Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Business consultant, PO Box 191297, Boston, MA.

ICIC's mission is to promote economic prosperity in America's inner cities through private sector engagement that leads to job, income and wealth creation for local residents.

Tomorrow is a big day for small business owners. Three opportunities are happening across the country, each designed to ...
09/09/2026

Tomorrow is a big day for small business owners. Three opportunities are happening across the country, each designed to help entrepreneurs take their next step.

đź“Ť Los Angeles: Thinking about taking your construction business to the next level? Join our Building for Growth information session to learn how the program can help you strengthen your business and prepare for growth.

🤝 Philadelphia: Meet fellow entrepreneurs, make new connections, and learn more about the upcoming ICCC Philadelphia cohort at our ICAN Philadelphia networking event.

💡 Cultivate Small Business alumni: Have an innovative idea that could help your business work smarter, compete in new ways, or reach its next stage? Applications for Santander’s Next Course Alumni Pitch Competition close tomorrow. Eligible alumni can compete for grants of up to $50,000.

Three opportunities. One day. Plenty of ways to take your next step.

Swipe for the details, then visit icic.org/events to register or apply.

08/31/2026

Small business growth rarely comes from one moment alone. It comes from the right tools, the right support, and the right network to help entrepreneurs turn opportunity into lasting success.

Matthew Wong, owner of Tea and Milk in Brooklyn, knows that journey well. In this video, he shares how Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses helped him strengthen his business, build a new catering revenue stream, expand from one storefront to two, and grow revenue by 25–30%.

His story, shared in the impact report releases by Goldman Sachs last year, is a reminder of what’s possible when resilient small business owners have access to practical education, expert guidance, and a community of peers who understand the realities of entrepreneurship.

Since 2009, ICIC has been proud to serve as the national outreach and recruitment partner for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a program that has helped more than 19,000 entrepreneurs strengthen their companies, create jobs, and expand their impact in communities across the country.

Small businesses. Big network. Lasting impact.

Learn more about Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and how the program helps entrepreneurs build what comes next. https://10ksbapply.com/

Every founder has a story.Behind every successful business are the setbacks, hard choices, lessons, and moments of resil...
08/28/2026

Every founder has a story.

Behind every successful business are the setbacks, hard choices, lessons, and moments of resilience that shape the journey.

In a conversation with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Dreena Whitfield-Brown, founder of WhitPR and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumna, reflects on building her agency, launching the How I Got Here podcast, and creating space for Black women entrepreneurs to share the real stories behind their success.

Since 2009, ICIC has been proud to serve as the national outreach and recruitment partner for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a program that helps entrepreneurs access practical business education, expert guidance, and meaningful connections to support their growth.

Dreena’s story is a powerful reminder that growth is not built through one opportunity or one perfect moment. It is built through honesty, community, and the courage to keep moving forward.

Read the blog to learn more about Dreena’s journey and how honest conversations can help build stronger businesses. https://www.blackenterprise.com/whitpr-podcast-womens-summit-2/

Los Angeles-area construction contractors: want to learn how Building for Growth can help your business prepare for what...
08/27/2026

Los Angeles-area construction contractors: want to learn how Building for Growth can help your business prepare for what’s next?

Join ICIC for an upcoming information session about the 2026 Los Angeles Cohort of Building for Growth, a no-cost hybrid executive education program designed specifically for construction businesses.

This cohort is designed to advance Los Angeles-area contractors’ readiness for increased construction demand driven by wildfire recovery, critical infrastructure upgrades, and preparations for major events such as the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

During the session, you’ll learn how BFG equips construction contractors to compete for Southern California’s growing pipeline of wildfire mitigation, rebuilding, and major-event projects. The ICIC team will also walk through the application questions and process, so you know exactly what to expect.

Taught by construction industry practitioners and experts, BFG supports contractors in building capacity, strengthening financials, increasing bonding capacity, accessing capital, and preparing to secure larger contracts. Key topics include construction law, contract negotiation, estimating, capital readiness, bonding, and growth strategy.
Whether you’re interested in applying or know a contractor who could benefit from this opportunity, this session is a great first step.

Learn more and join the info session to see how BFG can help your construction business scale with confidence: https://icic.org/bfg/info

Entrepreneurship is never just about building a business. It is also about creating space for people, ideas, and communi...
08/26/2026

Entrepreneurship is never just about building a business. It is also about creating space for people, ideas, and community to grow.

A recent Regions Bank article highlights Devon Moody, founder and owner of The 89th Collective, East St. Louis’s first member coworking space. Built as what Devon calls a “legacy launchpad,” The 89th Collective brings founders, creators, nonprofits, and community leaders together to co-work, co-create, and thrive.

Devon first connected with ICIC through the Inner City Capital Connections program in St. Louis, sponsored by Regions Bank. Years later, she says the relationships, resources, and lessons from ICCC continue to support her work.

“ICCC provided me with the community resources and platform to help build a sustainable business and help reach the impact of my business ventures.” – Devon Moody

Her story is a powerful reminder of what happens when entrepreneurs have access to the right support, the right community, and people who believe in their vision.

This year, Regions Bank is sponsoring another ICCC cohort to support St. Louis entrepreneurs and applications are open now.

Read the full article to learn how Devon is creating space for what’s next in East St. Louis and how your business can grow like hers:

https://doingmoretoday.com/creating-space-for-whats-next/?

