The Center for Inclusive Growth
A full room of New Haven residents, entrepreneurs, institutions, and civic leaders gathered at the Inclusive Growth Summit
Right Now: Registration Is Opening for the Inclusive Growth Summit

New Haven Grows When Opportunity Reaches Everyone.

The Center brings residents, entrepreneurs, institutions, and information together to build pathways toward ownership, mobility, and shared prosperity.

Inclusive Growth Means More New Haven Residents Can Participate In, Contribute To, and Benefit From the City's Economic Future.

The Center connects entrepreneurs, residents, institutions, and research so inclusive growth strategy becomes practical, local action — support that leads to action, action that gets convened, convening that connects people, connections that get shared.

1
Support
Advising, training, and capital for entrepreneurs
2
Act
Programs that turn strategy into local outcomes
3
Convene
Bringing residents, institutions, and leaders together
4
Connect
Linking businesses, buyers, and community priorities
5
Share
Research and stories that spread what works

Where Would You Like to Start?

Three New Haven journeys — and the pathway the Center offers for each.

A business owner reviewing her books with an advisor over coffee
Grow a Business
A business owner needs stronger financial and HR systems.
Recommended pathway: NOCAP.
Find Business Support →
An aspiring owner holding an Abierto sign inside the storefront he hopes to acquire
Become an Owner
An aspiring entrepreneur wants to acquire an established business.
Recommended pathway: Evergreen New Haven.
Explore Evergreen New Haven →
An institutional buyer shaking hands with a local contractor
Buy Local
An institution needs a qualified local contractor.
Recommended pathway: BUY NEW HAVEN.
Search Local Businesses →

Programs as Connected Pathways

Every program maps to a stage in the same continuum — from preparing to reinvesting in what's next.

SPARK New Haven
Pro bono advisory pairing New Haven businesses with alumni consultants.
Two attendees in conversation during a SPARK networking session
Info Session Upcoming
Attend an Information Session →
NOCAP
Capacity building for finance, HR, marketing, and operations systems.
Business owners working through a capacity-building exercise at a table
Applications Open
Apply to NOCAP →
Evergreen New Haven
Entrepreneurship through acquisition — learn to acquire and operate a local business.
A New Haven maker standing in the workshop he now owns
Applications Open
Explore Evergreen New Haven →
BUY NEW HAVEN
Contract readiness and local purchasing that connects buyers to New Haven businesses.
Cover of the BUY NEW HAVEN guide to supporting small, local contractors
Directory Open
Search Local Businesses →

Inclusive Growth Becomes Real Block by Block, Business by Business, and Neighborhood by Neighborhood.

Explore where programs, businesses, and community priorities are active across New Haven's neighborhoods.

Fair HavenNewhallvilleDixwellWestvilleDowntown
Explore the Neighborhood Map
Illustrated map of New Haven neighborhoods with the central green and harbor
A family of New Haven food entrepreneurs celebrating their grand opening behind the counter
Featured Story · NOCAP

Building the Systems Behind a Third Generation Bakery

Maria Delgado's family has run a Fair Haven bakery for over forty years. Through NOCAP, she rebuilt her bookkeeping, hired her first manager, and pursued her first institutional catering contract.

Read Maria's Story →

Connecting the Dots

Convene through the Summit. Define priorities through the Roadmap. Measure progress through the Dashboard.

Poster for the 2nd Annual Inclusive Growth Summit
Inclusive Growth Summit
The city's annual gathering of entrepreneurs, institutions, and civic leaders.
Register for the Summit →
Cover of a BUY NEW HAVEN guide to supporting local professional services providers
Inclusive Growth Roadmap
New Haven's shared priorities for a more broadly shared local economy.
Explore the Roadmap →
A laptop showing live economic progress dashboards
Inclusive Growth Dashboard
Live, verified data tracking progress toward inclusive growth.
Explore the Dashboard →

Impact in Context

312
New Haven businesses supported through Center programs, 2023–2026.
Source: Center program records
148
Entrepreneurs completing a training or advisory program in 2025.
Source: Annual Impact Report
$4.2M
In local contracts facilitated through BUY NEW HAVEN since launch.
Source: BUY NEW HAVEN program data
41
Institutional and community partners engaged in 2025–2026.
Source: Center partnership records

Field Notes From New Haven

View All Resources →
Cover of the BUY NEW HAVEN guide to purchasing local art
Report
2026 Inclusive Growth Roadmap
Aug 2026 · Read the Report →
Panelists in conversation at last year's Inclusive Growth SummitEvent
Inclusive Growth Summit 2026
Oct 14, 2026 · Register for the Summit →
Portrait of a New Haven entrepreneur against a gold backdropImpact Story
From Side Hustle to Storefront
Jul 2026 · Read the Story →

No Organization Can Build an Inclusive Economy Alone.

Creating what's possible, together — with foundations, institutions, and employers who share the Center's commitment to New Haven.

Yale University
City of New Haven
The Community Foundation
Yale New Haven Health
Southern Connecticut State
Elm City Innovation Collab

Stay Connected to What Is Moving New Haven Forward.

Receive program openings, business opportunities, community events, new research, and Inclusive Growth Summit updates.

Join the Newsletter