Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

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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.

06/17/2026

Meet LifePlate, the 2025 IC100 Business Growth Award winner!

Presented by ICIC, the Business Growth Award recognizes the fastest-growing business on the IC100 list, based on percentage revenue growth from 2020 through 2024.

Co-founded by Christopher and Deana Young, LifePlate is a plant-forward meal delivery company serving homes, offices, and schools with fresh, flavorful meals that make healthy eating more accessible. From hot lunch delivery for students to ready-to-eat meal options and cooking experiences, LifePlate is helping families and communities rethink what healthy food can look and taste like.

For Christopher and Deana, growth has been about more than numbers. It has been rooted in relationships, community, and a commitment to meeting the needs of their neighbors. As they continue to expand their impact, LifePlate is showing what’s possible when a business grows with purpose.

Congratulations to LifePlate on this well-deserved recognition!

Santander Bank US , LifePlate

06/16/2026

ICIC is excited to announce the expansion of our Building for Growth (BFG) program to Greater Los Angeles, launching in Fall 2026.

BFG helps construction contractors strengthen their operations, improve financial readiness and bonding capacity, build connections to capital and procurement opportunities, and position their companies to compete for larger, more complex projects.

In Los Angeles, this work is especially timely. As the region faces significant construction demand tied to wildfire recovery, infrastructure investment, and upcoming global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and LA28, local contractors have an important opportunity to help shape the region’s next chapter.
Learn more and apply using the link in bio.

We are grateful to the many partners and leaders who met with us, shared their expertise, and helped deepen our understanding of the Los Angeles small business and construction ecosystem, including:

Long Beach SBDC, AECOM, Hospital Association of Southern California, Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council, Department of Angels, LA City Council, National Association of Minority Contractors Southern California, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation, Inclusive Action for the City, City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic & Business Policy, Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Contract Administration, WBENC, Los Angeles Business Council, The Home Depot, Turner Construction, and Kaiser Permanente.

Thank you for helping us build a program that is grounded in the needs, opportunities, and realities of the Los Angeles market. Through BFG, ICIC is committed to helping local construction businesses not only access opportunity, but build the capacity to lead, grow, and create lasting economic impact in their communities.

06/15/2026

Small manufacturing businesses need more than ambition to grow — they need the right strategies, tools, and support to compete in today’s marketplace.

ICIC’s Manufacturing Accelerator Program: High-Growth Strategies for Manufacturers is a national, virtual executive education program designed specifically for small manufacturing businesses ready to build profitable growth strategies, improve operational efficiency, and access capital.

Launched in 2025, MAP’s inaugural cohort included 60 businesses from 19 states across the U.S. Through virtual classroom training, dedicated technical assistance, and peer-to-peer industry networking, participants gain actionable insights from manufacturing experts and practitioners — all at no cost thanks to ICIC’s generous funding partners.

The program includes five curriculum modules covering the key elements of running and growing a successful manufacturing company, with a time commitment of approximately 3–4 hours per week.

Upcoming 2026 Cohorts:
Fall Cohort begins Wednesday, August 26

Applications are open now! Learn more about MAP and apply today: icic.org/map

06/12/2026

Meet Global Café, the 2025 Chevron Dorothy A. Terrell Community Impact Award winner!

Named in honor of ICIC’s former President and CEO, the Dorothy A. Terrell Community Impact Award recognizes the IC100 company that has demonstrated the greatest impact on its community through quality job creation and civic engagement.

Based in Memphis’ diverse Crosstown neighborhood, Global Café is a food hall offering authentic, affordably priced global cuisine cooked from scratch by immigrant and refugee food entrepreneurs. Founded by Sabine Langer, Global Café was created as a way to support fellow immigrants and refugees while bringing people together through food, culture, and community.

From providing employment and training opportunities to supporting employees with resources like English lessons, healthcare access, profit sharing, and more, Global Café’s impact starts with its team. That impact extends into the broader Memphis community through efforts like providing meals to organizations that serve unhoused neighbors, funding a college scholarship, offering school supplies, and creating a welcoming gathering place for guests from all walks of life.

Global Café is a powerful example of what it means to grow a business with purpose — honoring culture, investing in people, and creating ripple effects that strengthen an entire community.

Congratulations to Global Café on this well-deserved recognition!

Inner City Capital Connections , FedEx , Global Café

06/11/2026

At ICIC, we know that empowering small businesses takes strong, committed partnerships.

We’re proud to recognize M&T Bank as a valued partner in our work to help entrepreneurs from all backgrounds access the resources, connections, and support they need to grow.

