Fed Communities

Sovereignty in Numbers: The 2026 Center for Indian Country Development Data Summit
2026-06-25 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | This is a virtual-only event
Recent years have brought economic data innovations across Indian Country and new models for governing data in ways that honor tribal data sovereignty. Digital advancements have made it easier to collect and analyze data, and artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced new risks and possibilities. Tools such as tribal censuses, economic impact reports, and the Survey of Native Nations are equipping tribes with new forms of data as they navigate economic realities. During a time of rapid change, how are tribes leveraging emerging data opportunities in ways that safeguard tribal citizens and values?

The Center for Indian Country Development’s (CICD’s) 2026 data summit will feature conversations with Indian Country thought leaders on what it means to marshal data for economic self-determination. Tribal leaders will share ways they’re working with economic data to design services for tribal citizens, attract investment in their communities, and steward their resources for future generations. Speakers will also explore ways tribes are shaping emerging data applications on their own terms.

We hope you’ll join us for this important conversation.

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Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Rural Economies through Investment
2026-06-25 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | This is a virtual-only event
Watch on demand

Investment is a critical part of any healthy, growing economy, and plays a key role in rural economic development. This seminar 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 seminar will feature insights from the Richmond Fed’s Rural Investment Collaborative, as well as research on factors that support community investment.

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Introductory speaker

Anna KovnerExecutive Vice President and Director of ResearchFederal Reserve Bank of Richmond(moderator)

Panel 1: The landscape of place-based programs

Merissa PiazzaLead Policy AnalystFederal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Michou KokodokoSenior Policy Analyst, Community Development and EngagementFederal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Panel 2: Identifying and solving for rural funding gaps

Nicholas ChiumentiEconomistUSDA Rural Development

Devon WineyPresidentMt. Auburn Associates

2026 Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series

Where people live can affect their financial well-being 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 conditions, the impact of community-focused strategies, and how investments can help local economies thrive.

Join us to explore how research and effective strategies can create opportunities that benefit local communities as a whole.

Addtional events:

Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies in Low-Income Communities

Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies through Labor Market Policies

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Creating Affordable Housing: The Efforts of Chicago Faith-based Organizations
2026-06-30 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | This is a virtual-only event
Join us for an exploration of how faith-based organizations are working to transform their own real estate and Chicago’s vacant properties into attractive and affordable housing communities. This webinar will examine practical strategies, real-world case studies, and partnership models that enable congregations and faith-based Community Development Corporations to address aspects of the city’s affordable housing challenge.

In this session, you’ll discover:

The motivation driving faith leaders to pursue housing development

Lessons learned from Chicago faith-based organizations that have successfully developed affordable housing units, from single-family homes to multi-family complexes

And practical strategies for overcoming the three major barriers to such work: complex financing and capital-stack assembly, technical knowledge gaps in real estate development, and creating partnerships with developers.

Who should attend

Anyone interested in faith-based community partnerships for affordable housing, including faith-based organization leaders, community development practitioners, municipal officials, affordable housing developers, Community Development Financial Institutions, other financial institutions, and philanthropic organizations.

Register

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Lawrence D.W. Schmidt | AI's Impact on Labor and Wages
2026-07-01 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | This is a virtual-only event
Please join us on July 1 for a live presentation on the impact of AI on labor and wages from Lawrence D.W. Schmidt, the Victor J. Menezes (1972) Career Development Associate Professor of Finance at MIT Sloan School of Management.

Professor Schmidt will discuss the different ways that technology influences workers’ earnings and the demand for labor, specifically addressing the distinction between what happens to jobs and what happens to individual people.

Following his presentation, Professor Schmidt will answer live and pre-submitted questions with our host moderator, Huiyu Li, co-head of EERN and research advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

This is a virtual event hosted by the EmergingTech Economic Research Network (EERN). Registration is open to everyone. It will be livestreamed and available as a recording after the event. We invite you to register and submit a question.

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District Dialogues: What's Next for the Economy of the Carolinas?
2026-07-07 14:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte Branch, 530 East Trade Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28202
The Richmond Fed’s District Dialogues series brings together economists, regional leaders, and community stakeholders for timely conversations about the economy.

