NGIN INITIATIVES

Small and Midsized City Hub

NGIN’s Small and Midsized City Hub (SMC Hub) is an initiative offering specialized services such as peer exchange, technical assistance, events, capital, and a digital platform for community and economic leaders. It supports these leaders in driving inclusive economies, advancing racial equity, and reducing health inequities in cities with populations ranging from 30,000 to 500,000.

LEAP (Learn. Explore. Activate. In Place)

The LEAP (Learn. Explore. Activate. In Place) program is an innovative initiative empowering community and economic leaders through inviting delegations of community and economic leaders to jointly visit another Small and Midsized City (SMC) to study inclusive models for economic growth.

Thanks to generous funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NGIN invited over 40 delegates from 10 cities to go on immersive learning trips to Tacoma, WA and Richmond, VA.

Economic Inclusion Incubator

The Economic Inclusion Incubator provides Small and Midsized Cities with in-depth, customized support, technical assistance, and funding to implement inclusive economic development initiatives.

Following a national call for applications, four cities were selected, including Dayton, Ohio,; Savannah, Georgia; Tacoma, Washington, and Utica, New York.  

Cityscapes Summit

The NGIN Cityscapes Summit is an event that brings together leaders from Small and Midsized Cities to explore inclusive economic development strategies. Attendees engage in dynamic workshops, inspiring keynotes, and networking opportunities to share insights and solutions for driving equitable growth.

An Online Place for Practitioners

We’ve built a trusted and engaged community of economic and community development practitioners interested in advancing inclusive economies. Join us on NGIN’s online community with curated resources, events, and more!

Reports & Insights

  • Inclusive Procurement Practices for Small and Midsize Cities: Advocacy Brief

    Download

  • Communication Resource Guide for Inclusive Economic Development

    Download

  • Capital for Inclusive Development in Small and Midsize Cities

    Download

SMC Practitioner Spotlights

Explore our SMC Practitioner Spotlights, where we feature city leaders dedicated to fostering more inclusive economies.

Meet the Team

  • M. Yasmina McCarty

    CEO AND PRESIDENT

  • Swati Ghosh

    VICE PRESIDENT

  • Jessica L. González Martínez

    SENIOR ADVISOR AND CO-LEAD

  • Sean Thompson

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

  • Bernita Johnson Gabriel

    SENIOR ADVISOR

  • Betsey Suchanic

    ADVISOR

  • Autumne Sneed-Lyons

    MARKETING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR

  • Taylor Dudley

    MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Supported by

Through generous funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NGIN undertook a practitioner-led exploration to identify what is holding back investments that advance inclusive growth in small and midsize cities and recommend approaches to overcome these capital barriers.