Participation in National League of Cities "City Inclusive Entrepreneurship" Program Copyrighted
October 16, 2023
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 010.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Participation in National League of Cities "City Inclusive
Entrepreneurship" Program
SUM MARY: City Manager is sharing information on the City of Dubuque staff
participation in the National League of Cities' (NLC)"City I nclusive
Entrepreneurship" program.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Menu of Focus Areas Supporting Documentation
Letter of Commitment Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Participation in National League of Cities "City Inclusive Entrepreneurship"
Program
DATE: October 11, 2023
Economic Development Director Jill Connors is sharing information on the City of
Dubuque staff participation in the National League of Cities' (NLC) "City Inclusive
Entrepreneurship" program.
In 2022-2023, the City of Dubuque enrolled in the "City Inclusive Entrepreneurship" (CIE)
program. The CIE program allows cities to commit to giving under-represented
entrepreneurs more opportunities for economic advancements. From the menu of topics
to focus on last year, Dubuque selected the "Ecosystem Accelerator" commitment to
develop a hub and spoke model to be used to assist seed and launch stage businesses.
This effort included a partnership with the Innovation Lab, which was the recipient of a
$400,000 grant from Dubuque County to also focus on creating a hub and spoke model
for entrepreneurs. The two programs dovetailed nicely, with NLC providing an additional
$15,000 toward these local efforts.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Dubuque Economic Development
Department
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Participation in National League of Cities "City Inclusive Entrepreneurship"
Program
DATE: October 9, 2023
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides information on the National League of Cities' (NLC) "City
Inclusive Entrepreneurship" program that City staff are participating in this fiscal year.
BACKGROUND
In 2022-2023, the City of Dubuque enrolled in the "City Inclusive Entrepreneurship" (CIE)
program. The CIE program allows cities to commit to giving under-represented
entrepreneurs more opportunities for economic advancements. From the menu of topics
to focus on last year, Dubuque selected the "Ecosystem Accelerator" commitment to
develop a hub and spoke model to be used to assist seed and launch stage businesses.
This effort included a partnership with the Innovation Lab, which was the recipient of a
$400,000 grant from Dubuque County to also focus on creating a hub and spoke model
for entrepreneurs. The two programs dovetailed nicely, with NLC providing an additional
$15,000 toward these local efforts.
DISCUSSION
Through CIE, city leaders choose one of nine commitments (see the attached menu of
choices) that drive racially and geographically inclusive economic development. While
long-term systems change is required to close racial wealth gaps, decisive action in the
near term is required to signal the urgency and intent of city leadership to grow businesses
in marginalized communities; specifically, businesses owned by Black, Hispanic,
Indigenous, and people of color. Overtime, these initiatives must become institutionalized
and sustained within a city's lattice of business supports and backed by the full breadth
of its entrepreneurial support organizations. This is a historic moment for local leaders to
create more inclusive entrepreneurship and innovative ecosystems.
This year, through our participation, we are committing ourselves to identifying obstacles
facing Hispanic entrepreneurs and small business owners and implementing a new
program, policy, or practice that facilitates their growth.
At a time when the number of business start-ups is decreasing among white males,
entrepreneurship among Hispanics is on the rise. The financial health of many cities,
therefore, rests on the success and growth of these businesses. Yet, many Hispanic-
owned businesses face roadblocks inhibiting their growth, including predatory lending
practices and a lack of familiarity with complex regulatory and legal structures. Reducing
these barriers and offering tailored support for Hispanic entrepreneurs can create a
clearer path to prosperity for families and communities.
Participating cities receive:
1. Direct technical assistance via one-on-one quarterly coaching calls with NLC
and/or Program Experts
2. Quarterly calls for cities to share best practices and review progress towards their
commitments
3. Press and media attention for their efforts via NLC's media channels.
4. Financial support of up to $15,000 in funding to help implement new commitment
programs
Mayor Cavanagh intends to attend the kickoff at NLC's annual conference in Atlanta,
Georgia, November 16-17, 2023. This set of events allow CIE participants to meet each
other and learn more about our obligations under the program.
The following is the schedule of the program.
