2026 Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series
Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies
Where people live can significantly impact their financial situations and job prospects. This is especially true for residents of lower-income neighborhoods. Join us for the 2026 Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series, Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies.
In this year’s three seminars, experts will share their research on job market differences, the impact of community-focused policies, and how investments can help local economies thrive.
Join us to explore how research and effective policies can create opportunities that benefit local communities as a whole.
2026 Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series
Thursday, April 2, 2026
3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies in Low-Income Communities
Where an individual lives can play a role in shaping their employment opportunities and social interactions. While issues related to where a person is located have been overshadowed by issues related to an individual’s personal circumstances, this is starting to shift. In this seminar, we’ll bring together experts from research and policy to discuss how location affects job markets and can contribute to income inequality.
Thursday, June 25, 2026
3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Rural Economies through Investment
Investment is a critical part of any healthy, growing economy, but the geography of investment – specifically community and economic development investment – can be uneven. This session will foster a research-driven conversation on community development finance ecosystems that help address barriers to community investment in smaller towns and rural communities. The session will feature insights from the Richmond Fed’s Rural Investment Collaborative, as well as research on factors that support community investment.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
1:30 – 3:00 pm ET
Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies through Labor Market Policies
Place plays an important role in the economic outcomes of residents. Place-based policies have long been used to address employment and mobility barriers in lower-income communities. However, evidence on the effectiveness of place-based policies has been mixed. Researchers in this seminar will examine the impact of workforce development programs, sharing ideas to improve them and offering insights to help inform future policy strategies.
About the Series
The Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series is a forum for exploring research, policy, and practice in the community development field. The Series expands access to high-quality research that informs stakeholders working to support communities across the nation.