San Francisco Fed
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![[Watch] Building Community Capacity to Harness Opportunity Zones 2.0 Investments](https://fedcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/connecting-communities-opportunity-zones.jpg?w=1232)
[Watch] Building Community Capacity to Harness Opportunity Zones 2.0 Investments
This Connecting Communities webinar explored what’s changing in Opportunity Zones 2.0 and why it matters for communities across the country. It offered practical tips for building project pipelines, strengthening partnerships, and supporting community-focused investment. Watch or listen on demand.
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Community perspectives and conditions from the Fed’s Beige Book, October 2026
The October Beige Book highlights financial strain as households face rising essential costs and reduced benefits, while nonprofits and small businesses continue to face growing demand, expenses, and uncertainty.
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The Quarterly Catch-up, Q3 2026
Check out the latest community development-related research, analyses, and articles from all 12 Federal Reserve Banks and the Board of Governors. This post captures content published between July 1 and September 30, 2026, on topics affecting communities.
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In the zone: Jason Vargo’s Fed work links data and economic opportunity
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Jason Vargo shares how the goals of opportunity zones align with his interest in improving economic outcomes and his community development data and research work.
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Promise, anxiety, and change: What the Fed is learning about AI’s impact on work
Artificial intelligence is impacting the way we work, and the workforce development ecosystem is changing as a result. The Federal Reserve’s Community Development function is among those tracking AI’s effects so far and what important questions remain.
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Community perspectives and conditions from the Fed’s Beige Book, August 2026
Rising costs continue to put a strain on households and communities. The August Beige Book highlights pressures from housing, transportation, and health care costs, along with small businesses experiencing limited access to credit and workforce challenges.
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“We want to know what our businesses need”: Nevada small business center values Fed’s Small Business Credit Survey insights
The Nevada Small Business Development Center gains useful data and insights into what its small-firm clientele needs because of its partnership in the Federal Reserve’s annual Small Business Credit Survey.
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Community perspectives and conditions from the Fed’s Beige Book, July 2026
Communities nationwide are dealing with higher costs, limited affordable housing, workforce shifts, and less funding for training. Some workers now value stability more than advancement, while employers focus on hiring candidates with strong soft skills and offer job training.
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Community perspectives and conditions from the Fed’s Beige Book, May 2026
Rising fuel costs and slow wage growth are straining lower-income households. One contact noted that more workers are now requesting higher pay to meet basic needs. Nonprofit organizations continue to face funding shortages and higher operating costs.
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Opportunity Zones 2.0 will offer place-based investment in low-income communities
Changes in 2025 to the Opportunity Zones (OZ) tax-incentive initiative present an opportunity for local leaders, community-based organizations, investors, and state and local agencies to shape a new decade of place-based investments in low-income communities. Communities are preparing now for what many call “OZ 2.0.”