Mayor Letter of Commitment due: October 27, 2023
Commitment Launch: November 16, 3:OOpm ET
Initiating Activity Completion: Friday, November 17th, 2023
Funding Application Opens for Eligible Cities: February 1, 2024
Funding Applications Due: March 29, 2024
Output Achievement: Tuesday, April 30th, 2024
Outcome Target Date: Friday, August 30th, 2024
Other cities participating in this division include:
2
1. Kansas City, KS;
2. Buffalo, NY;
3. Topeka, KS,
4. Ft. Worth, TX, and
5. Tulsa, OK
The attached letter was signed by the Mayor, committing the City of Dubuque to
participating in the program's 2023-2024 cohort.
This memo is for informational purposes.
3
2023-24 City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) Menu
Executive Summary
This menu's purpose is to provide city leaders with a range of proven, place-appropriate
strategies to drive racially and geographically inclusive economic development. While long-term
systems change is required to close racial wealth gaps, decisive action in the near term is
required to signal the urgency and intent of city leadership to grow businesses in marginalized
communities; specifically, businesses owned by Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and people of
color. Over time, these initiatives must become institutionalized and sustained within a city's
lattice of business supports and backed by the full breadth of its entrepreneurial support
organizations. This is a historic moment for local leaders to create more inclusive
entrepreneurship and innovative ecosystems.
Menu options are organized around the four pillars of America's New Business Plan, to ensure
that "anyone with an idea has access to the opportunity, funding, knowledge, and support to
turn it into a reality."
• Opportunity—A level playing field without red tape
• Funding— Equal access to capital for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs
• Knowledge—The know-how to start and grow a business
• Support—The ability for all to take risks
Program Timeline
Interest Form Operational: Friday,June 17t", 2023
Program Registration (soft) Deadline: Friday, September 15t", 2023
Pre-Commitment Workshop: Wednesday, September 20t", 2022, 3:OOpm ET
Mayor Letter of Commitment due: October 27, 2023
Commitment Launch: November 16, 3:OOpm ET
Initiating Activity Completion: Friday, November 17t", 2023
Funding Application Opens for Eligible Cities: February 1, 2024
Funding Applications Due: March 29, 2024
Output Achievement: Tuesday, April 30t", 2024
Outcome Target Date: Friday, August 30th, 2024
Opportunity— Leveling the playing field and reducing barriers
Commitment#1 � Anchor Procurement: Increasing supplier diversity through equitable anchor
procurement strategies.
Contracting with anchor institutions like universities, hospitals, corporations, and utility
companies is an important factor in the revenue growth of businesses, especially businesses
owned by women and people of color. If established small businesses are integrated into
supplier and procurement systems, a cycle is created where purchasing benefits the contractor
and leads to future opportunities for wealth and job creation. At the same time, this inclusive
model is not being widely implemented. City leaders can play a key role increasing supplier
diversity in the private sector by embracing systems change, charting a common mission and by
working with prime contractors and anchor institutions to identify opportunities to increase
contracting with MWBEs.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to meeting with local anchor institutions or other
large buyers with the goal of identifying opportunities to increase contracting with
MWBEs.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will identify one large event or capital
improvement project and will provide contact information for a team lead and key
stakeholders.
Output: By April 2024, cities will have conducted outreach to all four key stakeholder
groups: 1) capital providers, 2) capacity builders, 3) procurement professionals and 4)
small businesses, and will have mapped stakeholder roles and responsibilities.
Outcome: By August 2024, cities will have held, or will have scheduled, a meeting to
convene all stakeholder groups to review supplier diversity best practices and forward-
looking strategy.
Program Expert support provided by Interise.
Commitment#2 � Working with Startups: Rethinking how your city innovates and solicits
technology solutions for civic problems to attract more startups and tech-based entrepreneurs.
Technology solutions that can address city challenges are often unknown, hard to define, and
rapidly evolving. As a result, cities sometimes struggle to figure out the best ways to engage
technology partners to address civic problems including community engagement, economic
development, and transportation. Municipal government and startup culture are dramatically
different, and sometimes city leaders and technology entrepreneurs need the expertise of a
trusted liaison to help them effectively improve our communities together. Technology is full of
possibilities for cities and their residents, and leveraging all resources to support the public
good is more important than ever.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to identifying critical issues facing local
government and will create a publicly announced process for meeting those challenges
by partnering with civic-minded startups.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will have identified and provided contact
information to the National League of Cities for a liaison between the economic
development team and other city departments.
