Reflecting on Our 2025 Impact and Initiative Updates | End-of-Year Newsletter
NGIN’s 2025 Wrapped
Looking back on a year of purpose, partnership, and possibility.
This year, we partnered with cities and leaders across the country to test new ideas, scale what works, and move closer to regional economies where everyone can thrive. From immersive learning experiences to capital connections to hands-on technical assistance, each milestone was made possible by a growing community of collaborators like you.
As we close out the year, we’re pausing to reflect on the progress we’ve made together—and to share a snapshot of the impact you helped create. Thank you for learning with us and investing to build more opportunity-rich communities and economies.
Our Year in Impact by the Numbers
Here’s a snapshot of what we achieved together in 2025
47 cities | 148 organizations | 222 leaders
In 2025, across 47 cities, NGIN worked directly with 222 leaders from 148 organizations through deeper engagement that included technical assistance, direct funding, and immersive learning events. Our small but mighty team has worked closely with these leaders, conducting site visits and getting deeply connected to the communities. Through these efforts, we’ve accelerated inclusive economic innovations and amplified the impact on regional economies.
350 applicants across 113 coalitions
showing record-breaking interest in NGIN’s 2025 programs
50+ city and community leaders from SMCs
brought on fully-funded immersive learning trips to explore innovations
Community Wealth Building | Civic Infrastructure | Commercial Real Estate Development | Economic Mobility | Cross-Sector Partnerships
These five focus areas guided NGIN’s work and impact in 2025.
Current Initiatives and Programs
A quick highlight reel of this year’s programmatic milestones
Small and Midsized Cities Hub
Tickets Now Available for Cityscapes Summit 2026
You’ve been waiting—and it’s finally here. Cityscapes Summit presale is officially open. May 18–20, we’re heading to New Orleans for NGIN’s premier gathering of leaders, practitioners, and partners from Small and Midsized Cities (SMCs) shaping the future of local economies. Expect immersive experiences, fresh insights, and innovative strategies rooted in what’s working for SMCs nationwide.
Presale tickets offer the best rate of the year and early access before general sale begins. If you know you’re joining us in New Orleans, this is the moment to secure your spot. We can’t wait to bring this community together again to ignite innovation and power local economies!
Learn. Explore. Activate in Place (LEAP)
This summer, NGIN brought together 22 leaders from Small and Midsized cities to Cleveland, OH to explore the specific ways the city has been able to address economic underdevelopment and adopt community wealth building strategies. After a moving opening from Mayor Justin Bibb at local community bookstore, ThirdSpace Reading Room, attendees experienced 3 days of learning through site visits, conversations with Cleveland leaders and presentations from their peers. Learn more here.
Strategic Capacity for Advancing Local Economies (SCALE)
In October, we gathered in Cincinnati, OH to kick off our year long technical assistance program, Strategic Capacity for Advancing Local Economies (SCALE). The selected cities are engaging through two tracks—Community Wealth Building and Commercial Real Estate Development—and will spend the next 12 months developing place-based projects to strengthen their communities, with support from NGIN and field experts, including Lyneir Richardson of Chicago TREND.
NGIN’s newest advisor, Beka Burton, shared insights that emerged from our gathering in Cincinnati, which you can read here.
Insights
Featured Insight: Baby Bonds + Guaranteed Income: Bundling services for Better Outcomes
Baby bonds and guaranteed basic income models have been utilized as levers to increase the economic mobility potential amongst residents of low to moderate income communities. But what happens when they're used together? Through data, case studies and interviews, NGIN Advisor, Jackie Robles, dives deep on the cities who are implementing this strategy to give the youngest members of their communities a head start. Join the interactive session exploring this topic, February 5, 2026 by registering here.
Advancing Economic Mobility
Through targeted technical assistance and funding, NGIN’s Advancing Economic Mobility (AEM) initiative equips local leaders with capital, technical assistance, data, and peer strategies to improve economic outcomes for low- and middle-income residents. This work catalyzed more than $1.8 million in direct financial support for the selected sites.
