Join NLC and guest experts for this quarterly speaker series hosted by the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program at the National League of Cities.
Upcoming Events
Celebrating Small Business Week 2025: How Entrepreneurs Uplift Local Economies
3 PM (ET) Wednesday, May 7
This year, the Small Business Week, led by the Small Business Administration, is observed May 4-10, 2025. You’re invited to this webinar to learn about how entrepreneurship supports local economies and how small businesses enhance innovation and economic development. Hear from entrepreneurs and those who support them at the municipal level about how small business growth and support is a key way to strengthen communities.
Past Events
To view recordings of past events, go here.
How Cities are Working with Black Entrepreneurs to Close the Racial Wealth Gap
3 PM Wednesday, February 19
Hear valuable perspectives on how city-level actions can foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem that empowers Black business owners, enhances community wealth and paves the way for long-term economic equality.
Immigrant-led Entrepreneurship: Enhancing Local Economies
3 PM to 4 PM (ET) Wednesday, December 18
Small businesses are a bedrock of many communities’ downtown cultures and their economies. Many small businesses are run by immigrants, who face unique barriers to starting and running these ventures. Additionally, these communities, if engaged with intentionality and cultural competence, can and do provide many benefits, new connections, and opportunities in their new resident cities. This webinar on December 18th will explore the ways, from the perspectives of city leaders and community partners, that cities and ESOs can more intentionally interact with and support immigrant-led entrepreneurship in their local economies.
Unlocking Economic Opportunity through Procurement
3 PM to 4 PM (ET) Wednesday, August 21
From complex construction projects to landscaping contracts, local governments spend billions each year procuring goods and services from private businesses or contracted service providers. However, small, local, and women- and minority owned businesses far too often do not get their fair share of municipal contracts.
Recent legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act present opportunities for local governments to fine tune their procurement processes with a focus on efficiency, accessibility, and accountability. This event will feature guest speakers from the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL) who have helped dozens of governments to diagnose hurdles prospective vendors face when participating in procurement processes and to prioritize changes that will increase competition.
Join us to learn an array of strategies you can use to diversify your vendor pool and work in collaboration with policymakers and entrepreneurship supporters to make procurement processes more accessible and fair.
Understanding Child Care Needs of Women Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 3 PM – 4 PM Eastern
Women comprise a large and vital share of entrepreneurs, responsible for 41% of new businesses that started in 2019. Research has shown that women face distinct challenges in their pursuit of entrepreneurship, especially in securing access to capital. For women entrepreneurs with young children, these challenges are heightened. To better understand how women entrepreneurs with young children use child care and identify their specific childcare needs, United WE commissioned a survey of 750 women entrepreneurs. Sign up for this webinar to hear subject matter experts unpack findings from the “Care for the Economy” study.
Working with Specialized Chambers of Commerce
Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 3 PM – 4 PM Eastern
Many cities have a chamber or even multiple chambers of commerce that work to enhance support systems and foster networking in tandem with cities’ economic development outreach to local businesses. However, not every city has a chamber of commerce that explicitly engages small business owners from BIPOC, women, and/or LGBTQ+ communities. Join us at 3 PM (ET) Wednesday, June 26, to learn how chambers of commerce can be strong partners in intentional outreach and support to entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
Celebrating Small Business Week with NLC’s City Inclusive Entrepreneurship Program
Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern
This year, National Small Business Week takes place from April 28 to May 4. Join us from 3 PM to 4 PM (ET) Wednesday, April 17, to hear from local government and entrepreneurship support organization leaders as they spotlight the work they have done with small businesses in their communities. At this webinar, you’ll also learn how city leaders can support small businesses in their communities and how local partnerships among cities, nonprofit partners, and entrepreneurs enhance local economies.
Optimizing Public Spending with the Capital for Communities Scorecard
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern
The Capital for Communities Scorecard, a vital tool from The Urban Institute (UI), is designed to evaluate the potential social, economic, and environmental effects of proposed real estate developments or business investments. Its assessment aims to support projects that enhance communities, provide advantages to residents, and address disparities in access to opportunity based on race and geography. Join NLC and Urban Institute for a webinar from 3 PM to 4 PM Wednesday, March 20, to learn more about how the Scorecard can support decision-makers in prioritizing investments that contribute positively to community well-being and align with community priorities.
Leveraging Amazon Business to Accelerate Inclusive Procurement
Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m Eastern
Experts from Amazon Business, along with City and County of Denver Chief Procurement Officer Lance Jay, share valuable insights into approaches that empower city leaders to establish, fulfill, and actively assess socially responsible procurement initiatives. Discussion includes a look at strategies to streamline the purchasing procedures for municipal governments, fostering a fairer, more sustainable solution that unlocks new possibilities for local, veteran-owned, and minority-owned businesses.
2023-24 CIE Grant Funding: What You Should Know
Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m Eastern
Join us from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Wednesday, January 24, to review what cities and nonprofit partners should know before applying for the CIE implementation funding. During this webinar, we will review the application questions and timeline, hear from former awardees, and answer all questions related to the funding process.
As a reminder, the $15,000 grant application opens on February 1, 2024. CIE cities and nonprofit partners are invited to apply as long as they 1) participate in our quarterly calls, 2) achieve their initiating activity, 3) complete our quarterly surveys, and 4) are on track to complete the output of their commitment by April 2024. Recommended for participating CIE cities or nonprofits on behalf of cities only.
Inclusive Cities: Prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Economic Development
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern
In today’s rapidly changing socio-economic landscape, city leaders play a pivotal role in fostering inclusive environments that promote growth, innovation, and social cohesion. This webinar will equip city leaders with essential knowledge and strategies to integrate DEI principles into economic development practices.
