Forward Cities

Forward Cities is a national nonprofit equipping communities and regions to grow and sustain more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Our Mission

We foster more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Where We Work

Forward Cities is currently implementing its in-depth capacity building programs in Pittsburgh, Franklin County/Columbus, Indianapolis, Westmoreland County (PA), Kansas City, New Mexico's Rio Grande and Baltimore.

Our History

Launched in 2014, Forward Cities started in partnership with four cities: Cleveland, Detroit, New Orleans, and Durham. It built on this work with a similar multi-city learning collaborative in North Carolina called InnovateNC and through a merger with CEOs for Cities, a seminal U.S. urban leadership network, Forward Cities has grown to a network of over 30 member cities nationally and expanded its capacity-building, convening, and communications support for cities. As of 2020 our team has grown to close to 25 full-time employees working either in our HQ in Durham or as Local Directors in our capacity-building cities.