New Growth Innovation Network

A year ago, NGIN launched Equity Impact Investments with the support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Since then, we’ve collaborated with 124 organizations through our training program to strengthen cross-sector partnerships and now we're providing in-depth assistance to 24 sites! 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲! 📚 Introducing our 5-module course: Strategic Synergy: Transforming Communities through Partnerships with two specific tracks designed for Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). What you'll gain: 🌟 Partnership-building skills with expertly crafted materials. 🌟 Guidance on how to build equity-focused mapping of your economic development ecosystem. 🌟 Strategies to mobilize partnerships and tackle community disconnects. Special thanks to our partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and International Economic Development Council, for their expertise! Access the training materials today and start making an impact in your community: www.newgrowth.org/eii #FreeTraining #NGIN #NewGrowthInnovationNetwork #EquityImpactInvestments #EII #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment

We are excited to introduce our newest board members, Chinwe Onyeagoro and Anne Evens! 🎉 💼 Chinwe, capital professional and CEO of PocketSuite, brings extensive expertise in business growth and capital management. 💼 Anne, the CEO of Elevate in Chicago, is a leader in climate and equity with extensive experience in scaling non-profits. Welcome, Chinwe and Anne! We look forward to the valuable insights and leadership you will bring to NGIN. Meet the full NGIN Board: www.newgrowth.org/team

We are delighted to announce Bernita Johnson-Gabriel's promotion to Vice President of Capital and Capacity! This well-deserved promotion reflects her outstanding leadership in managing our Capital and Capacity unit. Bernita has been pivotal in delivering technical assistance across numerous sites and driving our national capital strategies forward. Her dedication and contributions are invaluable to our mission. Congratulations, Bernita! 🎉

Twice a year, NGIN’s fully remote team gathers for a work retreat to strategize, connect, and build rapport—an activity we like to call #Homeweek! This fall, we visited the picturesque city of Fort Collins, CO! Our week kicked off with a Monday Team Meeting at Visit Fort Collins, the official visitor information source for Colorado’s most charming city. Throughout the week, we convened at Edwards House to review our strategic plan for various projects and align on organizational values.  A highlight of Homeweek was our first in-person NGIN Book Club meeting, facilitated by Elizabeth (Betsey) Suchanic and Mari Kate Mycek, PhD, where we watched and discussed Raising the Floor: A Documentary by Lost Nations Pictures. We also enjoyed a site visit to the Larimer SBDC (Small Business Development Center), where we met their org and members of the Multicultural Business and Entrepreneur Center (MBEC), City of Fort Collins Economic Health Office and community members who have greatly benefited from their inclusive economic development practices.  Team-building activities were abundant! From a mural scavenger hunt to a wood sign workshop, and a lively Happy Hour at The Social with several city leaders, we forged stronger bonds and had a fantastic time. #NGIN #NGINHomeWeek #RemoteWork #EconomicDevelopment #InclusiveEconomies

The tech industry is facing significant disparities: only 26% of tech workers are women, and a mere 2.2% are Black women, and 1.9% are Latina women. This stark reality underscores the urgent need for Inclusive Tech-Based Economic Development (TBED) to foster a more equitable tech ecosystem. In our latest report, "Tech Equity In Action," NGIN has collaborated with tech ecosystems nationwide to outline five transformative strategies that aim to turn tech equity from aspiration into reality. Authored by NGIN Advisor Mari Kate Mycek, PhD, and funded by the Siegel Family Endowment, this report delves into best practices for inclusive #TBED, focusing on processes and outcomes that enhance diverse participation in the tech economy. Explore and download the report: techequity.newgrowth.org  Need a quick overview? Watch our brief video below on 5 key strategies for inclusive tech-based economic development! #economicdevelopment #tech #techstrategies #DEI #NGIN #NewGrowthInnovationNetwork

