Good Jobs Innovation Lab
PCV’s Good Jobs Innovation Lab designs increasingly more effective products, services, and communications to help our small business clients maximize their local economic impact through the power of providing good jobs with dignity. Strengthening PCV’s unique Good Jobs, Good Business model that combines free advice with small grants for good jobs outcomes, the Good Jobs Innovation Lab uses behavioral economics, applied research, and data analytics to promote evidence-based, high-impact interventions that lead to a more inclusive economy.
Creating Good Jobs With Dignity
Before COVID hit, unemployment was at a record low and job growth had been steady for 10 years. But a decade of growth built on bad jobs and ignoring those who fall out of the job market entirely has had implications for our whole country. While the COVID crisis has created enormous challenges, it also represents a unique opportunity to change a system where working people deemed “essential” are earning poverty-level wages and live without paid leave or health benefits for themselves or their families. People are painfully aware of the importance of small businesses to the health and vibrancy of our communities, the vulnerability of so many workers, and the need to better prepare people for the future of work.
As an impact investor, we realized we had to ensure our capital was first and foremost creating good jobs with living wages and benefits – so in 2016 we made an organization-wide commitment to support the creation of quality jobs both in our own work with small businesses and with the broader social sector. Our vision is to create stronger communities from the bottom up through making quality job creation the new norm.
Good Jobs, Good Business
We know that small business owners want to provide really good jobs for their workers, but they’re not always sure how to raise wages, add benefits, set up paid leave, or engage employees in ways that make sense for their bottom line. PCV’s first-of-its-kind Good Jobs, Good Business Toolkit equips entrepreneurs with the practical tools and resources they need to offer good jobs in a way that balances the needs of the business with the needs of employees.
Good Jobs and Impact Investing Research
Our research helps foundations and philanthropists, policymakers, and impact investors big and small effectively deploy capital with the tools, tactics, and strategies to measure and communicate the social and financial outcomes of their investments and increase their impact. We believe we all have a role to play in creating equitable communities, where everyone has access to things like a good job, healthcare, education, affordable housing, and healthy food. We help people get a fair shake by working with investors to reshape markets and create supportive policies to better serve working people and their communities.
All Recent Publications
At Pacific Community Ventures we develop social impact measurement and management frameworks and conduct field-building research to provide investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs with the information and tools they need to more effectively deploy capital that creates good jobs and thriving, sustainable communities.
Lila Owens is the owner of the Bay Area’s Cupcakin’ Bake Shop. Since she started working with us, Lila has seen revenue growth of 99% and supported 22 jobs with living wages, career-building opportunities, wealth-building opportunities, and a fair and engaging workplace.