlighting Bizzybody Enterprises, an Indigenous-owned and operated business that offers education and training to entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and reinventors from Northern, Indigenous, and New Canadian communities. Founded by ICCC alumna Jocelyn Eisert, the organization leads initiatives that foster inclusion, connection, and belonging within the Indigenous community. https://icic.org/blog/jocelyn-eisert/

Join our closely aligned partner, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, for a webinar reviewing highlights from their latest economic impact report on Monday, June 24th at 3 p.m. ET.
https://hubs.li/Q02C72t40

Happy Freedom Day! Today commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. Let's take this time to reflect on and celebrate this important day in history and continue to work towards equality and freedom for all. Here are a few ways to observe the holiday:

🎟 Attend local Juneteenth events
🎨 Visit a Black museum or cultural site
✊🏾 Support Black businesses, organizations, and individuals in your community

ICIC Research recently released "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. To address the disparities it highlights, the report includes six groups of recommendations to create a more inclusive environment for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector:
🔹 Increasing capital access for Black and Hispanic-owned businesses to stimulate growth and innovation.
🔹 Improving the flexibility and competitiveness of minority-owned suppliers with technical assistance and training.
🔹 Identifying and removing barriers in the advanced manufacturing STEM education pipeline, crucial for nurturing startup companies.
🔹 Reforming the procurement practices of large purchasers to increase opportunities for Black- and Hispanic-owned companies in manufacturing.
🔹 Collecting and disseminating data about supply chains in advanced manufacturing.
🔹 Taking advantage of opportunities Black- and Hispanic-owned manufacturers may have to operate at lower tiers of their supply chains and hire residents of under-resourced communities.

To learn more about the findings and recommendations, join us at the webinar on Monday, June 24th at 2 p.m. ET. We will be joined by U.S. Representative Ro Khanna and Ying McGuire, CEO and President of NMSDC, who will provide keynote remarks on the implications of this report. Howard Wial, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at ICIC, will present the findings of the report. Following the presentation, we will host a roundtable discussion moderated by Susan Helper, Frank Tracy Carlton Professor of Economics at Case Western Reserve University and former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce and a member of the White House Staff.

Register today: https://icic.org/research/webinar-registration.