Now in its 9th year, the Inner City 100 list provides unmatched original data on the fastest growing inner-city businesses in the U.S. For the 2007 list, over 4,500 new nominations were received. The 2007 Inner City 100 winners grew at a compound annual growth rate of 49 percent and an average rate of 535 percent between 2001 and 2005. Collectively, the top 100 inner city businesses have employed nearly 19,000 people and created 12,000 new jobs over the past five years; both of these figures are the highest in the program’s history and show signs of continued growth.
“An ability to recognize growth and build upon it is the trait that most distinguishes the 2007 Inner City 100 winners,” says Dorothy Terrell, president and CEO of ICIC. “These companies have identified profitable market niches that few others have seen. They have run successful regional, national and even global businesses from inner city locations because of their savvy growth orientation, and have translated their tremendous growth into more jobs, income, and wealth for inner city residents. Inner City 100 2007 is truly the year of Recognizing Growth.”
Desert Fleet- Serv, Inc. provides mobile on-site service and repair for fleets of diesel trucks and trailers throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1995 by Tom and Kim Cooper, the company has grown steadily through a keen focus on provding "Raving Fan" Service to all of its customers and it's ability to attract and retain the highest quality diesel technicians.
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 2007 Inner City 100 winners are attending the Inner City 100 Summit in Boston for a two-day event featuring seminars for Inner City 100 owners and managers at Harvard Business School, a reception at the Samuel Adams Brewery, and a gala awards dinner at the Westin Copley Hotel that is expected to draw more than 1,000 guests.