Big News! 🎉 NGIN has been awarded funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ) for our new program, 🌱 SEED (Supporting Environmental Equity through Data)! Through EPA’s PREPARED program, NGIN was awarded $500,000 to build individual, organizational, and collective capacity for would-be recipients of EPA funds in small, underserved, and/or Tribal Communities on data, reporting and evidence-building so that they are equipped to apply for future or current EPA grant opportunities. We're thrilled to launch this groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering underserved communities with data-driven solutions for environmental and economic equity. Learn more and be the first to know when applications open by visiting our website! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eVqbyagP  #Funding #Environment #SEEDProgram #NGIN

What do you get when you mix over 350 city leaders, 90+ speakers, and a mission to "Ignite Inclusive Economies"? The Cityscapes Summit – our Day 6 spotlight for the SMC Series! Held on May 15-17, 2024, this biennial flagship conference brought together economic and community champions from Small and Midsized Cities (SMCs) to #Durham, NC. Our three content tracks – Community Wealth Building, Inclusive Capital, and Reimagining Systems – inspired dynamic discussions and groundbreaking ideas. The event featured engaging plenaries, sessions, site visits, workshops, a welcome mixer, and an evening celebration. Plus, the City of Tacoma was awarded the first-ever NGIN Luminary Award for their amazing work on the #TacomaEquityIndex. Did you join us in Durham? What was your favorite session? If you didn't make it this time, get ready for 2026 and check out this video recap with speaker excerpts from M. Yasmina McCarty, Andre M. Perry, Donovan Duncan, Arlo Washington, Christopher G. Pike, William Taft, James Hardy, Wilson Lester, Tawanna Black, Kenton Spencer, Dr. Randal Pinkett, and Michael Gilliland! Filmed by Jason Prince and edited by Casual Films. #CityscapesSummit #CityscapesSummit2024 #InclusiveEconomies #CommunityWealthBuilding #Capital #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityDevelopment #SMCHub #NGIN  

Seeing is believing, and that's the foundation of NGIN's LEAP Program—our spotlight for Day 5 of our SMC Series! Funded by RWJF, Learn, Explore, Activate in Place (LEAP) is a transformative sub-initiative of NGIN’s Small and Midsized Cities (SMC) Hub designed to bring together delegations of city leaders from SMCs to travel to exemplary cities-- all expenses paid-- to explore and implement cutting-edge models for inclusive #economicgrowth. In 2023, NGIN brought 40 SMC practitioners from across the nation together to explore examples of inclusive economic growth in #Tacoma, WA, and #Richmond, VA. There, they heard from economic and community leaders, small business owners, and government officials about how they're activating equitable economies in their communities. To get a glimpse into what it's like to participate, take a look at the video below from Tacoma in September 2023! You can also check out the brand-new page on our website, where you can learn more about LEAP, read insights from the program, and sign up to be notified about the next LEAP application window: https://lnkd.in/eG9cMJHF #SMCHub #NGINLEAP #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityDevlopment #InclusiveGrowth #InclusiveEconomies

Day 4 of Our SMC Series: New Blog Post Alert! NGIN’s Senior Advisor, Bernita Johnson-Gabriel, just published a new blog post exploring the transformative power of #impactinvesting and the untapped potential of Community Finance in Small and Midsized Cities (SMCs). These cities, home to over a quarter of the U.S. population, are crucial for building equitable and vibrant communities. Utilizing excellent reporting and research from Black Onyx Management, Inc., this article reveals how Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) are driving economic growth, reducing inequality, and fostering sustainable development in these pivotal areas. Read the full blog and report now! https://lnkd.in/eZy9j-Mg #NGIN #SMCHub #CommunityFinancialInstitutions #CommunityFinance #CDFI

Day 3 of our SMC Series! Today, we're highlighting an essential resource for Small and Midsize City leaders: our Inclusive Procurement Advocacy Brief! Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation(RWJF), this guide is packed with insights on how local governments and institutions can create pathways for BIPOC-owned businesses to thrive.    In the brief, Antonina Simeti of U3 Advisors, with research support from NGIN Advisor, Jacqueline Robles, addresses systemic barriers faced by BIPOC businesses and highlights the economic benefits of integrating these businesses into procurement processes. Dive in to explore best practices, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to support inclusive economic growth in your community! Read the full brief here: https://lnkd.in/gDBBBYnE #SMCHub #NGIN #EconomicDevelopment #Procurement