Deloitte, Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Demonstrate How Small Businesses Can Better Position Themselves to Compete in an Uncertain Economy

Inner city organizations join Deloitte forum to help small businesses build a framework for growth

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Aug 20, 2012, 08:30 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte, the largest professional services organization in the United States, and Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), a non-profit research and strategy organization and the leading authority on U.S. inner city economies and businesses, recently co-hosted "Positioning to Compete," a forum bringing together more than 40 ICIC members from across the U.S. and Deloitte professionals to discuss trends in technology, human capital, the M&A environment and tax planning.

Chief executive officers of inner city small businesses joined Tom McGee, national managing partner, Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services, and Carl Steidtmann, Deloitte's chief economist and director of consumer business for Deloitte Research at the event. McGee, Steidtmann and Deloitte professionals volunteered their skills and time to share critical insights on the economic landscape affecting small business, along with advice on how companies can position themselves to compete in today's business environment.

Deloitte's collaboration with ICIC, whose nearly 20-year mission has been to increase impact on inner city economic development, is another example of Deloitte's commitment to making a difference within its communities. Deloitte has a strong history of engaging in community involvement through a number of efforts, including skills-based volunteerism, pro bono work, charitable giving and board leadership.

"As an organization, our commitment to skills-based volunteerism runs deep. I was honored to share our insights and experience with the innovative and entrepreneurial companies that are members of ICIC," said McGee. "All of the businesses assembled play a crucial role in the strength of the U.S. economy. As we look to the future and consider growth drivers for the 21^st century, I'm confident small and mid-sized businesses like these will lead the way."

Additionally, participants also had a chance to network with ICIC peers and hear from ICIC President and CEO Mary Kay Leonard about what organizations are doing specifically for their local inner city economies and how they are making a big impact.

Leonard said, "These businesses represented are a vital part of the economic growth engine driving both local and national economies. While these companies are of different sizes and industries, they all have one thing in common – they are improving inner city communities by providing jobs, benefits, and development opportunities to inner city residents."

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

ICIC is a non-profit research and strategy organization and the leading authority on U.S. inner city economies and the businesses that thrive there. Founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, ICIC expands inner city economies by providing businesses, governments and investors with the most comprehensive and actionable information in the field about urban market opportunities. ICIC's unique knowledge and expertise about inner city success factors and thriving companies is developed from specialized urban networks and path-breaking research. www.icic.org

About Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services

Deloitte's Growth Enterprise Services team delivers a distinctive client experience through service offerings tailored to address the unique needs of mid-market and privately held companies.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

SOURCE Deloitte