This session, held at the Charlotte Branch of the Richmond Fed, will examine where the economy stands at mid-year, with a special focus on the Charlotte metro area and the broader Carolinas region. Richmond Fed economists and local experts will share fresh perspectives on regional growth patterns, workforce dynamics, price trends, and changes across industries.

Whether you’re a business owner, community leader, policymaker, or simply curious about economic shifts in the Carolinas, this afternoon session will help you understand how national economic forces are playing out locally and what to watch for in the months ahead.

This event is free to attend, but you must RSVP to secure your spot.

Registration Deadlines:

In Person: June 29, 2026

Virtual: July 6, 2026

Discover more conversations on the most pressing economic issues – explore the complete District Dialogues series.

Register

Speakers

Matt Martin, Regional Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Laura Ullrich, Director of Economic Research, Indeed

Bethany Greene, Regional Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Agenda

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm ET

Registration and Refreshments

In Person

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ET

Economic Update, Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A

In Person and Virutal Audiences

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm ET

Closing Remarks and Networking

In Person

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This is a hybrid event with in-person and virtual attendance options.

Next-Gen Financial Inclusion
2026-07-14 11:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The Federal Reserve Board will host its third annual Financial Inclusion Conference, “Next-Gen Financial Inclusion,” on July 14 in Washington, D.C. The event will feature speeches, presentations, and discussions on various financial inclusion topics with Federal Reserve leaders, academics, industry stakeholders, consumer and community organizations, and thought leaders.

The conference will be webcast at www.federalreserve.gov and www.youtube.com/federalreserve.

This event is by invitation only. Members of the press who wish to attend should contact Public Affairs at media@frb.gov.

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Fed Talk: The Crises That Led to the Fed's Creation: Monetary Policy in American History
2026-07-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, 1455 E 6th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44114, United States
Join us for a journey through the history of American monetary policy—including the crises that led to the Federal Reserve’s formation—with Owen Humpage, Cleveland Fed economist emeritus.

The event will be offered both virtually and in person at the Bank’s location in downtown Cleveland. Following the session, in-person attendees may tour the Bank’s main building, constructed in 1923.

The Federal Reserve (or “the Fed”), America’s central bank, was established by Congress in 1913 mainly to conduct monetary policy. But how were these policy decisions handled before the Fed existed?

What you’ll discover

Humpage will take guests across the tumultuous monetary policy landscape of the 19th and early 20th centuries, including

The institutions that conducted monetary policy before the Fed’s creation such as the nation’s first quasi-central banks, the US Treasury, and even a private bank organization—and why all of them were unsuccessful.

The various economic and political crises that forced America’s monetary function to evolve.

How the Fed was designed to help prevent future crises, including the importance of credibility, clear guidelines, and Fed independence to monetary policy.

Whether you’re curious about pre-Fed monetary policy or just into history, this is your chance to hear from an expert who spent his career at the Fed and who’s still studying its origins. No economics degree required—just bring your curiosity!

Humpage will answer questions during the question-and-answer portion of the event. Attendees can also submit questions in advance through the registration form.

Speakers will take your questions after the presentation.

Speakers

Owen F. Humpage, economist emeritus, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Moderator

Chuck Soder, senior media relations specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

The event will be offered both virtually and in person at the Bank’s location in downtown Cleveland. Following the session, in-person attendees may tour the Bank’s main building, constructed in 1923.

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Location

This is a hybrid event with in-person and virtual attendance options.

Collaborative Pathways for Community Development Research: A Networking Event with the St. Louis Fed in Memphis
2026-08-05 11:30 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology, 365 Fogelman Drive, Memphis, Tennessee, 38152, United States
Join us to network with researchers from a range of disciplines and learn about engagement opportunities with the St. Louis Fed. Discover the broad set of community development resources—from programs and research to data tools—available to support your work, including our:

Community Development Research Fellows Program

Community Development Research Seminar Series

Federal Reserve Data Tools

And much, much more

This event will provide an opportunity to build relationships in the field, exchange ideas, and explore potential partnerships with fellow researchers representing multiple disciplines and from across the Fed’s Eighth District.

