This post captures select new content published by the Federal Reserve between July 1 and September 30, 2026, on the topics of economic development, credit access, workforce development, housing, rural development, Native communities, artificial intelligence and small business.
Each quarter, Fed Communities will retrospectively share new community development-related research, analyses, and articles from all 12 Federal Reserve Banks and the Board of Governors in one convenient place.
Economic development strengthens economies by creating resilient, and vibrant communities. From closing gaps and increasing access, to sharing and deploying resources after a natural disaster, economic development is an essential tool for every lower-income community. Explore the latest economic development articles and research from Fed experts.
Family wealth in Massachusetts: Findings from the 2025 Massachusetts Economic Conditions and Household Opportunity Survey (Mass ECHOS)
By Marybeth J. Mattingly, Sara Chaganti, Michael Evangelist, Marija Bingulac, and Gracie L. Griffin
Boston Fed report offers detailed picture of family wealth in Massachusetts
By Jay Lindsay
The Landscape of Elder Care in the United States: Part 2—The Cost and Quality of Care
By Kelli Marquardt, Aryan Safi, and Anthony Lo Sasso
New generations use Route 66 to revitalize historic Clinton, Oklahoma
By Jennifer Wilding
Rising Fuel Costs in Fifth District States
By Taylor Pessin
What Businesses Are Saying: Demand and Cost Pressures Felt Broader
By R. Andrew Bauer, Renee Haltom, and Matthew Martin
Applying Federal Reserve Data to Local Financial Inclusion Efforts: A Case Study from California’s Central Valley
By Leilani Barnett and Jason Vargo
The Opportunity for Alignment: OZ Investments and the Community Reinvestment Act
By Jason Vargo, Sarah Simms, and Elizabeth Kneebone
Connecting the Dots: Addressing Community Challenges Together
By Nishesh Chalise
Systems Thinking 101: Learning to Connect the Dots
By Nishesh Chalise
Lower-income Minnesotans struggle in uncertain economy
By Juliet Cramer, Ben Horowitz, Ayushi Narayan, Alene Tchourumoff, and Maxine Xu
Tenth District takes firsthand look at southeast Oklahoma’s tourism boom and business successes
By Scott Wilson
Access to credit can help grow businesses, create financial stability, and build wealth, but it remains a challenge in many LMI communities. Check out the latest articles and research on credit access from Fed experts.
The Market for Credit Building: Demand, Product Characteristics, and Consumer Uses
By Ambika Nair and Talor Crawford
Consumer & Community Context: Buy Now, Pay Later
By Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Why are the ‘underbanked’ paying more for financial services?
By Brian O’Malley Clarke
Applying Federal Reserve Data to Local Financial Inclusion Efforts: A Case Study from California’s Central Valley
By Jason Vargo and Leilani Barnett
Discover how education and workforce development sectors are crucial in preparing individuals for fulfilling careers. Stay informed about the nation’s economic health through the monthly jobs reports. Explore the latest articles and research on workforce development from Fed experts.
The Cost of Working: Childcare Affordability Analysis of Florida and Georgia
By Brittany Birken, John Rees, and Jacob Walker
What Share of Unemployed People in Fourth District States Receive Unemployment Insurance?
By Kyle Fee
What explains the broken rungs on the U.S. job ladder?
By Lisa Camner McKay
From Barrier to Bridge: Approaches to Address Benefits Cliffs
By Brittany Birken, Keith Barnes, and John Rees
Estimating Occupational Employment: A Comparison of National, State-Produced, and Trend-Based Employment Projections
By Kyle Fee and Theresa Dunne
Labor demand policies connect workers to jobs
By Lejla Mehmedovic and Caryn Mohr
Opening the doors wider: The economic upside of admitting more students to selective colleges
By Lisa Camner McKay and Ella Tracy
Community Colleges: Beyond the Numbers
By Stephanie Norris and Sonya Ravindranath Waddell
500 Jobs, One Question: Applying Systems Thinking to the Skills Gap in Arkansas
By Nishesh Chalise and Matuschka Lindo Briggs
Strategies to Address Healthcare Worker Shortages
By Nicole Summers-Gabr
Where Credit Is Due: High School Student Success at Community Colleges
By Stephanie Norris and Davy Sell
Making It a Priority: How State Workforce Goals and Higher Education Align
By Illakkia Ranjani, Davy Sell, and Stephanie Norris
How Are “Disconnected” Young Adults Spending Their Time?
