Community Development

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

Photo of Susan M. Collins listening and engaging with a stakeholder.

In first regional trip, new Boston Fed president meets with Hartford business, nonprofit leaders

Collins to continue visits around New England to learn about economic challenges

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A photo of a business man reading business documents.

Survey: Small businesses face lingering pandemic impacts with fewer workers, bigger hiring troubles

Small Business Credit Survey finds retaining employees also a growing challenge

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The Board, FDIC, and Comptroller of the Currency are soliciting public input on proposed changes to the CRA--one of the bedrock pieces of legislation for the System. The Board has asked regional banks to promote the public comment period and submit proposals on how the Fed and the financial instituions it oversees can address expansion access to credit, investment, and basic banking services in low- and moderate-income communities, adapt to changes in the banking industry, including internet and mobile banking and provide greater clarity, consistency, and transparency.

Regulators propose major updates to law that encourages banks to invest in lower-income communities

Key changes aim to modernize Community Reinvestment Act and increase clarity, transparency

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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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Advancing Household Economic Security and Equity

Applied research and engagement initiatives to identify and address the causes of financial precarity and lack of mobility of low- and moderate-income households and to understand the causes and consequences of differences between demographic groups.

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Expanding Employment Opportunities

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

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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

Wealth Inequalities

We are analyzing the patterns, causes, and consequences of persistent racial-ethnic inequities in regional economic conditions—evident in New England’s large wealth divides—to help policymakers understand and consider solutions for...

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.

Child care tradeoffs among Massachusetts mothers

2022 Series • 22–3

Community Development Issue Briefs

Child care tradeoffs among Massachusetts mothers

by Sarah Ann Savage and Wendy Robeson

Unemployment insurance claims in New England across the COVID-19 pandemic: Updates through June 2021

2022 Series • 22–2

Community Development Issue Briefs

Unemployment insurance claims in New England across the COVID-19 pandemic: Updates through June 2021

by Kremena Ivanov, Marybeth J. Mattingly, and Robert Clifford

Good if you can get it: Benefits and inequalities in the expansion of paid sick leave during COVID-19

2022 Series • 22–1

Community Development Issue Briefs

Good if you can get it: Benefits and inequalities in the expansion of paid sick leave during COVID-19

by Daniel Schneider and Kristen Harknett

Bank releases 2021 financials, summarizes year’s activities

2021

Annual Reports

Bank releases 2021 financials, summarizes year’s activities
Policy Matters: Federal Relief Prevented Large Surges in Poverty During the COVID Pandemic

Invested

Policy Matters: Federal Relief Prevented Large Surges in Poverty During the COVID Pandemic
Unstable, unpredictable, and insufficient: Work scheduling in the service sector in New England

2021 Series • 21–4

Community Development Issue Briefs

Unstable, unpredictable, and insufficient: Work scheduling in the service sector in New England

by Daniel Schneider

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Events

March 3, 2022

Maine Working Communities Challenge Implementation Award Announcement
November 16, 2021

Racism and the Economy Series

Racism and the Economy: Focus on Financial Services
October 15, 2021

Essential Today, Essential for the Future

Latinos and an Equitable Labor Market Recovery
February 19, 2021

President's Speeches

President Rosengren to speak about the economy and monetary policy
December 16, 2020

Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act: An Overview of the Federal Reserve Proposal
November 19, 2020

Vermont Working Communities Challenge Awards Announcement
October 21, 2020

Maine Working Communities Challenge Announcement Event
October 16, 2019

Reinventing Work Initiative: Massachusetts Business Perspectives on Recruiting, Retaining, and Engaging Talent in Today’s Marketplace
August 19, 2019

Community Development Advisory Council Meetings

Roundtable Discussion and Questions

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Media Inquiries? 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