Lunch will be provided and parking will be validated.

Please feel free to share this event with others in your institution or organization who may be interested. There is no fee to attend the event, but you must register by Friday, July 31.

Who might benefit from attending?

Researchers | Professors

Questions? Contact the Community Development team at communitydevelopment@stls.frb.org.

The opinions and statements expressed are those of the speakers and are intended only for informational purposes. They do not reflect official positions of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

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Agenda

All times are Central.

11:30 am CT

Registration and Networking Lunch

12:00 pm CT

Welcome and OverviewDouglas Scarboro, Senior Vice President and Regional Executive of the Memphis Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisSydney Diavua, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

12:10 pm CT

Overview of Community Development Work at the St. Louis FedNishesh Chalise, Senior Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

12:30 pm CT

Community Development Research Fellows Program Jeffrey Cohen, Professor, University of ConnecticutAlice Kassens, Professor, Roanoke College

12:35 pm CT

Audience Research Interests and Projects

12:55 pm CT

Current Community Development Research ProjectsNishesh Chalise, Senior Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisLiz Deichmann, Senior Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisMike Eggleston, Senior Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisWilliam M. Rodgers III, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisNicole Sumers-Gabr, Senior Researcher, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1:15 pm CT

Small Business Credit SurveyNorman Jones III, Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1:25 pm CT

Closing RemarksWilliam M. Rodgers III, Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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Connecting Communities: Understanding Benefits Cliffs: Evidence, Insights, and Open Questions
2026-08-06 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Benefits cliffs are increasingly recognized as a critical barrier to economic mobility in communities across the country. When a raise, promotion, or new job pushes an individual or family above eligibility thresholds for public benefits, the result can be a net financial loss. This creates difficult choices for workers, employers, and policymakers.

As awareness of benefits cliffs grows, so does momentum around research, policy innovation, and community-driven solutions. This webinar will bring together researchers and practitioners to explore the latest evidence on how benefits cliffs affect workforce participation and economic opportunity, highlight promising strategies emerging from innovative pilots, and identify priorities for future research.

During this event, participants will learn more about

key research findings on how benefits cliffs affect employment and advancement decisions for workers and job seekers,

learnings from innovative pilot programs designed to reduce the impact of benefits cliffs, and

a research agenda that can inform more effective, equitable solutions for policymakers, community-based organizations, and employers.

Related resources:

What Are Benefits Cliffs?

The Research Landscape for Benefits Cliffs: Reviewing the Benefits Cliffs Research

Benefits Cliff Story Series – Fed Communities

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Speakers

Keith BarnesSenior DirectorBeyond the Cliff, Martha O’Bryan Center

Anna FogelVice President, Impact AdvisorySocial Finance

Anna HillAssociate Director of Research DevelopmentMaxwell X Lab, Syracuse University

John OlsonAssistant Professor of InstructionNorthwestern University School of Education and Social Policy

Alex RuderAssistant Vice PresidentCommunity and Economic DevelopmentFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Sergio GaleanoAdviserCommunity and Economic DevelopmentFederal Reserve Bank of Atlantamoderator

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About Connecting Communities®

Real people. Real research. Real conversations.

Connecting Communities is a Federal Reserve-sponsored webinar series providing timely information on community and economic development issues. It complements Fed community development outreach initiatives conducted through the 12 regional Reserve Banks and Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Have questions about the program? Contact us.

Investment Connection - Kansas and Western Missouri 2026
2026-08-12 11:30 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 1 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, MO, 64198, United States
During Investment Connection, community development proposals that would receive CRA consideration are presented to potential funders. The lending and investment opportunities presented will be exclusively in Kansas and Missouri. Funding requests typically range from $25,000 to $2.5 million, and geographic target areas range from single community developments to statewide efforts.

