Economic Partnership Alliance

NGIN INITIATIVES

Program Overview

The Economic Partnership Alliance is an initiative that brings together economic development organizations and community-based organizations to strengthen cross-sector partnerships and advance shared prosperity in local economies.

New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN), and its partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (HBCU CDAC), have provided capacity building and training to 141 organizations, along with offering 12-month partnership assistance to 24 sites across the United States.

Capacity Building and Training

In 2023 and 2024, the Economic Partnership Alliance offered two comprehensive training courses, one for community-based organizations (CBOs) and one for economic development organizations (EDOs), designed by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the International Economic Development Council. The courses, entitled Strategic Synergy, are comprised of 5 modules and are delivered virtually over three months.

Completion of the training provided leaders with a certificate of completion and provides the opportunity to interview for additional partnership assistance support.

Currently, participants of the alliance receive personalized partnership support through in-person strategy workshops, monthly remote meetings resource sharing, and peer-to-peer networking. This assistance aims to foster trust, collaboration, and transformative change among Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

Key focus areas include asset mapping, local data analysis, understanding community dynamics, rebuilding trust, engaging stakeholders, and accessing additional funding sources for sustained partnerships across sectors.

The comprehensive playbook will be available in September 2025.

Partnership Assistance

Our Current Partnership Assistance Sites

NGIN and it’s partners provide partnership assistance to a total of 37 Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and 35 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) from across the U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Cohort 1: Sacramento, CA; Detroit, MI; Bangor, ME; Providence, RI; Yuma, AZ; Omaha, NE; Honolulu, Hawaii; Omaha, NE; Cleveland, OH; Pottstown, PA; Baton Rogue, LA; Sarasota, FL; Memphis, Tennessee 

Cohort 2: San Diego, CA; Santa Fe, NM; Tampa, FL; El Paso, TX; Houston, TX; Shreveport, LA; New Orleans, LA; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Milwaukee, WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Greenville, MS; Detroit, MI; and Sacramento, CA. 

  • "NGIN's training provided me with the tools, strategies, and the know-how of inclusive and equitable economic development. Authentic partnerships are key to this emerging economic development approach that will reduce racial inequities and get us on the road to achieve economic justice."

    Program Participant

  • "This program is a great way to take a deep dive into your community's organizational network to help identify opportunities to pool resources, leverage relationships, and reach a common goal. CBOs and EDOs have been separated for too long, and this program brings this issue to light while guiding teams on how to unite efforts for a more well-rounded approach, benefitting the whole community."

    Program Participant

  • "This program is a great way to understand new practices and trends related to ecosystem building, community development and economic development. You'll derive a lot of value by interacting with people in other areas facing similar issues and identifying resources and opportunities."

    Program Participant

  • If you want to build trust and economic equity, this program is a MUST.

    Program Participant

This initiative is made possible through the generous support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).