NLC-城市的未来：包容性创业路线图（英）-2022.1-24页_29mb

Summary of "THE FUTURE OF CITIES: A Roadmap to Inclusive Entrepreneurship"

Core Content

This document outlines a municipal action guide aimed at promoting inclusive entrepreneurship in cities across the United States. It emphasizes the importance of addressing systemic barriers and inequities that prevent historically marginalized groups, such as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ+ individuals, from fully participating in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The guide provides five actionable recommendations for city leaders to foster an inclusive, dynamic, and resilient local economy.

Main Recommendations

1. Begin by understanding the entrepreneurial ecosystem's baseline

   • Conduct fact-finding exercises to gather data on the current state of entrepreneurship in the city.
   • Engage with underrepresented entrepreneurs and ESOs to identify strengths, gaps, and barriers.
   • Use existing community knowledge and data from tools like the Nowak Metro Finance Lab's Small Business Equity Toolkit.

2. Catalogue and convene a full network of entrepreneurship support organizations

   • Create a centralized resource that maps all ESOs and their services.
   • Include a variety of organizations such as community lenders, impact investors, and nonprofit groups.
   • Use this catalog to identify collaboration opportunities and service gaps.

3. Develop a plan for inclusive entrepreneurship and track metrics for accountability and transparency

   • Create a clear and explicit plan with measurable goals for diverse business growth.
   • Establish benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies.
   • Ensure that the plan reflects the needs of all demographic groups, including BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

4. Build a presence in the community to enhance access and facilitate inclusive placemaking

   • Establish remote offices, pop-ups, and shared spaces to reach entrepreneurs where they are.
   • Bridge language and digital barriers by bringing resources and services directly into neighborhoods.
   • Amplify the work of community organizations to support inclusive entrepreneurship.

5. Offer capital and business support services for entrepreneurs by leveraging city hall's convening power

   • Convene key capital providers and support organizations to address specific gaps.
   • Ensure that underrepresented entrepreneurs have access to flexible growth equity and other forms of capital.
   • Use city leadership to coordinate and align efforts across the ecosystem.

Key Challenges in Inclusive Entrepreneurship

• Social inequality: Underrepresented entrepreneurs face systemic exclusion from capital and institutions, which limits their ability to grow and succeed. BIPOC-owned businesses, for example, are more likely to close during crises and less likely to access critical financial support.
• Decline in economic dynamism: The rate of small business creation has steadily declined over the past few decades, reducing opportunities for entrepreneurship and economic mobility.
• Rise of e-commerce: The growth of online shopping has created new opportunities but also widened the digital divide, disproportionately disadvantaging BIPOC and low-income entrepreneurs.

Supporting Organizations (ESOs)

Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) play a critical role in the ecosystem by offering support across various stages of business development. These include:

• Business support organizations: Such as Small Business Development Centers, chambers of commerce, academic institutions, and libraries.
• Capital access organizations: Including community lenders, impact investors, venture capitalists, and credit unions.

Case Study: Philadelphia, PA

The Enterprise Center (TEC) in Philadelphia identified a critical need for flexible growth equity among BIPOC-owned businesses. In response, TEC is launching a $50 million equity growth fund to support these entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of tailored financial solutions.

Conclusion

Inclusive entrepreneurship is essential for building equitable and resilient local economies. City leaders must take a proactive role in understanding the ecosystem, convening stakeholders, and implementing targeted strategies. By doing so, they can help close the racial wealth gap, expand economic opportunity, and ensure that all residents have the chance to thrive through entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways

• Inclusive entrepreneurship is a vital tool for economic and social equity.
• Systemic barriers, including lack of access to capital and digital divide, hinder underrepresented entrepreneurs.
• A comprehensive and collaborative approach is necessary to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• City leadership is crucial in convening and coordinating efforts to support diverse entrepreneurs.
• Data and community engagement are essential for identifying and addressing gaps in the ecosystem.

Resources

• Nowak Metro Finance Lab's Small Business Equity Toolkit: A valuable resource for understanding and addressing inequities in entrepreneurship.
  → www.smallbusinessequitytoolkit.com/toolkit