NGIN INITIATIVES
Program Description
NGIN’s Strategic Capacity for Advancing Local Economies (SCALE) program supports Small and Midsized Cities (population 50,000–500,000) to advance community wealth and development.
The SCALE program has 2 tracks, designed to meet your city’s exact needs: (1) Community Wealth Building and (2) Commercial Real Estate Development. Over a 12-month period, selected teams will participate in a national learning cohort and receive targeted support tailored to their track.
Mark your calendar—applications open June 18 and close July 25!
Community Wealth Building Track Offerings:
Up to $20,000 in funding to advance project goals
Customized technical assistance focused on advancing community wealth building projects.
Immersive learning trip to a Small and Midsized City to see hands-on innovations, meet city leaders, engage in site visits, attend workshops, and network with peers to explore how cities are driving innovation and expanding economic opportunities
Expert consultation to support local action planning, coalition building and project implementation
Virtual convenings and peer exchange opportunities
Commercial Real Estate Development Track Offerings:
Technical assistance focused on investment readiness, predevelopment planning, site control and ownership modeling
Access to capital connections for pre-development and/or investment funding
Immersive learning trip to a Small and Midsized City to see hands-on innovations, meet city leaders, engage in site visits, attend workshops, and network with peers to explore how cities are driving innovation and expanding economic opportunities
Expert consultation to support local action planning, coalition building and project implementation
Virtual convenings and peer exchange opportunities
Which track is right for your coalition?
SCALE offers two tailored tracks to meet your community’s unique needs: Community Wealth Building and Commercial Real Estate Development. Download our info session slides to learn more.
Key Program Dates
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June 18, 2025
Application Launch
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June 25, 2025
Info Session for Applicants
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July 25, 2025
Application Deadline
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Late August 2025
Application Decisions Sent
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September 2025
Program Kickoff
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Early November 2025
Fully Funded Learning Trip
Funded 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.