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Community Development

Research and community development initiatives that support progress in low- and moderate-income communities

Mother homeschooling teenage boys from home on dinner table, self-isolating from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Employment implications of child care access, pre- and post-COVID-19

Sarah Savage uses data from the Boston Fed’s Parent Demand Survey to look at employment patterns

The Boston Fed's Susan Collins delivers remarkes during Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies' "2025 The State of the Nation's Housing" report launch event held at the Bank. June 24, 2025.

Single-family home prices hit record highs in 2024. What does that mean for local economies?

‘State of the Nation’s Housing’ event examines impacts, seeks solutions

A working mother puts her baby's car seat into the car while juggling a phone call and large bag.

Child-care usage and access challenges during COVID-19 and the economic recovery

Affordability was a top reason for foregoing needed care

What We Do

Empty street of a small town.

Supporting Growth in Smaller Industrial Cities and Rural Communities

Research and field support for New England’s smaller cities and rural communities focusing on efforts to improve prospects for their low- and moderate-income residents.

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A photo of a balance beam with a house and money on each side

Advancing Household Economic Security and Prosperity

Applied research and engagement initiatives focused on full participation in the economy and building financial security and economic mobility for households, especially those of low- and moderate-incomes.

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Expanding Employment Opportunities

Research and engagement efforts to promote full employment opportunities for lower income individuals.

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wwd-tracking-elevating-low-income-issues

Tracking and Elevating Low- & Moderate-Income Issues

Ongoing research and interactions with First-District organizations and constituents to build understanding and promote awareness of challenges facing New England’s lower-income residents.

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Programs & Initiatives

The Solutions Accelerator

Fostering innovation and collaboration amongst organizations to provide lower-income households with financial solutions that support building financial assets, mitigating debt, and retaining assets.

Massachusetts Economic Conditions & Household Opportunity Survey

A multiyear research initiative to gather data on household finances across Massachusetts—rural, urban, and suburban areas—working with a group of private-sector organizations.

Early Child Care for Working Parents

The Early Child Care for Working Parents Initiative recognizes that child care access affects the financial health and job prospects of working parents. The goal is to make high-quality early care a successful part of the workforce infrastructure.

Working Cities Challenge

Building civic infrastructure through leadership and cross-sector collaboration to spur and accelerate economic resurgence and growth in smaller industrial cities.

Increasing the Quality of Jobs

Many low-wage jobs do not provide workers with economic security. This initiative seeks to upgrade the current low-wage jobs in our economy to rebuild a strong middle class—an outcome that better serves workers, businesses, and communities.

Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) internship program

The Boston Fed’s long-standing high school internship program for local low-income youth that combines employment opportunities with applied, research-based workforce/life-skills enrichment.

Services & Resources

Internships and Co-ops

The Boston Fed offers a variety of paid and unpaid internship and co-op opportunities to high school and college students interested in economic research, community development, technology, finance, accounting, human resources, and other fields.

Education Resources

The Boston Fed recommends quality education resources from the Federal Reserve System and other reputable sources.

Community Reinvestment Act

The Community Reinvestment Act requires the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to assess each state member bank's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its local communities consistent with safe and sound operation.

Publications & Data

Featured

Invested

Series

Invested

An interview-based publication focused on a range of community voices speaking to issues affecting low- and moderate-income New Englanders.

Featured

High-Quality Early Child Care: A Critical Piece of the Workforce Infrastructure

High-Quality Early Child Care: A Critical Piece of the Workforce Infrastructure

by Sarah Ann Savage

Featured

The Color of Wealth in Boston

The Color of Wealth in Boston

by Ana Patricia Muñoz, Marlene Kim, Mariko Chang, Regine O. Jackson, Darrick Hamilton, and William A. Darity Jr.

Employment implications of child-care access in New England, pre- and post-COVID-19

2026 Series • 26–1

Community Development Issue Briefs

Employment implications of child-care access in New England, pre- and post-COVID-19

by Sarah Ann Savage

Child-care usage and access challenges during COVID-19 and the economic recovery

2025 Series • 25–1

Community Development Issue Briefs

Child-care usage and access challenges during COVID-19 and the economic recovery

by Sarah Ann Savage

Household perceptions of price changes and coping strategies

2024 Series • 24–1

Community Development Field Notes

Household perceptions of price changes and coping strategies

by Michael Evangelist and Amy Higgins

Employer involvement in child care with Sarah Savage

Six Hundred Atlantic

Employer involvement in child care with Sarah Savage

COVID-19 amplified gender disparities, hurting employment most for mothers and women of color

2023 Series • 23–3

Community Development Issue Briefs

COVID-19 amplified gender disparities, hurting employment most for mothers and women of color

by Rebecca Strull, Sara Chaganti, Marybeth J. Mattingly, and Amy Higgins

Interprets: Working Places Initiative Alumni on Proven Principles for Community Development

Invested

Interprets: Working Places Initiative Alumni on Proven Principles for Community Development

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Events

October 22–23, 2025

Maximizing Impact: Accelerating Scale in Early Wealth-Building Programs

September 24, 2025

Convening on Measuring U.S. Household Essential Wealth

Capital Absorption 101

Capital Flows and Community Investment: Strategies for Smaller Cities and Rural Communities

The State of the Nation's Housing 2025

Beyond Grants: Leveraging Impact Investing to Achieve Community Investment Outcomes

May 15–16, 2025

Northeast State Small Business Credit Initiative Convening

May 13–14, 2025

Interagency Listening Sessions on the Community Reinvestment Act

Vermont Working Communities Challenge Celebration & Connection Event

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People

Leadership

Contributors

Authors

Visiting Fellows

Media Inquiries?

Contact our media relations team. We connect journalists with Boston Fed economists, researchers, and leadership and a variety of other resources.

Media Relations