Legacy Forward is a technical assistance cohort program that aims to support small and mid-size cities shift from startup-focused strategies to long-term business retention and growth. Through a national learning cohort, city leaders will learn to identify and support legacy and second-stage businesses, particularly those led by under-resourced entrepreneurs, facing challenges like workforce shortages, supply chain disruption, or ownership transition. The program will culminate by producing a replicable toolkit enabling cities nationwide to preserve established businesses and the community wealth they generate.
Through regular virtual convenings and expert-led webinars, cities who apply and are selected for the cohort will connect with each other and ultimately build the capacity to support more legacy and second-stage businesses in their communities with intentionality imbued with innovation.
This cohort is made possible by the support of the Nasdaq Foundation.