The Initiative for a Competitive Brooklyn (ICB) is an inclusive and innovative approach to economic development that has led to new insights, new actions and ultimately new results for Brooklyn.  ICB is an ambitious effort to increase jobs, income, and wealth opportunities, particularly for low-income Brooklyn residents.

“The Initiative for a Competitive Brooklyn seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Brooklyn firms in order to create a high and rising standard of living for Brooklyn residents.”

Launched in October 2003, the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), a national non-profit founded by Harvard Business School Professor Michael E. Porter, engaged over 200 private, public and civic leaders to develop a market-based strategy that builds on Brooklyn’s competitive advantages and its current economic and cultural resurgence.

ICB has been funded by the US Economic Development Administration (US EDA), the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and a number of private contributors.