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Discussion Paper
Tracing the History of Community Development Credit Unions
When the Community Reinvestment Act was passed in the late 1970s, Congress tasked the 12 Federal Reserve Banks with ensuring that supervised financial institutions meet the credit needs of the communities they serve. Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven lenders that help provide credit in underserved areas. As we gather information on CDFIs through the 2025 Federal Reserve CDFI Survey, we want to examine the roots of community development finance and the evolution of CDFIs.This post focuses on the history of one type of CDFI: community development credit ...
Discussion Paper
Taking Stock of Community Development Financial Institutions
Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are mission-driven organizations that expand financial product and service options to lower-income households, small businesses, and communities. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 created the Federal Reserve's community development function, which is tasked with promoting economic growth and financial stability for low- to moderate-income communities. Because CDFIs support access to credit in low- and moderate-income areas, the Federal Reserve has a direct interest in understanding CDFIs' role in capital access and the landscape of the ...
Discussion Paper
Jump-Starting Rural Community Development Projects: Lessons Learned
In an effort to address both the supply- and demand-side barriers of rural project development, the Richmond Fed partnered with rural-facing organizations to launch the Rural Investment Collaborative™ (RIC). A core strategy of the RIC is the Community Investment Training, which helps rural leaders jump-start development projects for their communities.Cohort members, after graduating from the four-month training program, become part of an alumni network with opportunities to apply for additional resources. To date, the program has trained 42 leaders, and external partners have awarded ...
Journal Article
Investing in the Great Outdoors
While the appeal of Mother Nature has always been self-evident to enthusiasts, the COVID-19 pandemic brought in new converts. Once it became clear that the virus spread less easily in open spaces, and with many indoor options shut down, outdoor recreation became a compelling option for anyone looking to escape their home or apartment in 2020.In addition to visiting state parks and trails in record numbers, many Americans moved from cities to suburbs, small towns, and rural places in search of more open spaces. According to a March 2023 report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing ...
Journal Article
District Digest: Understanding SNAP's Role
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a key component of the United States' social safety net and supports millions of Americans annually by providing food vouchers for households with low income and assets. SNAP supports households enduring persistent poverty as well as those temporarily in economic distress, as its enrollment expands during recessions to accommodate the unemployed. Economists Robert Moffitt of Johns Hopkins University and James Ziliak of the University of Kentucky have explained that SNAP operates like an automatic stabilizer — that is, a counterweight ...
Journal Article
At the Richmond Fed: Collaborating to Improve Rural Access to Capital
Small towns and rural communities play a key role in the Fifth District's economy. Not only do they make up nearly one-quarter of the region, they also have important economic ties to neighboring cities and counties.That's why the Richmond Fed is addressing the economic health of rural areas as part of its broader mission of strengthening the economy. Working with partners on the local, regional, and national levels, the Bank's Community Development team recently launched the Rural Investment Collaborative to increase economic investment in small towns and rural communities throughout the ...