INDIANAPOLIS – March 29, 2022 – Indianapolis small-business owners will soon benefit from a transformational program announced Tuesday by leadership from Indianapolis Mayor Joseph Hogsett’s office and Regions Bank.
The program is called Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC), a tuition-free coaching and training opportunity designed to empower business owners in economically underserved areas with insights and strategies on how to grow their companies and build long-term success.
ICCC is now accepting applications from Central Indiana businesses. Companies that meet ICCC criteria and are selected for the program will participate in an intensive training event in Indianapolis scheduled for June 15. In addition to guidance from nationally recognized educators, companies will receive business coaching from Regions Bank representatives and long-term connections with ICCC resources for building sustainable growth over time.
“Indianapolis is working hard to break historic patterns of marginalization and underinvestment in inner-city communities,” said Deputy Mayor Judith Thomas. “ICCC represents a critical boost of resources for small-business owners and entrepreneurs that can transform not just individual firms, but whole neighborhoods.”
Regions Bank is bringing ICCC to Indianapolis for the first time in the program’s history, providing a new level of access to training and resources for more small-business owners. Financial support for ICCC from Regions Bank and community partners enables ICCC training to be provided to local entrepreneurs free of charge.
“Across the country, small-business owners are thriving based on the training and coaching they’ve received through ICCC, and Regions Bank is proud to build on our support for entrepreneurs by connecting businesses with this cost-free resource for growth,” said Erik Miner, market executive for Regions Bank in Indianapolis. “Our company has worked with ICCC since 2014, and we’ve seen first-hand the results created in cities including St. Louis, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa, and more. This year, it’s Indy’s turn. We encourage small businesses to apply early while space is available and discover what they can achieve through ICCC training.”
ICCC is part of the nonprofit Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), which was founded by Harvard Business School Professor Dr. Michael Porter to empower entrepreneurs in under-resourced areas through greater access to education and business training. ICCC has worked with thousands of business owners across the U.S. since 2005. The nonprofit’s research shows that, following ICCC training, program alumni have averaged 120% revenue growth, collectively creating more than 23,000 jobs while raising $2.3 billion in capital.
Across the country, small-business owners are thriving based on the training and coaching they’ve received through ICCC.
Erik Miner, market executive for Regions Bank
By connecting business owners with experts in the fields of strategy, marketing, small-business finance and more, ICCC helps entrepreneurs overcome barriers and take their companies to the next level of success. ICCC has adapted its curriculum to specifically address market disruption factors and management as entrepreneurs emerge from challenges presented by COVID-19.
“The community partnership between Regions Bank and the ICCC program has had a profound impact on small businesses throughout the country, overwhelmingly minority- and woman-owned,” said Steve Grossman, CEO of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. “Entrepreneurs have emerged stronger from the pandemic and look forward to building a bright future for themselves and their communities. We are honored to join Regions in playing a meaningful role in helping Indianapolis and its leadership develop sustainable small-business ecosystems in its most under-resourced neighborhoods.”The program is available to a wide range of business owners, regardless of whether they are Regions Bank customers. Real-time Spanish-language translation services will be offered. Following the June 15 workshop, participants will receive personalized coaching from Regions bankers along with no-cost follow-up ICCC webinars and online courses.
ICCC hosts a maximum of 100 small-business representatives at its in-person training events to offer a more interactive learning experience and customized insights.
To take part, business owners must first apply through ICCC. The application window is now open, and entries are due by Friday, May 27. To be considered for the program, applicants should be an independent, for-profit or nonprofit corporation, partnership or proprietorship. Further, the company should have its headquarters or more than 51% of its physical operations in an economically distressed area or have more than 40% of its employees living in an economically distressed area.
Additional information on ICCC criteria can be found at www.iccapitalconnections.org, and the online application form for small businesses is available via this link. Members of the public may also nominate small businesses for consideration. ICCC’s online nomination form, linked here, serves as a portal for submitting information. An ICCC representative will follow up with nominated organizations to further discuss the program.
For more on ICCC click here.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $163 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,300 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.