Typical proposals address:

Affordable Housing

Asset Building, Financial Access, Capability and Empowerment

Broadband Services / Digital Inclusion

Community Services and Facilities

Disaster Relief

Small Business Development / Microlending

Workforce Development / Economic Development

Presenters have seven minutes to share information about their organization and proposal, followed by three minutes of questions from funders. This is a great way to learn about new and existing organizations and opportunities in community and economic development.

For additional information and testimonials about Investment Connection, please visit the Kansas City Fed’s Investment Connection page. The program is also featured in the Fed Communities three-part story series, Investment Connection: Getting to ‘We Have a Deal’.

Who should attend

This event is for the funding community including:

financial institutions

foundations

philanthropists

local, state and federal government

To participate, please contact

Marisa MartinezCommunity Development AdvisorFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityKansas Citymarisa.martinez@kc.frb.org

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Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies Through Labor Market Policies
2026-08-12 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | This is a virtual-only event
Place plays an important role in the economic outcomes of residents. Place-based strategies have long been used to address employment and mobility barriers in lower-income communities. However, evidence on the effectiveness of such initiatives has been mixed. Researchers in this seminar will examine the impact of workforce development programs, share ideas to improve them, and offer insights to help inform future strategies.

2026 Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series

Where people live can affect their financial well-being 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 conditions, the impact of community-focused strategies, and how investments can help local economies thrive.

Join us to explore how research and effective strategies can create opportunities that benefit local communities as a whole.

Addtional events:

Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies in Low-Income Communities

Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Rural Economies through Investment

Register

Introductory speaker

Karen Leone de NieCommunity Affairs Officer and Vice President of Community and Economic DevelopmentFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Seminar Facilitators

Alexander RuderAssistant Vice President, Community and Economic Development Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Adam ScavetteCommunity Development Economic AdvisorFederal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Panelists

Matthew FreedmanDean’s Professor and Chair, Department of EconomicsUniversity of California, Irvine

Ashley PalmerAssociate ProfessorTexas Christian University

Laura Peck, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy and Principal Faculty Fellow at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

Brett TheodosDirector, Center for Local Finance and GrowthHousing and Communities DivisionUrban Institute

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Workforce Solutions Learning Lab: The Case for Quality Jobs, Skills-Based Hiring and Apprenticeships
2026-08-13 09:30 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Peak Innovation Center, 5900 Painter Lane, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 72903, United States
Struggling to fill open positions? Facing high turnover? You’re not alone. Join workforce development leaders from across Arkansas and Oklahoma for a learning lab focused on hiring strategies that drive retention, results, and labor force resilience both locally and regionally.

Explore data-driven tools for career advancement and skills development. Discover steps you can take to strengthen workforce initiatives in your organization or community. This highly interactive session will equip you with practical solutions you can put to work.

This learning lab is designed to move beyond discussion and help employers explore practical solutions to workforce challenges.

Registration dealine: Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.

Questions? Contact the Community Development team at communitydevelopment@stls.frb.org.

Register

What will you gain?

Apprenticeship resources—Get access to strategies and tools to launch or expand apprenticeship programs in your organization

Data-driven workforce insights—Understand more about how skills-based approaches can help employers staff the hardest-to-fill jobs in the Fort Smith, Ark., and northeast Oklahoma region

Job quality solutions—Discover how public benefits intersect with job quality and what you can do to help workers move beyond the benefits cliff

Real employer examples—Learn from real-world case studies of skills-based hiring and apprenticeship strategies being used successfully by employers

Interactive problem-solving—Participate in guided table discussions that turn ideas into practical strategies you can apply in your own organization

Who should attend?

HR managers and talent acquisition leaders

Manufacturing plant operations managers

Business owners and executives

Workforce development professionals

Anyone tackling hiring or retention challenges

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Financing Opportunities to Strengthen Nevada’s Small Businesses
2026-08-18 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | West Las Vegas Library, 1861 N. Martin Luther King Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89106, United States
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Nevada Small Business Development Center (NVSBDC) invite you to an in-person event designed to strengthen collaborative partnerships and enhance Nevada’s small business ecosystem. Join us on August 18 from 11:00am-2:00pm at the West Las Vegas Library as we bring together key stakeholders to bridge the gap between capital providers, technical assistance organizations, and the businesses they serve.