Through our partnership, M&T Bank helps strengthen opportunities for small business owners through ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) and ICAN programming, supporting entrepreneurs on their path to sustainable growth and long-term success.

Together, we are reaching business owners across M&T Bank’s footprint, including key geographies such as Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts, and helping create pathways for entrepreneurs to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.

Thank you, M&T Bank, for your continued commitment to small business growth, inclusive economic opportunity, and the communities we serve.

06/10/2026

You learned how to prompt. Now it’s time to build an operating system.

In our latest blog, “12 Moves That Matter: An AI Playbook for Small Business Operators,” Dobbin Bookman breaks down how small business owners can move beyond one-off AI experiments and start using AI as a repeatable, strategic tool inside their operations.

From customer complaints and hiring packages to decision memos and weekly workflows, the real value of AI isn’t just in getting better outputs — it’s in building systems that save time, improve decision-making, and make your business sharper.

The 12 Moves are organized around three key shifts:
✅ Precision: Give AI a clear job, context, and inputs
✅ Thinking: Use AI to surface options, assumptions, risks, and tradeoffs
✅ Operationalizing: Turn outputs into templates, SOPs, and review loops

As Dobbin writes: “AI won’t replace strategic operators. But operators who use AI will outperform those who don’t.”

Start small. Pick one task you repeat every week. Build one prompt. Test it on real work. Then turn what works into a system.

Read the full blog : https://icic.org/blog/12-moves-that-matter-ai-playbook/

06/08/2026

June is shaping up to be an exciting month at ICIC!

Join us at one of our upcoming events this month to learn more about programs like ICCC Greater Boston and Santander's Cultivate Small Business, and follow along as we recognize important dates of celebration, reflection, and community throughout June.

From Pride Month and Juneteenth to National Selfie Day, and more, June offers many moments to recognize community, resilience, connection, and the entrepreneurs who continue to drive impact in their neighborhoods and beyond.

Stay tuned for upcoming information sessions, cohort updates, and ways to get involved. We’re looking forward to sharing what’s ahead!

06/05/2026

Boston-area business owners: If you’re ready to strengthen your business, clarify your next steps, and connect with the right support, Inner City Capital Connections may be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

In this interview with Quincy Access Television, ICCC Director Diego Portillo Mazal and Program Coordinator Indhira Tavares share what makes the program such a valuable experience for established business owners.

ICCC is a five-month experience created for established businesses that are ready to strengthen operations, build financial discipline, focus on key growth priorities, and prepare to access capital.

Boston’s June cohort is coming up soon, and now is the time to take that next step. Upcoming cohorts will also be available in Memphis, Miami, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Western Massachusetts, and national virtual cohorts for veterans and U.S.-based small businesses.

Space is limited. Apply now for ICCC Greater Boston or find a cohort that best suits you today: https://icic.org/iccc

City of Quincy , Quincy Access Television

06/03/2026

For Brandon Shamim, changemaking is rooted in community, connection, and the ability to look ahead.

As the founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Ascendant Solutions, ICAN LA Steering Committee Co-Chair, and last year’s ICIC Annual Conference keynote speaker, Brandon shares a thoughtful perspective on what it means to “think forward, work backwards” and build businesses that are ready for change.

His message reflects the heart of ICIC’s 2026 Year of Changemakers: celebrating leaders and entrepreneurs who are creating opportunities, strengthening their communities, and helping others grow alongside them.

Watch the video to hear Brandon’s perspective on leadership, resilience, and the power of community.

06/02/2026

Thank you to Regions Bank for spotlighting Michael Hooks Jr., CEO of Allworld Project Management and ICCC alumnus. Michael is a changemaker in construction engineering and technology. He used the ICCC program as a guide to scale his business intentionally and responsibly.

At the ICIC Annual Conference, Michael was one of three ICCC alumni honored with the Regions Bank Changemaker Award, each receiving a $10,000 award:

🔹Michael Hooks Jr. of Allworld Project Management
🔹LeTonia Hardin of LH Global Resources
🔹Ronda McMichael of Wise Environmental

Their journeys reflect what is possible when small business leaders have access to the right support, resources, and community.

Through ICCC, entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities gain valuable training, personalized coaching, capital-readiness support, and a powerful peer network — all at no cost to participants thanks to support from partners like Regions Bank.

Applications are open now for upcoming ICCC cohorts nationwide, including Memphis and St. Louis, beginning August 11 and September 15, respectively.

Read the full Regions Bank article: https://doingmoretoday.com/from-entrepreneur-to-changemaker/

Address

PO Box 191297
Boston, MA
02119

Website

https://linktr.ee/icicorg

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