Output: By April 2024, cities will have established a collaborative technology challenge
and begun the process of finding innovative solutions, utilizing resources such as a
Challenge Brainstorm Worksheet, Stakeholder Mapping Worksheet, and Procurement
Coordination Worksheet.
Outcome: By August 2024, cities will have engaged in their new process for
entrepreneurs/startups to work towards solving public problem statements, as
measured by attending a pitchfest and creating a customized challenge statement for a
potential pilot.
Program Expert support provided by CivStart
Commitment#3 � Leadership Diversity: Diversifying the leadership of your entrepreneurial
ecosystem and economic development organizations to include more women on boards and
commissions.
Addressing diversity and inclusion is critical to building long-term, equitable growth, and
proactively including women in visible leadership roles in our ecosystem is one way to help
change the image of what successful entrepreneurs and economic development professionals
look like. Mayors can identify women (including women of color) for appointments and staff
positions both within the city and with other positions within their local ecosystem (incubators,
startup accelerators). Having their voices represented in city government and leadership roles is
especially important in making sure they are fairly represented.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to identifying female and nonbinary civic and
ecosystem leaders from diverse backgrounds with the goal of recommending them for
civic boards and commissions, as well as for leadership roles in entrepreneurial support
organizations.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will identify a leader within their
administration and one leader outside the administration, with either one or both in an
economic development-related role, to champion this initiative.
Output: By April 2024, cities will 1) identify at least 3-4 open positions on boards and
commissions related to entrepreneurial support and economic development, and 2)
identify at least 2 opportunities for conducting outreach to female leaders inside and
outside city government, as measured by program materials.
Outcome: By August 2024, at least 10 women from diverse backgrounds who
participated in outreach events will apply to civic boards and commissions related to
entrepreneurship and economic development, as measured by program materials.
Program Expert support provided by UnitedWE's Appointments Project
Support - The ability for all to take risks
Commitment#4 � Early Childhood Workforce: Prioritize business supports and financial
empowerment for the early childcare workforce.
The early childhood workforce, both formal and informal, is a critical component of a city's
overall workforce and economic growth. This workforce plays a crucial role in providing high-
quality care for children so their parents or other caregivers can go to work, focus on their job,
provide for their family, and consistently be productive members of the general workforce.
Without childcare, whether in a home-based setting or at a childcare center, employees cannot
return to work and economic productivity suffers. As local leaders rebuild the care economy, it
is important to acknowledge the critical role of these small businesses in their communities.
However, countless early childhood business owners continue to be unseen, underpaid, and
undervalued. To ensure economic success, it is important that municipal policies and practices
are grounded in equity as local leaders work toward equitable access to business supports,
which promote strong public will and equal investments for the formal and informal early
childhood workforce.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to documenting 1-2 support gaps and examining
how community stakeholders can mitigate inequity, while providing resources to
support the entire early childhood workforce.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will identify a city staff person and one
community stakeholder to partner with and champion this initiative.
Output: By April 2024, cities will have 1) engaged with city departments and community
stakeholders to document needs of the formal and informal workforce, or 2) engaged
partners from within the city, and among the community, to begin building a coalition of
support for the early childhood workforce.
Outcome: By August 2024, cities will 1) map current business supports and financial
opportunities for the early childhood workforce, identifying gaps and opportunities or 2)
create an action plan to increase business supports and financial opportunities for the
early childhood workforce.
Program Expert support provided by NLC's Early Childhood Success Team
Commitment#5 � Hispanic Business Owners: Lowering barriers for Latino entrepreneurs to
start, grow, and sustain their business.
At a time when the number of business start-ups is decreasing among white males,
entrepreneurship among Hispanics is on the rise. The financial health of many cities, therefore,
rests on the success and growth of these businesses. Yet, many Hispanic-owned businesses face
roadblocks inhibiting their growth, including predatory lending practices and a lack of familiarity
with complex regulatory and legal structures. Reducing these barriers and offering tailored
support for Hispanic entrepreneurs can create a clearer path to prosperity for families and
communities.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to identifying obstacles facing Hispanic
entrepreneurs and small business owners and implementing a new program, policy, or
practice that facilitates their growth.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will identify a segment of Hispanic
businesses they intend to support and 1-3 nonprofit or community leaders working in
that sector with whom they can consult.
