Voices Blog – News & views for the community development field
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Community perspectives and conditions from the Fed’s Beige Book, August 2024
Here’s what nonprofit and community leaders, and workforce professionals serving lower-income people shared with the Federal Reserve for the August 2024 Beige Book.
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Manufacturing affordable homeownership, one unit at a time
Manufactured housing offers a uniquely affordable homeownership onramp at a time when aspiring buyers can’t afford pricier site-built homes. Even with perception and financing challenges to surmount, some are finding creative ways to extend this homeownership option to more buyers.
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How community colleges meet the needs of students and employers via non-credit programs
Non-credit training programs offered by community colleges can help address labor shortages by providing students with skills and credentials they need for specific occupations. Outreach by the Richmond Fed indicates that funding for these programs is inconsistent, and there are constraints for both students and institutions hoping to utilize these programs.
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![[Watch] Approaches to and Lessons Learned from Community-Engaged Research](https://fedcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/connecting-communities-community-engaged-research.jpg?w=1024)
[Watch] Approaches to and Lessons Learned from Community-Engaged Research
In this Connecting Communities webinar, hear examples of how community-engaged methods can highlight the experience of workers and jobseekers. Watch or listen on demand.
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Project highlights factors that influence Black business owners’ attitudes about debt
Data and conversations help inform reasons why Black businesses can be hesitant to apply for credit and emphasize the need for more education about the loan underwriting process.
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Community perspectives and conditions from the Fed’s Beige Book, July 2024
Here’s what nonprofit and community leaders, and workforce professionals serving lower-income people shared with the Federal Reserve for the July 2024 Beige Book.
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New playbook shows how and when key investments can drive sustainable change in communities
Strategies for addressing climate, health, and economic vulnerabilities come to life in a new playbook designed to build more resilient communities.
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The quarterly catch-up, Q2 2024
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 April 1 and June 30, 2024, on topics affecting marginalized communities.
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![[Watch] The Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023](https://fedcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1920-x-1280-CC-July-13.jpg?w=1024)
[Watch] The Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023
In this Connecting Communities webinar, researchers from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors shared findings from the survey on trends in financial well-being. Based on the survey results, they answered attendees’ questions about the financial conditions among low- and moderate-income populations.
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Facing the future solo: Understanding obstacles for single women and retirement
Women encounter specific challenges in retirement planning, including pay and wealth disparities that affect their savings and financial stability.
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Data on anchor institutions help inform decisions at local, regional, and state levels
From job training to procurement to business development, state-level measures of anchor institutions are helping to advance conversations, support collaboration, and drive economic growth.
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Why are Native homebuyers ending up with more expensive loans?
Financing manufactured homes can cost Native borrowers on reservations twice as much as off-reservation white borrowers. A risky type of loan fuels the cost gap.