Resources for Inner City Companies The ICIC Programs The Inner City Economic Forum The Inner City Economic Forum is the country's only national leadership network focused on business-led inner city economic development. The Forum was founded by ICIC in 2003 as an ambitious and bold effort to create a national movement around the revitalization of The Forum attracts a select group of committed and engaged leaders, decision-makers and opinion-makers. If you are committed to a business-led approach to inner city economic development, are looking to make professional connections that can promote your business goals and to impact the inner city, and are ready to put energy and resources to turn ideas into action, then you should consider Forum Membership. Inner City Capital Connections Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a national program designed to stimulate equity capital flow to underserved inner city markets, by matching inner city businesses with investors. ICCC is a partnership between the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and Banc of America Capital Access Funds. Other Resources
The SBA Emerging 200 Initiative The goal of the SBA Emerging 200 Initiative is to identify 200 inner-city businesses across the country that show a high potential for growth—and to provide them the network, resources and motivation required to build a sustainable business of size and scale within a designated inner-city geographic location. SBA is increasing outreach to areas historically challenged by high levels of unemployment and poverty. Bolstering entrepreneurial success in these areas will generate new jobs, attract investment, and provide a more sustainable economic base in distressed areas. Current efforts also include a program to improve access to credit to small businesses located in rural areas. The SBA Emerging 200 initiative will enable the participating small businesses to engage in an intensive curriculum focused on developing a winning, expansion strategy for their business, including options for capital access and contracting. Participants also will have the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and financial community. SCORE SCORE "Counselors to Small Business Edge Website The Small Business Edge website is dedicated to the needs of small business owners---with the most comprehensive, practical and interactive information for business today. This website assists business owners interested in: The content from three publications targeting small business appears on SmallBusinessEdge.com. Please click on the links below for more information about each of these periodicals. Urban Success is a semi-annual magazine published specifically for inner city entrepreneurs. The purpose of Urban Success is to address the specific needs, concerns, obstacles and opportunities endemic to inner city business owners. The editorial content for the 2008 issues is a result of input from ICIC, inner city business owners and other partners involved in promoting entrepreneurship in urban markets. Small Business Success, a semi-annual magazine, covers the trends, issues, advice and resources that business owners need to succeed. The 2008 issues include such topics as sales and marketing, technology, money and finance, opportunities for women and minorities, business travel, going global, and franchising. Winning Bids Magazine is the Small Business Owner’s Guide to Procurement Programs. Also a semi-annual magazine, the purpose of Winning Bids is to educate and assist owners of growing companies interested in expanding their businesses through federal government, big business and prime contractor procurement programs. The editorial content of Winning Bids provides success stories, market research, trends and valuable contact information to help business owners level the playing field in the area of federal government, big business and prime contractor procurement programs. |