After assisting over 30 organizations over the course of two years, we closed this program by creating a video showcasing the work of program participants and delivering a series of easy-to-understand blog posts, meant to provide digestible and clear context for anyone seeking to address economic mobility in their communities.
Economic Partnership Alliance
In 2025, the Economic Partnership Alliance deepened its support for cross-sector collaboration, continuing partnership assistance for 24 sites while launching a new phase—the Alliance Accelerator. This year’s cohort gained hands-on guidance from subject-matter experts, including Sterling Johnson of Partnership for Southern Equity, on sustaining durable partnerships. We also hosted a “Meet Your EDR” session, giving participants a direct line to learn about new opportunities through the EDA.
Together with partners LISC, IEDC, and HBCU CDAC, NGIN has now equipped over 100 organizations with the training and capacity needed to strengthen local economies and advance shared prosperity. Learn more here.
Additional Projects and Programs
Advancing Civic Infrastructure and Inclusive Procurement
NGIN continued its four-year partnership with the Prudential Financial and Newark leaders by convening practitioners in Philadelphia to explore inclusive procurement models that will inform our expanded focus on employee and community ownership in 2026.
Economic Landscape Analysis in Multnomah County
NGIN and BCT Partners are conducting a comprehensive economic landscape analysis to provide Multnomah County with data-driven recommendations that clarify roles, elevate underserved areas, and strengthen coordinated economic development efforts.
Assessing Regional Outcomes of Place-Based Innovation through NSF Engines
NGIN was awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate place-based innovation. The NSF Engines aim to create regional-scale, technology-driven, innovation ecosystems throughout the United States. NGIN’s project will identify metrics and benchmarks and provide insights across regional innovation ecosystems.
The Team Making It Happen
A re-introduction of the NGINeers behind the work
This work would not be possible without the leadership and contributions of President and CEO M. Yasmina McCarty; our Insights and Innovations Team led by Swati Ghosh with Advisors Jackie Robles and Beka Burton; our Capital and Capacity Team led by Bernita Johnson Gabriel with Senior Advisor Cuevas Peacock; our Operations Team led by Sean Thompson with Taylor Dudley, Autumne Sneed-Lyons, and Miata Sannoh; and the guidance of the NGIN Board, especially Executive Committee members Kathleen Lee, Maurice Jones, David Warm, and Rodrick Miller.
Additionally, many thanks to our esteemed funders and partners that supported NGIN’s work.
Funders
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, U.S. Economic Development Administration, Prudential Financial, Surdna Foundation, Siegel Family Endowment , National Science Foundation, and Echoing Green Foundation
Partners
Accelerator for America (AFA), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Hope Credit Union, Brookings Institute, BroadStreet Impact Services, Chicago Trend, University of Michigan, BCT Partners, Multnomah County, Restorative Economics Group and State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI)
Looking Ahead to 2026
A quick preview of programs and more that we are excited to unveil
Economic Partnership Alliance Playbook
Next year, we’re excited to launch an interactive web tool that brings the insights from our 24 site engagements to life. Leaders across the country will be able to explore case studies, practical guidance, and proven partnership strategies—designed to help communities strengthen collaboration and accelerate economic opportunity.
Capital Strategy: Building the Inclusive Cities Predevelopment Fund
In 2026, NGIN will continue advancing its capital strategy by developing the Inclusive Cities Predevelopment Fund in partnership with Broadstreet Impact Services. Building on our technical assistance work, this effort focuses on designing flexible, early-stage capital tools that help community-led projects move from vision to viability—supporting housing affordability, strengthening community wealth, and expanding inclusive economic opportunity in Small and Midsized Cities.
Small and Midsized Cities Hub CoP
We’re making a strategic push to expand our Small and Midsized Cities Community of Practice beyond individual program cohorts. We’ll deepen cross-city connection and build a vibrant network of leaders through curated events, shared insights, and dedicated peer-to-peer engagement.
“This year has tested us in unprecedented ways as we navigated major shifts from the federal government, managed economic fluctuations, and grappled with the rapid rise of AI. Yet across the communities we serve, we have seen rock-solid determination and unwavering commitment as leaders reimagined capital systems, workforce pathways, and economic policies to advance truly inclusive economies.”
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