MobilityWorks on Eleventh Annual Inner City 100 Fastest Growing Inner-City Companies in America While Operating in Economically Distressed Urban Areas

National wheelchair accessible van dealership headquartered in Akron, OH providing wheelchair accessible vans for consumers and paratransit buses to businesses recognized for growth. Services to aging population helps company expand to 12 locations nationwide. End Quote

It's extremely rewarding to help people get back their independence.

Akron, OH (1888PressRelease) May 30, 2009 - The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced its 2009 Inner City 100 list with MobilityWorks of Akron, OH being ranked no. 68 on the list of the fastest growing inner-city companies in America. Innovative practices and sustained growth are the predominant traits of the 2009 Inner City 100, a ranking of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in inner city communities nationwide.

Now in its 11th year, the Inner City 100 list provides unmatched original data on the fastest growing inner-city businesses in the U.S. For the 2009 list, over 5,000 nominations were received. The 2009 Inner City 100 winners grew at a compound annual growth rate of 40 percent and an average rate of 324 percent between 2003 and 2007. Collectively, the top 100 inner city businesses have employed nearly 17,000 people and created nearly 10,000 new jobs over the past five years.

Fifty-three percent of companies expect steady growth, 11 percent expect their revenues to double, six percent expect their revenues to triple, and a mere four percent expect their revenues to decline in 2009. Individually, the average Inner City 100 Company’s revenues were $23 million.

"We are delighted to celebrate businesses like MobilityWorks that are playing a critical role to revitalize distressed urban communities throughout America,” said Michael Porter, founder and CEO of ICIC. “By creating jobs, income, and wealth for local residents, these high-growth businesses are vivid proof that the most effective way to address economic inequality in America is to equip every community to prosper in the market system. Inner City 100 companies also provide a window into the future where all companies will need to learn to address diverse customers and mobilize diverse workforces."

About MobilityWorks
Founded in 1997, MobilityWorks is a national wheelchair accessible van dealership headquartered in Akron, OH. The company provides lowered floor minivans and full-size vans equipped with a ramp or lift, rental vans, adaptive equipment and mechanical service. With 12 different showroom and service locations in 7 states and approximately 200 employees, they are one of the largest accessible van providers in the United States. Showroom locations are in CA, OH, PA, NY, MI, IL, and WI.

The MobilityWorks Commercial Division, located in a separate manufacturing facility also in Akron, provides ambulettes and paratransit buses to businesses nationwide for transporting one or several individuals needing wheelchair access, including medical facilities, community centers, nursing homes, schools, churches, and hotel chains.

MobilityWorks is also listed as an Inc. 5000 company. Additional information about MobilityWorks can be found at http://www.mobilityworks.com.

The 2009 Inner City 100 winners operate from 55 cities in 31 states. The list is proof of concept that doing business in an inner city area holds a distinct competitive advantage. ICIC has been studying the economic condition of the largest 100 American cities for more than a decade and is working to revitalize inner cities across the country.

To qualify for the Inner City 100 list, companies were required to have at least 51 percent of their operations located in an economically distressed urban area; have at least 10 full-time employees; and have a five-year operating sales history that includes at least $200,000 in revenues in the first year of consideration, an increase in year five sales over year four sales, and fifth-year sales of at least $1 million. For the 2009 list, ICIC looked at total revenue growth from 2003 to 2007, and the specific rankings were based on these growth rates.

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