• Strengthening local business-to-business clusters. Local clusters are groups of inter-related industries that serve almost exclusively local demand and account for 72% of all US employment. Examples of these clusters include transportation and logistics; construction, real estate and housing; and specialty foods. Forum participants will discuss and develop strategies to leverage local clusters to create sustainable jobs for inner city residents and additional business opportunities for inner city firms.
• Increasing capital flows to inner city businesses. Inner city businesses are undercapitalized by 20 to 50% during their growth phase as compared to average businesses, significantly impacting their ability to scale, grow revenues and create jobs. The Forum will explore the factors limiting capital access, discuss new and potential financing models and construct necessary federal policy recommendations to improve access to capital for urban firms.
• Leveraging anchor institutions to create jobs and market opportunities. Inner cities are home to more than their share of America’s greatest anchor institutions – universities, medical centers and cultural facilities - which spend billions on goods and services. As engines of local economic growth, anchors play several distinct roles within their communities, including purchaser, workforce developer and community infrastructure builder. Forum participants will share best practices and approaches for how to leverage anchors' resources to grow businesses and improve economic vitality.

Want to learn more about the Forum and its impact? To get more information about the Inner City Economic Summit, contact Amanda Maher at amaher@icic.org or 617-297-3114.