Who Should Attend

Nevada bankers and lending institutions

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

Nonprofit organizations supporting small businesses

Government agencies focused on small business development

Alternative lenders and capital providers

Small Business technical assistance providers

Agenda Highlights

Participants will gain practical knowledge about current bank underwriting standards and lending environments. The event emphasizes identifying partnership opportunities that can collectively improve small businesses’ ability to access needed capital. Hear directly from regional bankers and alternative lenders about:

Available lending products and programs

Common barriers to extending credit

Current market conditions and trends

Non-traditional lending products and solutions

The program also includes a presentation of key findings from both the Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey and the NVSBDC Small Business Challenges Survey, providing insights into small business credit needs and challenges and how small businesses are adopting artificial intelligence (AI). The event will conclude with a facilitated discussion on opportunities for partnerships and collaboration to better serve Nevada’s small business community.

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Connecting Communities: When Every Dollar Counts: Worker Perspectives on the Economy
2026-09-03 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
What does it mean to ‘tighten your belt’ when you’ve already run out of notches? Through a compelling combination of on-the-ground research and policy expertise, this session will examine how workers who earn low to moderate incomes (LMI) are navigating rising costs, limited opportunities, and a challenging job market. Attendees will gain insights on the effects financial distress of LMI communities have on labor market dynamics and economic mobility and resilience.

Featuring highlights from the Worker Perspectives research, this session will reveal the daily realities of individuals struggling to make ends meet and illuminate how financial pressure shapes their consumption patterns, employment choices, and long-term planning. Attendees will also hear perspectives from the Presidents of the Federal Reserve Banks of Cleveland and Chicago, and the Executive Vice President over Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on how insights from various economic stakeholders, including workers and job seekers, provides a unique window in economic conditions and helps to shape monetary policy considerations.

Through this session, policymakers will deepen their understanding of how LMI populations experience the economy and the effect of their behavior on macroeconomic trends. Employers will gain perspective on evolving workforce needs and the financial pressures shaping their labor supply and worker decisions. Organizations serving workers and job seekers will discover actionable insights to better support economic mobility and build household resilience.

Related resources:

When every dollar counts: Inside the economic struggles of workers who earn low to moderate incomes

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Speakers

Kristen BroadySr. Economist, Economic Advisor, and Director of the Economic Mobility ProjectFederal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Sarah MillerDirector & Principal AdviserFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Merissa PiazzaLead Policy AnalystFederal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Paula TkacExecutive Vice President and Director of ResearchFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

With special remarks from

Austan GoolsbeePresident & CEOFederal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Beth M. HammackPresident & CEOFederal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

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About Connecting Communities®

Real people. Real research. Real conversations.

Connecting Communities is a Federal Reserve-sponsored webinar series providing timely information on community and economic development issues. It complements Fed community development outreach initiatives conducted through the 12 regional Reserve Banks and Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

Have questions about the program? Contact us.

Investment Connection - Colorado 2026
2026-09-10 11:30 - 13:45 (America/Denver) | Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City – Denver Branch, 1020 16th Street Mal, Denver, Colorado, 80202, United States
During Investment Connection, community development proposals that would receive CRA consideration are presented to potential funders. The lending and investment opportunities presented will be exclusively in Colorado. Funding requests range from $25,000 to $2.5 million, and geographic target areas range from single community developments to statewide efforts.

Typical proposals address:

Affordable Housing

Asset Building, Financial Access, Capability and Empowerment

Broadband Services / Digital Inclusion

Community Services and Facilities

Disaster Relief

Small Business Development / Microlending

Workforce Development / Economic Development

Presenters have seven minutes to share information about their organization and proposal, followed by three minutes of questions from funders. This is an great way to learn about new and existing organizations and opportunities in community and economic development.

For additional information and testimonials about Investment Connection, please visit the Kansas City Fed’s Investment Connection page. The program is also featured in the Fed Communities three-part story series, Investment Connection: Getting to ‘We Have a Deal’.

