Voices Blog – News & views for the community development field
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What are workers thinking in 2022?
Businesses tell us they’re having a tough time hiring and retaining workers. Do people not want to work or is something deeper going on? We’re conducting focus groups with workers to find out what’s going on. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
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Why supporting working moms benefits families, employers, and you
When working women become mothers, they have to weigh the pros and cons of staying at their paid jobs. Here’s how making it easier for moms to work could benefit the US economy, your community, and you.
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Surveys highlight Black-owned small businesses’ credit access challenges; study hints at a fairer approach
Automated underwriting processes used by some lenders may have reduced racial disparities in accessing the Paycheck Protection Program.
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How the pandemic affected savings and debts, and how we can build wealth for all
There were large wealth gaps before the pandemic and rising prices are straining families’ resources. Yet there’s hope for an equitable and inclusive wealth recovery.
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![[Watch] The Economic Well Being of US Households in 2021](https://fedcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SHED-Cover.gif?w=1024)
[Watch] The Economic Well Being of US Households in 2021
In this webinar, Federal Reserve experts discuss how families fared in 2021 across a range of dimensions including how parents fared through the pandemic, employment outcomes, retirement decisions, and broader family finances. Watch on demand.
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Exploring student loan alternatives and postsecondary financing innovations
Many students take on debt to pay for postsecondary education and training, but other options are available. Here’s what experts told us at a recent conference.
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4 ways the CRA encourages banks to work hand-in-hand with their neighbors
The Community Reinvestment Act can help lenders chart a different future for low-and moderate-income neighborhoods. Here are four examples.
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Unequal inflation: Why rising prices are not the same for everyone
New research tells us that inflation may impact different people in different ways. People’s experiences with rising prices depend on where they live, how much they earn, and how they spend.
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![[Watch] High-Quality Early Care and Education: Cost, Affordability & Racial Equity](https://fedcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/connectingcommunities-ece-1920x1280-1.jpg?w=1024)
[Watch] High-Quality Early Care and Education: Cost, Affordability & Racial Equity
The pandemic highlighted the important role early care and education (ECE) plays in supporting working-age parents. In this webinar, gain insights from research on the cost of providing high-quality ECE, challenges low- and moderate-income families face in paying for it, and the racial and ethnic equity issues at play. Watch on demand.
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Supporting entrepreneurship for rural economic development
Entrepreneurs are the life blood of a community’s economy. Investing in and supporting entrepreneurship ecosystems can lead to the growth of additional entrepreneurial activity in a community.
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How the Fed’s ‘trove of data’ underscores the importance of small business credit access
Access to credit is vital for small businesses. The Federal Reserve’s annual Small Business Credit Survey provides critical data and insights for policymakers, small business support program managers.
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Going over the benefits cliff: The catch of higher wages
Landing a better-paying job is the dream of many Americans. But what happens when a higher salary makes it harder to pay the bills?