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Changemakers Take Action: ICIC Brings National Small Business Changemakers to Atlanta

globenewswire.com
FDX FedEx is listed as a Visionary Sponsor for the ICIC Annual Conference. This sponsorship suggests a positive association but doesn't provide specific insights into FedEx's business performance or outlook. INTU Intuit is listed as an Innovator Sponsor for the ICIC Annual Conference and also mentioned for its 'More with AI Tour'. The article highlights their involvement in AI training, suggesting a neutral stance with a focus on innovation support. RF Regions Bank is identified as an Innovator Sponsor of the ICIC Annual Conference. This sponsorship indicates a partnership and support for small businesses, but the article does not provide specific sentiment on Regions Bank's financial performance. HD The Home Depot is mentioned as an Innovator Sponsor for the ICIC Annual Conference. This signifies a supportive role in the event, but the article does not offer any direct analysis or sentiment regarding the company's stock or business operations.

Changemakers Take Action: ICIC Brings National Small Business Changemakers to Atlanta ATLANTA, March 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts from across the country will convene in Atlanta April 27–28, 2026, for the ICIC Annual Conference: Changemakers Take Action—Leveraging Innovation for Growth, a two-day event focused on practical strategies to help small businesses grow and compete in a rapidly changing economy. The conference will feature three core content tracks: Leveraging Innovation for Growth, Accessing Opportunities for Growth, and Spotlighting Transformational Change in Communities, offering attendees targeted insights across innovation, market access, and community impact.

Hosted by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), the conference brings together entrepreneurs, ecosystem partners, and corporate leaders driving change in their industries and communities. Atlanta—one of the nation’s most dynamic hubs for entrepreneurship—provides a fitting backdrop for conversations focused on expanding opportunity and strengthening local economies.

Featured Main Stage Sessions

Steve Grossman, CEO of ICIC, said, “Small businesses are navigating a rapidly changing environment—from technological innovation to evolving markets and customer expectations. Our conference brings together entrepreneurs, experts, and ecosystem partners to share practical strategies and build the connections that help businesses grow. By combining real-world insights, actionable tools, and a strong community of support, we help entrepreneurs turn ideas into results.”

Conference Highlights

The conference is made possible through the support of ICIC’s sponsors and partners: Kaiser Permanente - Principal Sponsor; FedEx - Visionary Sponsor; Bain Capital, Intuit, Regions Bank, and The Home Depot - Innovator Sponsors; Appleton Partners and Arctaris Impact Investors - Pioneer Sponsors; and Forward Financing - Partner Sponsor.

Learn more and register: visit icic.org/annualconference.

About ICIC

The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses in under-resourced communities thrive through programming and research. Founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Dr. Michael E. Porter, ICIC provides executive education, coaching, technical assistance, and access to capital to thousands of businesses each year. Through its research and partnerships, ICIC facilitates private-sector investment and economic development that strengthens local economies and creates opportunity.

In 2025 alone, ICIC equipped more than 3,200 small businesses for growth across 1,300 communities nationwide. The year also marked the 20th anniversary of the Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program, which has supported more than 7,700 businesses to date, alongside milestones such as the launch of the Manufacturing Accelerator Program, new research on how small businesses are using AI tools, and expanded efforts to help entrepreneurs build practical AI capabilities through the integration of AI training into ICIC programs and the six-city Intuit More with AI Tour.