NGIN Selects Eight Coalitions for 12-Month SCALE Program Offering Technical Assistance and Capital Support
New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) is excited to announce the coalitions selected for the SCALE (Strategic Capacity for Advancing Local Economies) program! SCALE is a 12-month initiative designed to help Small and Midsized Cities advance community wealth and commercial real estate projects through coaching, peer learning, technical assistance, and project support. Participating coalitions will also take part in a fully funded immersive learning trip to Cincinnati, OH to explore best practices in community-led economic development.
Applications for SCALE opened in June and closed on August 4th, attracting hundreds of organizations from across the country. Each application was carefully reviewed and scored by the NGIN team using a rigorous rubric, and selected coalitions were invited to interviews to ensure a strong fit with the program’s goals.
Take a look at the coalitions below as we celebrate these organizations that stood out in a highly competitive process.
Commercial Real Estate Development (CRE) Track
City: Jackson, MS
Partners: Jackson State University, Hope Credit Union, Washington Addition Neighborhood Association
Project Summary: Support local Black-owned businesses and community organizations along the John R. Lynch Corridor, using commercial and housing initiatives to build long-term community wealth and economic resilience.
City: Greenville, MS
Partners: Delta Compass, Washington County Economic Alliance, City of Greenville
Project Summary: Strengthen economic mobility for Delta residents through small business incubation, workforce development, and community-centered real estate projects that keep capital local.
City: St. Louis, MO
Partners: Ranken Technical College, St. Louis Development Corporation, 4theVille
Project Summary: Build neighborhood wealth in The Ville by combining commercial redevelopment with workforce training, local ownership models, and community-led cultural initiatives.
City: New Orleans, LA
Partners: Broad Community Connections, Bayou Road Business Association, City of New Orleans Office of Economic Development
Project Summary: Create sustainable wealth along Bayou Road through community-owned commercial assets, cooperative structures, and support for Black entrepreneurs and cultural institutions.
Community Wealth Building (CWB) Track
City: Stockton, CA
Partners: New Joaquín Community Development Corporation, Valley Strong Credit Union, Edge Collaborative
Project Summary: Leading a downtown initiative to acquire and activate properties with projects like a modular soccer park and micro-enterprise incubator, advancing long-term community control and wealth creation for Black, Latino, immigrant, and youth residents.
City: Winston-Salem, NC
Partners: Island CultureZ, NC Growth, Carolina Common Enterprise
Project Summary: Advancing cooperative businesses, collective land ownership, and industrial job opportunities in “Da Island” neighborhood, using resident-led solutions to build a self-determined local economy.
City: York, PA
Partners: York LaunchBox Powered by Penn State, York XL, Redevelopment Authority of the City of York
Project Summary: Replacing out-of-state landlords with local ownership through mixed-use development and community investment models, keeping wealth in the neighborhood and fostering resident-driven growth.
Chattanooga, TN | South Fulton, GA | Chicago, IL
Partners: The Oikos Institute, Mt. Sinai McCreary Community Center, First Baptist Church
Project Summary: Transforming church-owned land into affordable housing, community spaces, and entrepreneurship hubs, while centering Black and Brown residents in wealth-building and neighborhood revitalization.
Confirmed Partners
These coalitions will receive guidance from NGIN’s staff of expert advisors, consultants, and the following confirmed partners:
Lyneir Richardson, CEO of Chicago TREND – A NGIN board member and expert in equitable commercial development, Richardson recently closed the $3.2 million sale of Chatham Plaza, a Black co-owned shopping center in Chicago’s South Side. He will provide strategic support to the Commercial Real Estate track.
HOPE Credit Union – With over $3.9 billion in financing since 1994, HOPE will assist with facility renovations, expansions, new construction, and master plan implementation for participating projects, offering lending support and technical guidance across the Commercial Real Estate track.
Looking Ahead
Over the next year, SCALE coalitions will move from planning to action, leveraging local partnerships, funding, and expertise to create replicable models of community-led development and shared prosperity. The program’s immersive learning trip to Cincinnati takes place in late October, providing participants with hands-on insights and inspiration from successful city initiatives, strengthening their networks and strategies.
Community Wealth Building coalitions will receive $15,000 in direct funding, plus an additional $5,000 to activate their community strategy. Commercial Real Estate coalitions will receive $5,000 to support their community strategy, with optional lending and potential access to additional capital as projects develop.
We’re proud to support these coalitions as they advance community wealth, development, and long-term economic transformation in Small and Midsized Cities across the country.
This project is a part of NGIN’s Small and Midsized City (SMC) Hub initiative, funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The SMC Hub offers a suite of programs, technical assistance, resources, and tools to support economic and community leaders build healthy, thriving communities in cities with populations ranging from 50,000 to 500,000. This work reflects a growing recognition that SMCs are engines of innovation and opportunity that require a specialized approach to economic and community development – one that accounts for their distinct assets, challenges, and capacity.
