Case Studies
Small business LEAPS case study
Helping undertapped neighborhoods fully participate in San Diego's economic growth
We're partnering with the City Height Community Development Corporation (CDC) to prove that small businesses have the power to compete for the workers, resources, and economic success they deserve by building ecosystems where workers of all backgrounds receive fair and accessible opportunities to thrive.
Small businesses are the backbone of San Diego’s economy because they employ 61% of the region’s workers, which is almost twice the national average. Yet, their greatest challenge is attracting and keeping talent.
The City Heights LEAPS case study will demonstrate how employers thrive by building environments where diverse workers feel heard, seen, respected, and safe. Such employers have better talent attraction and retention, more productive workers, more stable leadership, and greater long-term sustainability than those that don’t. Their success also leads to more economic growth for the communities they operate in.
Cohorts include leaders of 10-15 small businesses/organizations from various sectors and industries, including immigrant and refugee owners.
Project phases
Phase 1: Build the cohort.
Phase 2: Conduct a group LEAPS Assessment and report on aggregate findings.
Phase 3: Co-design a group LEAPS Playbook on how to address the cohort’s top challenges.
Phase 4: Conduct core activities to put the cohort’s LEAPS Playbook into practice.
Phase 5: Readminister the group LEAPS Assessment, adjust Playbook goals as needed, and award LEAPS Accreditations to cohort members.
Other partners include the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center, Connect San Diego, San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Latina Business Women's Association - San Diego, SHRM-San Diego, leaders from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and Port of San Diego, and more.