This document discusses inner city economic development and related federal policies. It analyzes data showing that inner cities lag the rest of their regions in job and business growth. Inner cities struggle with high poverty, unemployment, and lower wages compared to national averages. The document recommends federal policy approaches to strengthen inner city economies by focusing on workforce training, infrastructure improvements, capital access, and supporting industry clusters well-suited to inner cities. Specific policies proposed include increasing intensive training for low-skilled inner city residents, linking training to local industry needs and competitive advantages, and addressing inner city infrastructure weaknesses that hamper regional economic efficiency.