Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

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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.

10/27/2026

Looking to strengthen your business, explore new opportunities, or gain practical strategies for growth? ICIC has three upcoming webinars designed to help small business owners do just that!

From navigating procurement changes to strengthening HR practices and exploring AI, these sessions offer expert guidance and actionable insights to help your business thrive.

📅 Thursday, October 29 | 12:00–4:30 p.m. ET
Advanced Strategies for Experienced Contractors

Part of ICIC’s Alumni Network (ICAN) Business Growth Forum Procurement Summit, this session is designed for experienced contractors looking to stay competitive and pursue larger opportunities.

Attendees will explore:

🔹 Navigating changes in corporate and government procurement
🔹 Leveraging certifications and strategic partnerships
🔹 Connecting with corporate buyers and exploring new opportunities

📅 Tuesday, November 3 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET
Care Meets Compliance: Building an HR Foundation That Works as Hard as You Do

Strong HR practices go beyond compliance. Learn how to protect your business while supporting your employees, strengthening workplace culture, improving retention, and identifying HR priorities that matter most.

📅 Thursday, November 5 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
AI for Small Business (Presented in Spanish)

Part of ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) Spanish-language webinar series in partnership with M&T Bank, this session will explore practical ways AI can help small businesses save time, improve efficiency, and grow.

Hear from an ICCC instructor and University of Missouri professor about useful AI tools, where to start, and common mistakes to avoid.

Whether you're looking to strengthen your operations, explore new tools, or prepare for future opportunities, there's something for you!

Learn more and register: https://icic.org/events/

10/26/2026

What does it take to grow a business by more than 11,000% in just five years?

For Christopher and Deana Young, founders of LifePlate, the answer starts with strong relationships, a dedicated team, and a commitment to making healthy food more accessible.
That approach has helped LifePlate company achieve an incredible 11,377.94% revenue growth from 2020 to 2024, earning them the #1 spot on ICIC’s 2025 Inner City 100 (IC100) list! 🎉 We're proud to celebrate Christopher, Deana, and the entire LifePlate team on this well-deserved recognition. As a 2022 graduate of Santander’s Cultivate Small Business (CSB) program, LifePlate is also a wonderful example of the lasting impact of investing in entrepreneurs.

Through CSB, Christopher and Deana gained valuable opportunities to refine their business plan, strengthen their strategy, and prepare for future growth. This year, we're also celebrating 10 years of Cultivate Small Business and the partnership that has helped food entrepreneurs like LifePlate gain the education, mentorship, connections, and resources they need to thrive.

And there's even more to celebrate as we look ahead! 🏆 November 18: The Next Course Alumni Pitch Competition in Boston
🎓 December: Graduation for the Fall 2026 CSB cohort
📅 December 1: Applications open for the Spring 2027 cohort, with applications
accepted through February 4!

Congratulations again to Christopher, Deana, and the entire LifePlate team! We're proud to share your story and excited to see what the next chapter brings for the CSB community.

Read the full blog to learn more about LifePlate's remarkable journey: https://icic.org/blog/how-lifeplate-built-a-growth-story-by-staying-close-to-its-customers/

Interested in joining a future Cultivate Small Business cohort? Registration for upcoming information sessions is open now!

Learn more and sign up through the link in our bio or at icic.org/programs/csb/infosession.

10/23/2026

A big thank you to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) for its continued partnership and commitment to helping New Jersey's small businesses grow and thrive!

Through its support of ICIC's Building for Growth (BFG) program, NJEDA is helping create valuable opportunities for construction business owners across the state to access the education, tools, mentorship, and connections they need to succeed.

Offered in partnership with NJEDA and Kean University, this no cost executive education program is designed to help construction companies strengthen their operations, build capacity, compete for larger contracts, and develop strategies for sustainable growth.

We're grateful to NJEDA for recognizing the potential of New Jersey's construction entrepreneurs and investing in resources that help them build stronger businesses, create opportunities, and contribute to their local communities.

