It's back! The Inner City Economic Summit: Jobs, Equity, Investment

Cities across the country are creating innovative models and collaborative partnerships to lay the groundwork for sustainable economic development.

However, deliberate alignment and coordination of efforts will be required to fully amplify job creation and support growing businesses. By identifying industry strengths and then connecting capital, land use and business development strategies to these, city leaders can have a greater impact on their communities.

At the same time, these strategies need a specific focus on the city's most distressed areas in order to ensure that all city residents have a path to economic opportunity.

During the 2012 Inner City Economic Summit, city, civic and business builders will gather to share practices that are proving durable in this fiscal climate; an engaging agenda will extend on-the-ground efforts and identify adaptable solutions. Newly equipped with a What Works blueprint, leaders will have the framework to create accessible jobs and maximize investment in their cities.

Strengthening an Urban Foundation by:

• Banking on Growth Clusters
  The role of local capital markets has traditionally been disconnected from broader cluster and city economic development strategies. But the tide is beginning to turn: Forward-thinking capital providers are identifying the competitive advantages and industry strengths of their local underserved markets and matching investment to these. In doing so, lenders are closing capital gaps, amplifying job creation and maximizing return on investment.
• Valuing Cities Square Foot x Square Foot
  The fiscal impact associated with industrial activity on urban land is more positive than that of either residential or commercial. This fact – and because jobs with industrial ties have lower barriers to entry and pay higher wages – means that cities’ land use choices have major economic implications for both jobseekers and taxpayers. By analyzing cities' land use decisions, participants will have a framework for how to align land use decisions with equitable economic development strategies.
• Identifying Urban Businesses and What They Need to Compete
  ICIC research and experience with small businesses indicates that underserved urban firms are difficult to locate and consistently engage. Only once connected with these companies can cities, service providers and industry partners understand what businesses need to grow and thrive. From technical assistance and site selection, to talent attraction and workforce training, case studies will teach techniques for matching urban businesses with the products and services they need to succeed.

2012 Inner City Economic Summit Highlights:

• Keynote address on U.S. Competitiveness from Harvard Business School Professor and ICIC Founder and Chairman, Michael E. Porter
• Conversation with leaders from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
• Presentation of the 2012 National Mayoral Leadership Award
• Interactive breakout sessions for business leaders, economic development officials and non-profit executives 

September 19-20th
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Government/Non-profit: $395
Corporate: $495 

Click here to register now!

ICIC has reserved a block of rooms for the event at the Hilton Boston Downtown. A limited number of rooms can be reserved for 9/19 and 9/20 at a discounted rate of $249 under this block. Please call 617-556-0006 to reserve.

With questions or comments about the Summit, please contact Amanda Maher at amaher@icic.org or 617-297-3114.

BY Amanda Maher on June 6th, 2012

TAGS: cities | economic development | business | community development | workforce | industrial | urban revitalization | workforce development | boston | summit | what works