Output: By April 2024, in consultation with Prospera, NLC, and local nonprofits, cities
will identify 2-3 institutional or programmatic barriers standing in the way of Hispanic
entrepreneurs starting, growing, or sustaining a business in their community.
Outcome: By August 2024, cities will make at least one reform to process, policy, or
program, based on the recommendation of Prospera and local nonprofits that specialize
in working with Hispanic business owners, as measured by press and/or program
materials.
Program Expert support provided by Prospera
Commitment#6 � Ecosystem Accelerator: Establishing and/or enhancing a network of
entrepreneurial resource partners to accelerate small business goal attainment.
Small businesses have been hit hard over the past few years. Previous rounds of economic relief
helped millions of small businesses stay afloat and kept employees on payroll, yet too many
small businesses—especially mom and pops, rural businesses, and microenterprises owned by
People of Color—found themselves at the end of the line, while larger, well-connected
businesses accessed programs right away with ease. To better reach and serve small
businesses, this commitment encourages cities to build and maintain cooperative resource
partner networks that strengthen contextually relevant outreach to local/regional diverse small
businesses and increase the attainment of their goals. It requires cities to partner with
culturally competent organizations with deep roots in their communities. While the SBA is
currently piloting a similar model with 51 communities under its Community Navigator Pilot
Program, their announcement indicates future rounds of funding opportunities will follow for
additional states, tribes, units of local governments, and other nonprofit organization.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to formalizing local/regional networks of
entrepreneurial and small business support organizations (i.e., resource partners) with
the goal of better coordinating outreach in minoritized, rural, and other marginalized
communities, organized around targeted small business goals and objectives.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will have identified a "hub" organization
responsible for coordinating outreach, network learning and development activities
among its resource partner network and will have shared hub information with TEN, the
program expert, and NLC.
Output: By April 2024, 1) five or more trusted "spoke" organizations—i.e., non-profits,
education, community development financial institutions, philanthropy, and business
associations that specialize in working with small business owners of color or rural
businesses—will have joined the city's resource partner network, as measured by
collaborative partnerships formalized, program materials, shared resources developed,
and press releases, and 2) the "hub" will establish qualitative and quantitative
ecosystem enhancement goals.
Outcome: By August 2024, the resource partner network will have accelerated its
entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem by, 1) identifying gaps in its local/regional
service provision, and 2) clarifying a proposed ecosystem enhancement plan accounting
for AT LEAST ONE entrepreneurial or small business support pathway.
Program Expert support provided by Third Eye Network
Knowledge - The know-how to start and grow a business
Commitment#7 � Entrepreneurship Curriculum: Establishing a local affiliate for
entrepreneurship curriculum to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills they need.
Kauffman FastTrac aims to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship by equipping aspiring
entrepreneurs with the business skills and insights, tools, resources, and peer networks
necessary to start and grow successful businesses. The self-paced program is delivered online
and via teaching partners to entrepreneurs. FastTrac encourages and equips more people to
start businesses, contributing to increased startup and main street entrepreneurship activity
nationwide.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to identifying a local entrepreneurial support
organization to apply to become a Kauffman FastTrac affiliate with the goal of providing
entrepreneurship education for entrepreneurs.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will hold an engagement conversation local
entrepreneurship support organization (ESO) to become an affiliate of the FastTrac
national network.
Output: By February 2024, the ESO will apply to the Kauffman FastTrac Affiliate
program.
Outcome: By August 2024, at least ten entrepreneurs will have participated in a
FastTrac program through their local affiliate, as measured by course enrollment and/or
completion certificates from the affiliate.
Program Expert support provided by FastTrac
Commitment#8 � Ecosystem Mapping: Identifying and connecting the small business support
resources in your community to provide a one-stop hub for local business owners.
Developing a truly effective entrepreneurial ecosystem requires an expertly tailored mix of
technology, community engagement, and data measures. Communities of any size often have
an abundance of resource organizations, all seeking the same outcome: to help local businesses
start and grow. From Small Business Development Centers to advanced and specialized
accelerators, communities must both identify and then direct entrepreneurs to best fit
resources.
The Commitment: Cites will commit to surveying the full landscape of their ESOs and to
develop a plan/product to better communicate the resources available to potential
entrepreneurs to increase awareness, demand, and utilization of those resources.