Thank you, NJEDA, for being such a valued partner in advancing inclusive economic growth across New Jersey!

Learn more about Building for Growth in New Jersey: icic.org/bfg/NJ

10/23/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Building for Growth (BFG) New Jersey graduates! 🎓🎉

On October 8, we gathered at Kean University in Union, NJ, to celebrate our second BFG New Jersey cohort alongside graduates, families, instructors, and program partners for an afternoon of reflection, recognition, and connection.

This year’s celebration was especially exciting as we also recognized participants in Climate Ready, a four-part workshop series exploring opportunities in green infrastructure and climate resilience.

🌱 42 businesses completed the Climate Ready series, including 10 previous BFG New Jersey graduates! Through expert-led discussions, real-world examples, and a visit to The Watershed Institute, participants explored stormwater management, coastal resilience, living shorelines, and opportunities for climate-resilient construction.

The graduation featured remarks from Dr. Michael Salvatore of Kean University, Jermaine Pharmes of NJEDA, ICIC CEO Steve Grossman, Alex Rivera of Kean University's John S. Watson Institute, and BFG's Steve Lamar and Monica Chenier. We also heard a wonderful class reflection from Yuliya Gimadiev, CEO of The Best Shades.

A special thank you to our Climate Ready instructors and experts, Michael L. Pisauro Jr., Steve Tuorto, Christopher Obropta, Andre’ Masud, Jon K. Miller, Clay Emerson, and Teresa Doss, for sharing their knowledge and insights.

We're grateful to our partners at NJEDA and Kean University for helping make these opportunities possible and supporting New Jersey contractors as they build stronger, more sustainable businesses.

And we're already looking ahead to 2027!

Interested in growing your construction business and preparing to compete for larger contracts? Applications for our third BFG New Jersey cohort are now open!

Learn more and apply: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/9065741/2027-Building-for-Growth-in-New-Jersey-Initial-Application

10/15/2026

ICIC is heading to New Orleans for Opportunity Next: 2026 Opportunity Finance Network Conference!

If you’ll be attending the conference from October 20–23, we invite you to join ICIC’s Howard Wial, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, for the session From Goals to Measurement: Building an Impact Framework That Fits on October 22 at 2:45 p.m.

This interactive session will explore how CDFIs can approach impact measurement in a way that aligns with their organizational goals, business clients, and the communities they serve. Rather than starting with a fixed set of metrics, attendees will learn how to move from goals and intended outcomes to an impact framework and practical measures.

Howard will moderate the session alongside fellow presenters Aliana Pineiro of Boston Impact Initiative, Sahra Halpern of Business Consortium Fund, and Paul Quintero of Ascendus.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses will also have a table at the conference, so be sure to stop by and connect.

We hope to see you in New Orleans!

10/14/2026

Growth does not always wait until you feel ready.

For Monica Ferracioli, CEO of Sorbae Frozen Treats, building a business has meant learning when to take risks, when to focus, and how to create the systems needed to support what comes next.

What began as a personal search for a frozen dessert that felt accessible for people with allergies or dietary restrictions, exciting, and genuinely delicious has grown into a New Bedford-based business serving communities across Massachusetts and Rhode Island through mobile catering, pop-ups, and events.

Through Santander’s Cultivate Small Business program, Monica gained valuable tools to evaluate opportunities, focus her growth strategy, and strengthen the foundation behind Sorbae’s next stage.

Her story is a powerful reminder for entrepreneurs: growth is not always about doing more. Sometimes, it is about choosing the right opportunity and trusting yourself enough to take the next step.

Read the full blog to learn more about Monica’s journey and how Sorbae Frozen Treats is building for the future: https://icic.org/blog/when-your-business-is-ready-for-more-but-youre-not-sure-you-are/

10/13/2026

The energy, insight, and connections from this year’s ICIC Annual Conference are a powerful reminder of what happens when small business owners, partners, and experts come together with a shared goal: helping businesses grow.

