New Haven Businesses Pilot Growth Acceleration Program

Four local entrepreneurs selected for Center for Inclusive Growth's Neighborhood Opportunity Acceleration Project

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Center for Inclusive Growth in New Haven, Connecticut has selected four local business owners to participate in a pilot program called the Neighborhood Opportunity & Capacity Building Acceleration Project (NOCAP). The program aims to provide small and mid-sized businesses with low- to no-cost back-office and operational support to help them scale their operations.

Why it matters

The four businesses selected represent a diverse cross-section of New Haven's economy, from retail and hospitality to youth advocacy and professional services. By supporting the growth of these established community businesses, the program aims to help bridge the gap between entrepreneurial potential and the institutional systems needed to sustain long-term success.

The details

Over the next few months, the four business owners will work with the Center for Inclusive Growth and its partner Aropa Consulting to create robust systems for budgeting, bookkeeping, strategic pricing, inventory management, automated workflows, and other key operational functions. The goal is to provide these businesses with the essential financial infrastructure to make data-driven decisions, optimize profit margins, and secure traditional financing to scale their operations.

  • The NOCAP pilot program will run through April 2026.

The players

Center for Inclusive Growth

An independent, stand-alone organization founded in 2024 through a partnership between the City of New Haven and Yale University, with a mission to help create economic security and vibrancy for all New Haven residents.

Aropa Consulting

A partner organization that will provide high-touch, fiscal management support to the businesses participating in the NOCAP pilot.

O Positive LLC

A consulting practice specializing in community engagement and storytelling, one of the four businesses selected for the NOCAP pilot.

Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc.

A mission-driven nonprofit that has served college-bound youth for 23 years, one of the four businesses selected for the NOCAP pilot.

Bloom

A Westville-based multi-concept retail, floral, and wellness space, one of the four businesses selected for the NOCAP pilot.

Little Lion Collective

A pop-up vinyl bar and hospitality group known for curated community events, one of the four businesses selected for the NOCAP pilot.

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What they’re saying

“NOCAP is bridging the gap between entrepreneurial potential and the institutional systems needed to build and sustain growth. Together with our partners, we are dismantling the hurdles that have historically sidelined small and mid-sized businesses, making operational excellence an accessible reality for everyone.”

— Malwin Dávila, Associate Director for Programs, Strategy, and Engagement, Center for Inclusive Growth (Patch.com)

“By the end of the pilot program, the business owners will have strengthened their back-end financial systems that will provide a critical competitive advantage. They enable founders to make data-driven decisions, optimize profit margins, and maintain the "audit-ready" transparency required to secure traditional bank financing. This operational foundation is the essential bridge that allows these business owners to move beyond daily management and focus on turning their current business success into a scalable, lasting legacy.”

— Dawn Ragsdale, Executive Director, Center for Inclusive Growth (Patch.com)

What’s next

The NOCAP pilot program will run through April 2026, after which the Center for Inclusive Growth will evaluate the program's success and determine next steps for expanding it to support more local businesses in New Haven.

The takeaway

The Center for Inclusive Growth's NOCAP program represents a innovative approach to supporting the growth and sustainability of diverse small and mid-sized businesses in New Haven. By providing comprehensive operational and financial support, the program aims to help these established community businesses overcome systemic hurdles and unlock their full potential to become scalable, lasting enterprises that drive economic opportunity for all.