This Black Business Month, we’re celebrating the Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are creating job...
08/25/2026

This Black Business Month, we’re celebrating the Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are creating jobs, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of the U.S. economy.

Black-owned businesses generated roughly $249 billion in receipts in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a powerful reminder of the impact Black business owners are making across the country.

At ICIC, we’re proud to recognize the Black-owned businesses on the 2025 IC100 list that are growing, leading, and making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Join us in celebrating the top Black-owned businesses on the 2025 IC100 list:
#1 LifePlate
#4 G. Carter Construction, LLC
#6 Shana Bryant Consulting
#14 Overwatch Services, LLC
#17 MD Energy Advisors

Since 1999, ICIC has had the privilege of recognizing more than 1,000 business leaders through the IC100 Awards. These entrepreneurs are creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and showing what’s possible when businesses grow with purpose.

We invite you to explore the full IC100 list and celebrate all of this year’s honorees. https://reports.icic.org/impact-report-2025/programs/inner-city-100/

Boston’s small business community showed up in a big way at our recent ICAN gathering! Small business owners, ICIC alumn...
08/24/2026

Boston’s small business community showed up in a big way at our recent ICAN gathering!

Small business owners, ICIC alumni, partners, and leaders from across the small business support ecosystem came together at EY’s Boston office for an evening of connection, conversation, and community.

That’s what ICAN is all about: bringing business owners together to build relationships, continue learning from one another, expand their networks, and think bigger about what’s possible for their businesses.

At ICIC, we’re proud to support entrepreneurs as they grow and scale, and we’re just as proud of the community that continues long after a program ends.

A special thank you to Jane Steinmetz and EY for hosting us and for their longstanding commitment to supporting small businesses. We’re also grateful to Bank of America and Santander for their support of ICAN markets across the country.

Thank you as well to our friends and partners from Forward Financing, M&T Bank, Boston Main Streets Foundation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and many others who joined us.

It was a terrific evening and a great example of what can happen when entrepreneurs and the small business ecosystem come together!

08/22/2026

What does it take to create possibility when there is no seed capital, no investors, no existing customers, and no clear path forward?

At ICIC’s 2026 Conference in April, Halim Flowers delivered a powerful keynote on entrepreneurship, creativity, and transformational change.

A multidisciplinary artist, author, entrepreneur, Obama Foundation USA Leader, and Emmy Award–documented survivor of two life sentences, Halim speaks about resilience from lived experience. Sentenced at 16, he spent 22 years in prison, where he founded a publishing company, authored 11 books, and began building the intellectual property that would later carry his work to global stages.

His framework is alchemy: transforming impossible conditions into opportunity, creativity, enterprise, and impact.

In this keynote, Halim reminds us that talent and vision often exist in places that are overlooked, underestimated, or under-resourced. His call to action is clear: inner city creativity is oil, and it’s time to build the pipeline.

View the full keynote to hear Halim’s unforgettable message on the value of the future and the power of transformational change: https://youtu.be/CEO9MTkrnQM?si=GrXAac2t7O6uNdYU

Every entrepreneur can point to a moment when someone opened a door.A conversation. An introduction. A mentor’s encourag...
08/20/2026

Every entrepreneur can point to a moment when someone opened a door.

A conversation. An introduction. A mentor’s encouragement. A new connection that changed what felt possible.

At ICIC’s 2026 Annual Conference, Changemakers Take Action, many of those moments were sparked by the Atlanta Steering Committee of ICIC’s Alumni Network. This group of entrepreneurs helped welcome business owners from across the country and create an experience rooted in connection, generosity, and community.

Meet the entrepreneurs who helped make the conference so meaningful, including alumni who stepped into leadership roles, shared their expertise, and reminded us what happens when business owners choose to invest in one another.

Through ICAN, ICIC alumni continue to build relationships, exchange ideas, support one another’s growth, and create opportunities long after a program or event ends.
Because a strong network does not happen by accident. It happens when people keep showing up.

Read the blog to meet the entrepreneurs who welcomed changemakers to Atlanta and learn how ICAN is helping build community that lasts: https://icic.org/blog/the-ripple-effect-of-community/

Philadelphia entrepreneurs, ready to strengthen your business and prepare for your next stage of growth?Join ICIC for a ...
08/14/2026

Philadelphia entrepreneurs, ready to strengthen your business and prepare for your next stage of growth?

Join ICIC for a virtual information session about the 2026 ICCC Philadelphia Cohort on Thursday, August 20, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET.

Inner City Capital Connections is a five-month business accelerator designed for growth-stage entrepreneurs who are ready to build stronger strategy, systems, financial discipline, and capital readiness while continuing to run their businesses.

During the session, you’ll learn how ICCC can help business owners access real-world tools for marketing, customer engagement, data-driven decision-making, capital access, and sustainable growth. You’ll also hear directly from the ICCC team and have the chance to ask questions during an open Q&A.

The ICCC Philadelphia Cohort launches on September 29, and participation is fully funded for qualifying businesses thanks to cohort sponsor Santander Bank.

Applications are open and reviewed on a rolling basis. The cohort is limited to 50 businesses, so interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply early.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Take the first step by signing up for the info session and learning how ICCC can support your growth:

https://www.icic.org/iccc/phillyinfosession

Know a Philadelphia-area business owner who could benefit from ICCC? Share this opportunity with them!

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PO Box 191297
Boston, MA
02119

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