Join us as we delve into the fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and their critical relevance in shaping prosperous and equitable cities.
2022-23 End of Year Celebration
As the 2022-23 CIE Program Year concludes, join us for a special webinar to commemorate the remarkable achievements of our city leaders and nonprofit partners in their unwavering commitment to empowering small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.
In a year filled with unprecedented challenges, CIE participants have gone above and beyond to uplift and support local businesses. This webinar serves as a tribute to their dedication, resilience, and creative solutions that have fostered an environment of inclusive growth and economic prosperity.
Measuring Impact: Empowering Cities to Evaluate Local Small Business Support
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Ensuring the success and sustainability of small businesses in your community requires more than launching initiatives; it necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their impact. “Measuring Impact: Empowering Cities to Evaluate Local Small Business Support,” examines effective strategies for evaluating the outcomes and gauging the effectiveness of your small business support interventions.
Capital Innovations for Small Businesses
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
In a rapidly evolving business landscape, access to capital remains a critical challenge for minority entrepreneurs.
At this webinar, experts discussed the realm of capital products designed to empower and uplift diverse entrepreneurs. This virtual event is dedicated to exploring the latest insights from surveyed businesses, innovations in financing solutions, investment strategies and funding opportunities that cater specifically to individuals from underrepresented communities.
Forging and Formalizing Complex Networks
Wednesday, May 17 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
How does one move beyond building a coalition of likeminded individuals and organizations to formalizing a complex, long-term network of diverse, and sometimes competing, stakeholders?
Hear from experts who have utilized long-term change management strategies to forge entrepreneurial support networks that look to withstand disintegration over time, have clearly defined qualitative and quantitative enhancement goals, and improve targeted entrepreneurial outcomes, especially in marginalized communities.
Building Capability: Targeted Support for Business at Every Stage
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
NLC’s CIE program hosted the Building Capability: Targeted Support for Business at Every Stage webinar, where subject matter experts discussed the various stages of entrepreneurship so city leaders can better understand entrepreneur’s needs and provide targeted assistance to help them succeed.
Entrepreneurship for All Generations
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Entrepreneurship offers unique benefits to individuals of all age ranges. It can provide young people the opportunities to build skills and gain experience. For mid-career professionals, entrepreneurship can offer a chance to pivot into new industries or start their own ventures. And for seniors, entrepreneurship can provide a sense of purpose, independence, and financial security in retirement; not to mention, a legacy to pass to future generations.
The discussion centered om the unique challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs of different age groups, tips to building a sustainable business, and the importance of collaboration at different points in the entrepreneurial journey.
Unsung Heroes of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Chambers of Commerce are all important partners to include when building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. But are there other powerful collaborators hiding in plain sight?
Join the NLC CIE Network to discuss how to leverage common community assets, like libraries, churches, community colleges and recreational centers, to support entrepreneurship in your municipality.
2022-23 CIE Grant Funding: What You Should Know
Wednesday January 18 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM ET
CIE participating cities, or nonprofits on behalf of cities, that:
- Participate in our quarterly calls
- Achieve their initiating activity
- Complete our quarterly surveys
- And are on track to complete the output of their commitment by April 2023 are invited to apply for $15,000 in implementation funding on February 1.
Join us to review what cities and nonprofit partners should know before applying. We will review the application questions and timeline, hear from former awardees, and answer all questions related to the funding process.
Building Your Coalition
Wednesday, December 21 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM EST (US and Canada)
Bringing together a group of like-minded individuals and organizations to collaborate toward a common goal, or “coalition building,” is a key practice within the toolkit of entrepreneurial ecosystem creation.
Join the NLC CIE Network to hear how leaders have successfully built a coalition of diverse stakeholders to foster inclusive economic vibrancy.
Speakers:
Bernard Johnson, Sr. Director of Programs, Interise
Renata B. Kowalczyk, Chief Executive Officer, Wilmington Alliance
Nia Richardson, Managing Director, KC Bizcare Office
Creating a Shared Narrative on Inclusive Economic Development
Wednesday, October 26 from 11am-12pm ET
Narratives can help establish a common lexicon and shared objectives for our work. They can also foster coordination and collaboration among resources to connect entrepreneurial ecosystem builders across networks. On the other hand, narratives can perpetuate constrictive notions of what is possible, for who. Creating inclusive economies requires challenging the norm; championing new models and stories about what our economy can be.
Join us to hear from authors who contributed to the NPQ and Common Future series entitled Narratives to Build Collective Economic Power. In addition to learning about the speaker’s work, you will hear how they challenge conventional narratives and offer new ways of thinking about who can be owners in the economy and what community economic development means.
Speakers:
- Allison Jones, Vice President of Brand and Storytelling at Common Future
- Tim Lampkin, Founder and CEO of Higher Purpose Co.
- Christina Maria Xochitlzihuatl, Co-founder of Las Imaginistas and Founding Director of Voces Unidas
- Corianne Rice, Program Director, National League of Cities, City Inclusive Entrepreneurship
How to Support the Mental Health of the Early Childhood Workforce
- Annika List
Innovative Capacity Building with the Lincoln Vibrant Communities Teams Program
From the Event: Optimizing Municipal Healthcare Benefits for Workforce Recruitment & Retention
How Cities Can Spark Economic Transformation through Entrepreneur-Led Economic Development
- Tomeka Lee
How Cities are Creating Paths Forward for Formerly Incarcerated Residents through Green Jobs Programs
- Ayesha Mehrotra
