Learn. Explore. Activate in Place.
Now Accepting Applications!
LEAP into innovative economic strategies on an in-person learning trip to explore Community Wealth Building and capital strategies in Cleveland, OH.
Program Overview
LEAP is an immersive five-day trip for economic and community leaders to engage in workshops, activities, and networking to see firsthand how smaller cities (up to 500,000 residents) are driving innovation and creating economic opportunities for all. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this program is part of NGIN's Small and Midsized Cities Hub—an initiative that offers a suite of programs, technical assistance, resources, and tools to support economic developers build healthy, thriving communities.
Learn
Discover innovative strategies for fostering shared economic prosperity. Our LEAP sessions provide the knowledge and tools to help you drive meaningful change in your city.
Explore
Discover innovative models for economic development through immersive experiences in host cities and engage with local leaders and stakeholders to understand their strategies and successes.
Activate
Develop an actionable plan to implement these strategies in your own city. LEAP encourages collaboration and peer learning, ensuring you leave equipped to make a tangible impact.
in Place
Engage directly with the communities where these strategies are being implemented. By immersing yourself, you gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities of the city, allowing for more context-driven action when you return to your own community.
About LEAP Summer 2025
NGIN will select teams from cities with populations between 50,000 and 500,000 to explore Community Wealth Building and Inclusive Capital in Cleveland, OH. All travel expenses and logistics are covered.
As a Rust Belt city, Cleveland, Ohio, has a history of economic reinvention. In what has become known as "The Cleveland Model," there has been tremendous progress in rethinking traditional economic development strategies to build community wealth and increase economic activity even in the most economically distressed neighborhoods. Cleveland has key strategies, including successfully building worker-owned cooperatives with Evergreen Cooperatives and engaging anchor institutions in local procurement strategies. Cleveland also models unique coalitions and collaborations to ensure capital reaches and supports these communities, including the Fund for Our Economic Future and the George Gund Foundation. In recent years, under Mayor Bibb, the City of Cleveland has continued to model not just an approach to traditional economic growth but also a thoughtful approach to inclusive growth, from creative approaches to the affordable housing crisis to a robust lakefront development plan.
Each team should submit only one application on behalf of the entire group by March 10th, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Apply now for this game-changing opportunity!
Who Should Apply
Local Economic Leaders
Professionals working to strengthen their local economies through innovative policies, investments, and partnerships.
Community Advocates
Individuals actively engaged in grassroots initiatives, nonprofit organizations, or civic groups dedicated to accessible economic growth and opportunity.
Local Government
Elected and appointed officials, government staff, and decision-makers shaping policies that impact economic and community development.
How to Apply
Build Your Team: To apply, you must identify at least one additional partner—but no more than three—from your city. Each team should submit only one application on behalf of the entire group. It is highly encouraged that one partner represent a community-based organization focused on creating economic opportunity and one partner represent a local government entity (e.g., city council, mayor’s office, or relevant department). Need help recruiting? Use this email template to send to potential partners!
Set Your Calendar: Be sure to mark your calendar with the following key dates to stay up to date on the application process, important deadlines, and program milestones. These dates will also help you confirm your availability to fully participate in the LEAP program if selected.
February 10th: Applications Open
February 19th at 1 PM EST | Watch the Recap Here
March 10th: Application Deadline
April 10th: Virtual Meeting for Accepted Applicants
May 22nd: Virtual Meeting for Accepted Applicants
June 9th-13th: LEAP Trip to Cleveland, OH
Submit Your Application: The application process typically takes between 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Since applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, we encourage you to submit yours as soon as possible! To emphasize, each team should submit only one application on behalf of the entire group by March 10th, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.
Want More Information?
If you're considering this opportunity and want to learn more or feel more prepared before applying, watch the recap of our Information Session held on February 19th!
Explore Past LEAP Trips
Richmond, Virginia
Program Highlights
Networking Mixer: The event began with connections and an award for the City of Richmond's commitment to inclusive economic development.
Insightful Discussions: Led by NGIN CEO M. Yasmina McCarty and featuring panels on equity and community wealth creation.
Historical Exploration: Gary Flowers guided us through Jackson Ward, and Neil McInroy facilitated a panel on Community Wealth Building at Richmond Hill.
Revisit the moments and discover the beauty of Richmond in our Instagram Reel ↗.
Tacoma, Washington
Program Highlights
Recognition Ceremony: Tacoma's Mayor, Victoria Woodards, received an award for the city's exceptional work in promoting equity.
Guided Exploration: A walking tour of Downtown Tacoma, coupled with panels on 'Supporting Small Businesses with a Focus on Equity and Community Wealth Creation' and 'Building and Sustaining Partnerships.'
Community Engagement: Collaboration with organizations like The Black Collective, Spaceworks Tacoma, Saathi Impact Consulting, and others made the weekend a resounding success.
Experience the event through our Instagram Reel ↗.
“It was great to meet with individuals across the country to discuss common challenges, share best practices and resources, locally and nationally, and strengthen relationships that will ultimately impact the communities we are all committed to serving.”
— Sully Pinos, LEAP Tacoma Participant
Want to stay informed about future SMC Hub opportunities? Sign up to our Get Active with NGIN newsletter!
Frequently Asked Questions
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You can apply to participate in the LEAP to Cleveland, Ohio (June 9–12, 2025), and if your city is not selected, you will have the opportunity to apply for the Economic Inclusion Incubator when applications open in Summer 2025. Please note that your city can only be selected for one opportunity. If your city is chosen for LEAP, you will not be eligible to apply for the 2025 Incubator program.
If you have questions about which opportunity might be the best fit for your city, feel free to email jackie@newgrowth.org or watch the recap of our February 19th Information Session here.
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Organizations must apply with partners to be considered eligible. Your partnership can be at the beginning stages of collaboration. While we suggest the learning opportunity will be most impactful for those who have worked together on a previous project or program, organizations at any stage of partnership are welcome to apply.
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Unfortunately, the dates identified in the application materials are final and we are unable to accommodate changes to the schedule. If you are unable to attend the in person learning opportunity on these dates, NGIN’s Economic Incubator program may be a better fit for your organization.
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Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) supports efforts to create healthier communities by improving the physical, economic, and social conditions that help residents thrive. With RWJF’s generous support, NGIN’s Small and Midsized Cities (SMC) Hub offers a suite of programs, technical assistance, resources, and tools to support economic developers build healthy, thriving communities.
