Paul and Sandy Edgerley - Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

A Note from ICICA Note from PAUL and Sandra EdgerleyWelcome to the 2011 Inner City 100 Awards Dinner. Tonight we honorthe winning Inner City 100 companies and celebrate them as beacons ofjob creation and innovation in America’s inner cities. These Inner City 100companies are role models for entrepreneurship, cutting-edge businesspractices and job creation in our country’s cities.As the voice for urban opportunity, ICIC has catalyzed economic developmentand job creation in America’s inner cities for 17 years. We have worked tirelesslyto promote the assets of inner cities and the market opportunities that exist inour urban communities. We believe that our inner cities represent some ofAmerica’s best economic potential. This year’s Inner City 100 winners are proofof that. These companies demonstrate without question that the private sectorcan transform urban America. In the last five years, these companies grew anaverage of 379% and created more than 3,200 new jobs. This translates intonew income and wealth for inner city residents – and the renewal of our urbancommunities.The Inner City 100 Summit and Awards Dinner would not be possible withoutthe support of so many dedicated individuals and organizations. On behalf of theentire ICIC organization, we would like to thank Paul and Sandy Edgerley, our2011 Dinner Co-Chairs. We are grateful for their leadership and for the work ofthe entire Dinner Committee. We are appreciative of Inner City 100 programsponsors – Chevron Corporation, Goldman Sachs Foundation and the StaplesFoundation – and all of our supporters who stand behind ICIC’s work. Finally,we would like to recognize our media partner, Fortune, for its support andpromotion of the Inner City 100.With more Americans moving back to cities, an urban America is the future.By focusing on our cities, in particular our distressed urban communities, wecan restore the overall health and vibrancy of the U.S. economy. This year’sInner City 100 firms are showing us the way: grow sustainable businesses, hirelocal residents and create a stable community presence. Now, all we need isone million more just like them.We are honored to serve as co-chairs for the 2011 Inner City 100Awards Dinner. We are proud to support the work of ICIC to transformAmerica’s urban communities and create jobs, income and wealth forinner city residents.We are also pleased to join you this evening to celebrate the success of thisyear’s Inner City 100 winners. Tonight, we will honor these companies, theirsuccessful growth and innovative practices. We will showcase the spirit ofingenuity, hard work and dedication that these companies have demonstratedto their communities. Through their accomplishments, the Inner City 100winners challenge the private sector to do more and be more. Each winningcompany tonight hires on average more than 35% of its workforce fromdistressed urban communities, and over 94% provide full benefits to theirworkers. They set a standard for other businesses to follow and represent theimpact entrepreneurs and small businesses can have in our communities andon long-term job creation in the U.S.As much as a triumphant success story inspires us, there is more to the storythan just the numbers. We encourage you to get to know these companiesand the remarkable CEOs that share your tables. Hear their stories – each onehas an amazing story to tell. Many have developed innovative practices toovercome challenges and obstacles, which we can all learn from. We believeyou will find that every winner here tonight represents the growth that is atthe heart of all urban entrepreneurial successes.Warm regards,Paul and Sandra EdgerleyCo-ChairsThank you and welcome,Michael E. PorterChairman and Founder, ICICMary Kay LeonardPresident and CEO, ICIC45