Living Cities says broader capital access can rebuild US competitive edge
The organization argues that rebuilding America's competitive edge requires broader economic participation and investment across all communities.
Living Cities has outlined strategies for building and investing in inclusive economic ecosystems to restore America's competitive edge. The organization presented these ideas at the Fast Company Impact Council Annual Meeting, emphasizing the need to combine economic growth with broader participation.
Joe Scantlebury, president and CEO of Living Cities, challenged the notion that economic growth and inclusive development are mutually exclusive. He stated that economies can become more resilient and dynamic when a wider range of people and communities participate in that growth. "This will help us rediscover our competitive edge and reset generational expectations about national prosperity," Scantlebury said.
The organization highlighted three essential forms of capital for sharpening the competitive edge: knowledge capital, social capital, and financial capital. By expanding access to these resources for all communities, new markets can be stimulated and new engines of growth can emerge.
Scantlebury cited examples in Atlanta, Nashville, Miami, Charlotte, and Memphis, where Living Cities has coordinated investments to strengthen business ecosystems, particularly for entrepreneurs from communities historically excluded from economic development. He stressed that true progress requires more than just funding the next idea; it necessitates paving the way for business innovation and expanded ownership.