By William M. Rodgers III and Alice L. Kassens
Financial Survival or Stability? Workers and the Job Market Weigh In
By David Pendered
How Apprenticeships Feed the Workforce Pipeline
By Tim Sablik and Michael Newsome
Affordable housing continues to dominate headlines and conversations as communities across the nation grapple with the challenge of providing adequate housing for people, especially those with low and moderate incomes. Check out some of the latest housing articles and research from Fed experts.
Understanding Chicago’s Multifamily Housing Stock: Perspectives from Property Owners in Rogers Park
By Karen Cuenca and Susan Longworth
The Evolution of Housing Affordability in Counties Across U.S. and Seventh District States: 2000–23
By Jane Dokko, Daniel Hartley, and Grace Njuguna
New homeownership measure puts people first
By Erik Hembre, Ben Horowitz, and Maxine Xu
How Aging Americans Are Navigating (and Shaping) the Housing Market
By Matthew Wells
Rural communities often feature smaller populations, vast open spaces and a connection to agriculture and natural resources. They also face distinct, and in some cases, unique economic challenges. Check out the latest articles and research on Rural communities from Fed experts.
Public-Private Partnerships Drive Rural Revitalization
By Surekha Carpenter and Emily Wavering Corcoran
The Challenges and Opportunities of Rural Economic Development
By Tim Sablik and Daniel Davis
Creating Viable Rural Housing Markets: Reflections from Experts and Practitioners
By Dustin Ingram, Susan Longworth, and Brianna Smith
Tracking a Decade of Growth in Rural Registered Apprenticeships
By Kyle DeMaria and Halina de Jong-Lambert
What Four Small Towns Taught Us about Rural Investment
By Sam Evans and Norman Jones III
Apprenticeships for Rural America
By Halina de Jong-Lambert
Native communities have unique histories and cultures. They also face distinct, and in some cases, unique economic challenges. Check out the latest articles and research on Native communities from Fed experts.
Through data governance, tribes protect “digital land” and build tribal economies
By Caryn Mohr
Native federal contractors contribute to local economies nationwide
By Andrew Huff, Ava LaPlante, and Caryn Mohr
Understanding the financial health of Native CDFI loan funds: A closer look at the numbers
By Michou Kokodoko, H Trostle, and Maxine Xu
To meet demand, Native CDFIs pursue alternative sources of lending capital
By Michou Kokodoko and Caryn Mohr
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shifting community development, economic opportunity, and lower-income communities in many ways. Dive into recent AI focused articles and research from Fed experts.
The Geography of AI Demand in the Southeast: Patterns of Growth and Labor Market Structure
By Sergio Galeano
Monitoring AI Adoption in the US Economy
By Jeffrey S. Allen
Can the U.S. power industry keep pace with rapid growth in AI?
By Lillian Derr
How is AI influencing interest rates? Investment, productivity, prices, and more
By Jeff Horwich
Preparing workers for an uncertain AI future
By Tu-Uyen Tran
How Is AI Impacting Small Business Performance? Evidence from the Third District
By Theresa Dunne and Adam Scavette
Capital and AI Investment in the Fifth District
By Drew Ngo and Sonya Ravindranath Waddell
AI Adoption Among Small Businesses: Qualitative Insights from the Small Business Credit Survey
By Rocio Sanchez-Moyano, Natalie Holmes, and Sarah Simms
Small businesses are the backbone of the nation’s economy. They are also a key economic driver of strong, robust, and adaptable communities. Check out the latest articles and research on small businesses from Fed experts.
2026 Chartbook on Nonemployer Firms: Findings from the 2025 Small Business Credit Survey with Trends over Time
By the Small Business Credit Survey team
The Coverage Gap: How Small Businesses Navigate Unexpected Losses
By Tenisha Brown and Jordan Manes
2025 small-businesses survey finds concern about rising costs; partners sought for 2026 survey
By Rachael Surmick
Small Business Credit Survey: 2026 Insights into the Third District Region
By Alaina Barca