Initiating Activity: By November 2023, cities will have identified a staff inember to lead
the initiative and will have held 1-2 calls with key community stakeholders to build
support for community workshops to identify resource providers.
Output: By April 2024, cities will conduct a landscape analysis of local ecosystem
resources and will produce a print or online representation.
Outcome: By August 2024, awareness and/or utilization of local ecosystem resources
will have increased as a result of promotion and dissemination of landscape analysis, as
measured by ESO records.
Program Expert support provided by SourceLink
Funding - Equal access to capital for historically underrepresented
entrepreneurs
Commitment#9 � Microlending: Building a platform for microlending in your community to
serve entrepreneurs without access to traditional finance.
Our communities are full of entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to grow, but
many lack access to traditional capital that could help them start or grow their business.
Through a Kiva Hub, city governments and government partners can facilitate affordable, risk-
tolerant microloans to entrepreneurs that are currently underserved by traditional banks and
even mission-driven nonprofit lenders.
Kiva provides back-end underwriting, fraud checks, access to capital, disbursement, and
collections technology, while local partners, or Hubs, leverage their existing personal
relationships from their local business community. Through a designated Capital Access
Manager, Hubs help manage the direct relationship with borrowers. Hubs are provided with
exclusive onboarding tools that allow them to provide small businesses in their community with
capital. In addition to filling the small business lending gap, Hubs benefit from increased
referrals, marketing, and the ability to fuel their local lending, resulting in increased fundraising
potential for the Hub with local philanthropy. Thanks to Hubs, Kiva loans can reach financially
excluded entrepreneurs in cities across the United States.
The Commitment: Cities will commit to identifying a Hub vendor organization and a
Capital Access Manager with the goal of launching a microloan fund.
Initiating Activity: By December 2023, cities will identify the Hub vendor organization
and a capital access manager.
Output: By April 2024, cities will have acquired funding for, and announced the
microloan fund, as measured by a meeting with the Kiva Regional Manager to commit to
developing a microloan program and press materials.
Outcome: By August 2024, at least 10 borrowers will have successfully received a Kiva
loan.
Program Expert support provided by Kiva
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City of Dubuque—LETTER OF COMMITMENT SUPPORT
DATE: 10/4/2023
TO: Clarence Anthony,NLC President&CEO
FROM: Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
SUBJECT: Commitment to participate in the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship program
Dear Mr. Anthony,
It is with great enthusiasm that I offer my full support for the inclusion of City of Dubuque as a
participant in the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE)program at the National League of Cities.
Through our participation,we are committing ourselves to identifying obstacles facing Hispanic
entrepreneurs and small business owners and implementing a new program,policy, or practice that
facilitates their growth.
I, or a designee, commit to formally announcing the city's commitment at NLC's City Summit
Conference on November 16, 2023.
Our city commits to active participation in the 2023-24 CIE program, including the following activities:
� Working towards the desired outputs and outcomes of this commitment.
o Output: By Apri12024, in consultation with Prospera,NLC, and local nonprofits,the
city will identify 2-3 institutional or programmatic barriers standing in the way of
Hispanic entrepreneurs starting, growing, or sustaining a business in their community.
o Outcome: By August 2024, the city will make at least one reform to process,policy, or
program,based on the recommendation of Prospera and local nonprofits that specialize in
working with Hispanic business owners, as measured by press and/or program materials.
• Engaging in quarterly calls with other cities participating in this cohort to share progress updates
and lessons learned.
• Completing quarterly surveys and keeping NLC staff informed of progress.
Specifically,we have identified Jill M. Connors within Economic Development, City of Dubuque as the
individual best suited to carry out the implementation of the City's commitment.
Through its participation in the CIE program,the City of Dubuque is committed to implementing
equitable policies,programs, and practices to support entrepreneurship-led economic growth in our
community. We look forward to leveraging the information and resources made available by the National
League of Cities to do so.
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
�ra,�, C�� 10/4/2023
26145E3B46954A7.._
Brad M. Cavanagh Date
Mayor
City of Dubuque
DocuSign Envelope ID:A862DD04-12D8-4DCF-A898-D9192D33746F
DocuSigned by:
,�i�, CbI�.V�,bV'S 10/5/2023
68736946A25F426...
Implementation Lead Date
Jill M. Connors
Economic Development Director
City of Dubuque