What's New at ICIC
Unlock Your Business Potential
ICIC’s programs provide executive education, coaching, technical assistance, and access to capital to more than 3,000 business owners across the U.S. each year. Our programs empower small businesses at every stage in its lifecycle to grow profitably, create quality jobs, and build generational wealth.
Join a Program
Celebrating Our Innovative Community
ICIC's 2025 Impact Report celebrates the creativity, determination, and ingenuity that define the entrepreneurs and programs we support. This year we explored innovation across our organization highlighting stories from alumni who met real-world challenges with resourcefulness and intention, alongside updates on programs that have adapted and innovated to support small business owners more effectively.
Explore the report
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
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
Celebrating Small Business Growth and Community Impact
Every year, ICIC identifies, ranks, and spotlights some of the fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced communities across the nation. These companies are experiencing rapid growth and are making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Meet the WinnersThe 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.
Learn More About ICIC
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 under-resourced communities.
ICIC delivers the knowledge and the know-how to achieve sustainable economic and job growth.
Support ICIC
Whether supporting one of our high-impact small business programs or the entire organization, our partners know they are choosing to support an organization dedicated to transforming under-resourced communities 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
Fall Webinar Series
October 8–December 10 ICIC is offering multiple webinar series for small business growth through its ICCC program, Alumni Network, ICAN, and partners at Santander.
Blog
What Can Small Manufacturers Learn From a Summer on the Factory Floor?
This summer, MAP Director Brian Becker traded the virtual classroom for the factory floor. His SME Manufacturing Tour took him to nine facilities across six states and Washington, D.C., from a custom box plant in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to a chocolate maker in a 125-year-old former ice plant in Rockland, Maine. Brian takes us inside the plants to share what he learned: why one brewery posts its financials on the brewhouse wall, how a pretzel company built a team around inclusion, and why no manufacturer should have to grow alone. 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
Stay Connected
Sign up for our mailings and stay up-to-date on all research, commentary, and news related to ICIC as we continue to drive inclusive economic prosperity in America’s under-resourced communities.
© 2026 ICIC. All rights reserved.