With many small businesses looking for ways to grow their companies and find new capital, the Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program is one such program that is helping to meet a critical need. The program educates investment-ready urban companies about sources of growth capital and matches them with potential investors.
ICCC is a free national program designed to drive the growth of inner city companies. ICCC shows companies how to tap into sources of capital, educates them on their financial options, and provides a forum where companies can connect with investors.
Bank of America has partnered with the SBA and Fortune and Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to call for small business submissions for the program.
The deadline is this Friday, October 19, and eligible companies will be able to submit their application to have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to debt providers and equity investors at the ICCC National Matching Day, to be held in New York City on Friday, November 9th. Companies may apply for the program online.
Eligible companies must be: headquartered in or have 51% or more of a physical operations presence in an economically distressed urban area; and be a for-profit corporation, partnership or proprietorship with revenues of more than $2 million in 2011 or have 40% of their employees located in an economically distressed urban area. More than 1,500 companies were nominated for last year’s ICCC program, with 171 accepted from various industries including technology, business services and manufacturing.
ICCC New York will provide opportunities for participants to meet with equity capital providers who are seeking investments in America’s underserved communities. At the ICCC coaching session, companies refine business plans and practice pitching their plans to equity providers. During the ICCC welcome reception and equity matchmaking session, inner city entrepreneurs meet investors, business mentors, peers, customers and suppliers.
The matchmaking investment event itself is taking place on the following day:
Friday, November 9, 2012
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fortune Magazine
1271 Avenue of the Americas, 25th floor, New York, NY
