May 25, 2009
InnWhiteSpace Creative, an Akron-based integrated marketing resource firm, was recently ranked 80th on the 2009 Inner City 100 list, a compilation of the fastest growing inner-city companies in America.ovative practices and sustained growth are the predominant traits of the 2009 Inner City 100, a ranking compiled by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) based in Boston, MA.
Now in its 11th year, the Inner City 100 list provides unmatched original data on the fastest growing inner-city businesses in the U.S. For the 2009 list, over 5,000 nominations were received. The 2009 Inner City 100 winners grew at a compound annual growth rate of 40 percent and an average rate of 324 percent between 2003 and 2007. Collectively, the top 100 inner city businesses have employed nearly 17,000 people and created nearly 10,000 new jobs over the past five years.
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter. ICIC’s mission is to promote economic prosperity in America’s inner cities through private sector engagement that leads to jobs, income and wealth creation for local residents. ICIC brings together business and civic leaders to drive innovation and action, transform thinking and accelerate inner city business growth and investment.
“We are delighted to celebrate businesses like WhiteSpace Creative that are playing a critical role to revitalize distressed urban communities throughout America,” said Michael Porter, founder and CEO of ICIC. “By creating jobs, income, and wealth for local residents, these high-growth businesses are vivid proof that the most effective way to address economic inequality in America is to equip every community to prosper in the market system. Inner City 100 companies also provide a window into the future where all companies will need to learn to address diverse customers and mobilize diverse workforces.”
The list is proof of concept that doing business in an inner city area holds a distinct competitive advantage. ICIC has been studying the economic condition of the largest 100 American cities for more than a decade and is working to revitalize inner cities across the country.
The 2009 Inner City 100 winners, including WhiteSpace Creative President Keeven White, attended the Inner City 100 Summit in Boston. The two-day event featured seminars for Inner City 100 owners and managers at Harvard Business School, a reception at the Harvard Club of Boston, and a gala awards dinner at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center that drew more than 800 guests.
WhiteSpace Creative focuses on delivering fresh solutions to today’s marketing challenges. Averaging a 20% annual growth over the past five years, WhiteSpace is an ongoing recipient of Weatherhead 100, NEO Success, Cascade Capital Corporation Business Growth, Leading EDGE and international Summit Creative awards. Most recently, it was honored with gold and silver ADDY awards at the Fifth-District ADDY Competition and will now compete in the AAF National ADDY Awards, scheduled for early June in Washington, D.C. Established in 1994, WhiteSpace is based in Akron’s revitalized historic district.
For more information, contact Jennifer Snider at 330.762.9320 or jen@whitespace-creative.com. General information can also be obtained by accessing the WhiteSpace website at www.whitespace-creative.com.
