Linking Business Development and Community Development in Inner Cities

Abstract

In inner-city neighborhoods, business development can promote community development by expanding employment, improving consumer services, creating markets, rehabilitating real estate, andfostering community leaders. Community development can create business opportunities in those neighborhoods by reducing firms' operating costs and expanding markets. When these linkages are selectively and creatively exploited, pairing business development and community development can achieve more than pursuing each independently. Examples from four U.S. cities-Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Pittsburgh-are used to relate the literature on inner-city business and community development to current development issues.