Who should attend

This event is for the funding community including:

financial institutions

foundations

philanthropists

local, state and federal government

To participate, please contact

Ariel CisnerosSenior AdvisorFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityDenver Branchariel.cisneros@kc.frb.org

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2026 Investing in Rural America Conference
2026-09-30 09:00 - 2026-10-02 16:00 (America/New_York) | Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Avenue, Ashville, North Carolina, 28804, United States
Rural America is defined not by a single story, but by resilience, innovation and deep-rooted community assets. This year’s Investing in Rural America Conference, themed “The Strength of Rural Places,” highlights the people, institutions and local strategies that power rural economies and sustain long-term prosperity. By centering the unique assets of rural places, the conference will explore how tailored, place-based approaches can unlock opportunity, expand collaboration, and support vibrant communities across the nation.

This year the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is partnering with the Federal Reserve System and Rural LISC to bring together community development practitioners, financial institutions, policymakers, researchers, and rural leaders for this important dialogue.

This year’s conference will showcase innovative strategies for rural prosperity across several key areas:

Economic development

Small business development

Financial inclusion

Workforce pathways

And more!

This conference creates a valuable space for attendees to:

Connect with influential rural stakeholders from across the nation

Learn about cutting-edge approaches to rural economic vitality

Engage in discussions that shape the future of rural America

Our new venue, the historic Omni Grove Park Inn, offers a stunning backdrop for collaboration and inspiration, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.

Space is limited at this year’s conference, and we anticipate slots will fill up fast. We highly recommend registering early to hold your spot.

Early Bird Registration Deadline: July 7, 2026

General Register Deadline: September 16, 2026.

For more information about our ongoing work in supporting small towns and rural communities, visit our Center for Rural Economies page.

Register

Who should attend

Policymakers, community representatives, business executives, nonprofit leaders, investors, workforce development professionals.

Early Bird Registration Fees:

General Admission $450Non-Profit / Government $350Student $200

Registration Fees:

General Admission $550Non-Profit / Government $450Student $300

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Advancing Apprenticeships: Fostering a Strong-Talent Economy​
2026-10-29 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 1 Federal Reserve Bank Plaza, St. Louis, Missouri, 63102, United States
Interested in cutting-edge models and approaches for advancing apprenticeship programs? Save the date for our one-day conference organized around exploring this path to a stronger workforce. You will:

Hear how apprenticeship models provide opportunities for workers to develop skills and connect with employers in industries requiring skilled labor

Gain actionable strategies for developing, scaling and sustaining apprenticeship programs that address business needs and promote economic prosperity

Attendees will leave with practical tools, valuable connections and renewed inspiration for building apprenticeships that bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, fostering pathways to economic security for individuals while meeting the evolving demands of regional economies.

Stay tuned for additional details when registration opens in late spring.

Who might benefit from attending?

Employers and Business Leaders | Workforce Development Boards | Economic Development Organizations | Educational Institutions | Vocational and Technical Training Institutions

Questions? Contact the Community Development team at communitydevelopment@stls.frb.org.

The opinions and statements expressed are those of the speakers and are intended only for informational purposes. They do not reflect official positions of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

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Making Missing Markets: Catalyzing Capital and Igniting Innovation
2026-11-18 13:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10045, United States
On Wednesday, November 18, 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will host a hybrid event as part of the Making Missing Markets Initiative, an effort to foster and improve markets channeling investments into under-resourced communities.

Investments to improve communities’ economic opportunities across sectors are typically fragmented. Moreover, they fail to attract private capital at a scale commensurate with the size of the problem. The Making Missing Markets Initiative seeks to change this dynamic and improve well-being across all communities, especially low- and moderate-income communities.

This event will include speakers and panelists who are developing new business models that better address the root causes of communities’ challenges. This event will be of interest to leaders in finance, philanthropy, community development, and academia, and anyone else interested in creating new markets aimed at fostering opportunity-rich communities.

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Audience

This event is open to the public.

Media

This event is open to the media. All remarks are on the record, with the recording to be made available afterwards. For media inquiries, please contact Ellen Simon at Ellen.Simon@ny.frb.org.

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This is a hybrid event.
