Research at ICIC
Insight That Drives Small Business and Community Growth
ICIC was founded more than 30 years ago as a research organization, and that foundation still shapes our work today. We ground our programs and trainings in data-driven analysis that explains how structural barriers, neighborhood conditions, and market dynamics affect small businesses and the communities they serve.
The New Frontier: AI and Small Business Growth
In 2025, the centerpiece of this work was our national survey and groundbreaking report AI in Business: How Small Business Owners Are Learning, Using, and Navigating Artificial Intelligence. Drawing on responses from thousands of entrepreneurs, it provided one of the clearest snapshots to date of how small businesses are adopting AI, the productivity gains they are achieving, and the cost, time, and information gaps that must be addressed to support responsible, inclusive, and confident use of AI across the small business community.
AI in Business: What Our Data Reveals
89%
AI use is widespread among small businesses. 89% of business owners indicated that someone at their business currently uses AI tools.
62 percent of business owners whose businesses had already adopted AI tools reported positive changes in employee productivity since implementation, and nearly 63 percent of employer businesses that already use AI reported having seen positive changes in job satisfaction.
Mapping the Hidden Dynamics of Small Business Growth
ICIC Research also advanced analysis of the structural conditions affecting entrepreneurship, creating an interactive tool that shows how neighborhood characteristics and business owners’ race intersect to influence small business success in major metropolitan areas. Findings show that entrepreneurs of color face significant barriers to building successful businesses, with owners of color often concentrated among businesses with very low revenues, though patterns vary by region and industry.
Businesses with more employees offer higher average weekly wages. Scaling businesses in under-resourced communities could help increase wages and create pathways to wealth-building, which are critical steps toward equitable economic growth.
Explore Your City’s Data Here »
Through publications, briefings, and collaborations with other respected research and policy organizations, ICIC Research helped bring critical insights on small business challenges and opportunities to a wide audience.