That same spirit continues through ICIC’s Alumni Network (ICAN) Business Growth Forum webinar series.

Join us on Thursday, October 22 for Contracting Foundations for Small Businesses, the first session of the Procurement Summit designed for small business owners who are new to contracting or preparing to pursue their first corporate or government opportunities.

Procurement can open the door to steady, long-term growth, but knowing where to begin can be one of the hardest parts. This session will bring together economists, government representatives, brand experts, and capital providers to help business owners better understand today’s landscape and prepare to compete.

Attendees will gain insight into:
🔹Today’s economic outlook for small businesses
🔹Local, state, and federal contracting opportunities
🔹 How to stand out in a crowded marketplace
🔹 Financial tools and resources for preparing to take on contracts

This session is tailored to new or inexperienced businesses looking to enter the contracting space.

Register today: https://icic.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/event/home/foundationsprocurement

10/12/2026

Accessing capital is not always as simple as finding a funder and applying.

For many growing businesses, the path to funding starts much earlier — with strengthening financials, clarifying capital needs, preparing key documentation, refining business strategy, and understanding which type of funding is the right fit.

Join us on Tuesday, October 13, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET for The Path to Funding: Who Can Help You Along the Way, an interactive webinar with Arrey Phillips and Oscar Franco of Founders First Capital Partners.

This session will help business owners better understand the funding journey and the advisors, business support organizations, professional service firms, and growth partners who can support them along the way.

Attendees will learn how to:
🔹 Understand the path from identifying a capital need to connecting with funders
🔹 Assess funding readiness and identify gaps in financials, documentation, cash flow, and strategy
🔹 Know who can help at each stage of the process
🔹 Take practical next steps toward funding options that align with business needs and growth goals

If your business is preparing to access capital, this webinar will help you better understand where to start and who can help you move forward.

Register today: https://icic.my.salesforce-sites.com/iccc/event/home/pathtofunding

10/09/2026

October is Manufacturing Month, and we’re celebrating the small manufacturers who are building, producing, and driving innovation in communities across the country.

This month, ICIC is proud to recognize a special milestone for our Fall 2026 Manufacturing Accelerator Program (MAP) cohort: they are officially halfway through the program!

MAP is a national, virtual executive education program designed to help small manufacturing businesses gain the education, tools, and actionable strategies they need to grow and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.

Through 12 classes, 61 participants across 22 states are strengthening their business strategies, connecting with peers, and learning from industry experts as they work toward the next stage of growth.

Congratulations to the Fall 2026 MAP cohort on reaching this milestone. We’re excited to continue cheering you on through the rest of the program!
Interested in joining MAP?

Let us know: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8993865/MAP-Interest-Form

10/08/2026

There are two final opportunities to join ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program in 2026!

ICCC is a national business accelerator designed for growth-stage entrepreneurs who are ready to strengthen their companies, access new strategies and tools, and scale to the next level.

Through executive education, peer learning, coaching, and capital readiness support, ICCC helps business owners build stronger operations, make smarter decisions, and unlock new opportunities. Participation is offered at no cost to qualifying businesses thanks to ICIC’s national network of funding partners.
Upcoming 2026 Cohorts:

🔹National Veterans Cohort
⏰Virtual Opening Seminar: Tuesday, October 20
Designed for veteran- and military-connected small business owners, this virtual cohort focuses on turning leadership and tactical strengths into business strategy, with support around procurement, capital readiness, AI integration, and peer networking.

🔹 Miami Cohort
⏰In-Person Opening Seminar: Tuesday, October 27
This hybrid cohort is open to growth-stage small businesses ready to scale, access capital, and explore innovation tools like AI. Miami ICCC graduates will also have the opportunity to pitch their businesses in an in-person competition for $5,000 in total prizes, including a $2,500 first-place award.

Space is limited, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all seats are filled.

Apply today: icic.org/iccc/apply

Address

PO Box 191297
Boston, MA
02119

Website

https://linktr.ee/icicorg

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