Exploring the Anchor Economy: Impacts of Higher Education and Healthcare on Local and Regional Economies

Join the Philadelphia Fed for a virtual event exploring the impacts of higher education and healthcare on local and regional economies.

Higher education and hospitals form a distinct sector of regional economies. Anchored to place, these institutions often serve as both major employers and real estate developers, as well as broad consumers of local goods and services. The financial health of many local communities is often directly tied to the success of so-called eds and meds in the region.

The Philadelphia Fed is preparing to launch its Anchor Economy Initiative, focused on the economic impact of higher education and health-care institutions, which are firmly rooted in their communities and have a major impact on local economies. This new initiative will identify how reliant local communities are on eds and meds for their economic vitality and explore how this sector can be used to stimulate growth, increase economic mobility and equity, and address economic decline.

During this event, experts will focus on three aspects of a strong and sustainable anchor economy: economic growth, community development, and anchors stabilizing rural communities.

Speakers will present on the following questions:

Members of network organizations, such as the Anchor Institutions Task Force (AITF), the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), and the Healthcare Anchor Network; those working in the community development field; public health officials; academic researchers; nonprofit leaders; and others interested in learning more about anchor economies are encouraged to attend this event.

View the detailed event agenda and register.