This post captures select new content published by the Federal Reserve between October 1 and December 31, 2025, on the topics of economic development, workforce development, Native communities, housing, child care, 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.
Alternative Data: Expanding Access to Credit
By Federal Reserve Consumers & Communities colleagues
Investment Connection creates funding opportunity for Lincoln, Neb., nonprofit
By Rachael Surmick
American neighborhoods are segregated by income. What does that mean for the future of income inequality, neighborhoods, and children?
By Lisa Camner McKay
Do Anchor Institutions Support Regional Economic Resiliency? Evidence from Penn State University
By Adam Scavette, Robert Calvert Jump, and Deborah Diamond
Consumer Credit Insights: Debt in Third District States
By Alaina Barca
2025 CDFI Survey: Perspectives From Small-Town Mission-Driven Lenders
By Emily Wavering Corcoran and James Melton
2025 CDFI Survey: Can Secondary Markets Help CDFI Loan Funds Grow?
By Surekha Carpenter
Around the District: Highlights from the California Rural Success Summit
By Leilani Barnett, Tracy Choi, and Jessica Monge Coria
The Credit Journey of Lower-Income Households
By Liz Deichmann
Every Thread Counts: How Community Insights Shape Our Economic View
By Sarah Cramer
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.
How might artificial intelligence affect Texas’ good jobs?
By Anna Crockett
Workforce development at a crossroads: Four themes from roundtables in the 10th District
By Steven Shepelwich
Workforce development roundtable supports the Forward Together conference
By Marisa Martinez and Steven Shepelwich
Survey respondents concerned about financial resources and ability to meet demand for services
By Rachael Surmick
Who gets unemployment benefits for shared work?
By Shelby Cook, Ayushi Narayan, Leonidas Murembya, and Ryan Nunn
What new data tell us about the growth of occupational licensure
By Juliet Cramer and Ryan Nunn
RIC Spotlight: Strengthening the Rural Workforce Through STEM Education
By Bethany Greene
Finding New Opportunities for Federal Workers
By Matthew Wells
Virginia’s Small Farmers Weather Unpredictability
By Katrina Mullen
The Power of Partnerships in Western North Carolina
By Erika Bell, Tim Sablik, and Hunter Jones
New Analysis Sheds Light on Employment Patterns of Workers in LMI Households
By Natalie Holmes and Elizabeth Kneebone
On-the-Job Exposure to AI Among Lower-Income Workers
By Natalie Holmes and Elizabeth Kneebone
Health Care Opportunity Occupations and Workforce Strategies in U.S. and Eighth District Hospitals
By Nicole Summers-Gabr
An Approach to Addressing Health Care Workforce Shortages
By Nicole Summers-Gabr
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.
Native CDFI relending program expands access to affordable homeownership in Indian Country
By Matthew Gregg and Harley Kell
At milestone CICD event, tribal leaders reflect on leveraging economic data as a tool of sovereignty
By Caryn Mohr
Research collaborations propel economic data in Indian Country
By Caryn Mohr
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.
Expirations and Early Exits of LIHTC Units: Implications for the Affordable Housing Stock
By Maxwell Jaffe and Dustin Ingram
Multifamily housing operators describe a “precarious position”
By Ben Horowitz
Lower-income home shoppers in Twin Cities area saw fewer options, higher costs in 2024
By Erik Hembre, Ben Horowitz, Libby Starling, and Maxine Xu
States look for clogs in the housing pipeline
By Ben Horowitz and Ella Tracy
Delivering housing innovation on a flatbed trailer
By Libby Starling and Ella Tracy
Affordability Challenges and Barriers to Homeownership in Philadelphia
By Sisi Zhang, Theresa Y. Singleton, and Mariah Allen
The First Rung of Housing Markets
By Charles Gerena
Updated Data on Homebuying Trends
By Rocio Sanchez-Moyano
The Evolving Homebuying Landscape: An Update with 2023 Data
By Rocio Sanchez-Moyano
Child care continues to garner significant attention because of its critical impact on families, employers, and the economy. As more parents enter the workforce, the demand for affordable, high-quality child care and education continues to rise. Dive into recent child care articles and research from Fed experts.
Child-care usage and access challenges during COVID-19 and the economic recovery
By Sarah Ann Savage
Too Costly to Work? The Childcare Burden on Household Earnings
By Brittany Birken, John Rees, and Jacob Walker
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.
Small Business Credit Survey: The 2025 Southeast Insights
By Mary Hirt, Aaliyah Price, Emily Carrillo, and Nylah Martinez
Small Firm Borrowing in Seventh District States: Results from the 2024 Small Business Credit Survey
By Brianna Smith and Robin Newberger
2025 Report on Nonemployer Firms: Findings on Hiring Plans from the 2024 Small Business Credit Survey
By Jason Meyer and Ann Marie Wiersch
Texas economic growth outpaces the nation, but are small businesses keeping up?
By Ruby Martinez-Berrier and Marycruz De Leon
What Businesses Are Saying: The Economy Kept Chugging Along
By R. Andrew Bauer, Renee Haltom, and Matthew Martin
How Are Small Businesses Doing?
By Norman Jones III
