HUBZone Communities Alliance
Bringing local, regional, and global wealth opportunities to communities.
We deliver economic opportunity directly into economically distressed communities — so residents can build wealth where they live, without having to leave to find it.
Why we exist
Opportunity should come to the community, not pull people out of it
Too much economic development asks residents to relocate, or quietly extracts a community’s most capable people. We work the other way around: we connect economically distressed communities to federal contracting, global trade, agricultural, and manufacturing opportunities, and we build the local capacity to win them.
We bring community development, multi-sector economic opportunity, and place-based development together as one integrated system — so investment compounds locally instead of leaking away.
How we measure wealth
Community wealth is more than income
We track impact across six forms of community capital. Together they describe wealth as community capacity — not just what any one household earns.
Social Capital
- Local business ownership rates
- Community leadership participation
- Social network density and trust levels
Human Capital
- Educational attainment
- Skills certification rates
- Career advancement trajectories
Physical Capital
- Property ownership rates
- Business formation
- Infrastructure investment
- Commercial district vitality
Financial Capital
- Credit scores and banking access
- Small business lending
- Homeownership rates
- Retirement savings
Civic Capital
- Voter participation
- Community organization membership
- Volunteerism rates
- Local government engagement
Cultural Capital
- Entrepreneurship rates
- Innovation and patent activity
- Arts and cultural institution development
What we do
Five pillars of our work
1
Multi-Sector Community Development
Community-centered training programs across federal contracting, global trade, agriculture, and manufacturing that create career pathways inside economically distressed communities.
2
Strategic Partnership Development
Alliances with government entities, corporations, and economic development organizations that amplify investment already flowing into a community.
3
Technology Innovation
Platform development for community impact tracking, business readiness assessment, and partnership coordination across diverse economic opportunities.
4
Place-Based Economic Development
A community-centered approach that strengthens an entire distressed area rather than extracting its talent, whatever the primary economic sector.
5
Integrated Opportunity Delivery
Practical understanding of how federal contracting, global trade, agricultural development, and manufacturing opportunities can be delivered directly into a community.
Programs
Where we are working
ARC
Our work in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission.
ARISE
Our work under the Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies.
Work with us
Bring opportunity to your community
We work with economic development organizations, government agencies, foundations, and corporate partners who want measurable community impact. Tell us about the community you serve.