Community Development

Research and community development initiatives that support progress in low- and moderate-income communities

Photo of Royalton Vermont.

New England has a housing shortage. Could ‘ADUs’ help?

Boston Fed event explores ‘accessory dwelling units’ as part of housing solution

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Photo of Susan M. Collins asking questions about the tubes during her tour in the facility.

Vermont visit takes Boston Fed CEO to former industrial hub, reels maker, talk with business leaders

Collins hears housing and workforce development concerns, tours employee-owned mill

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Photo of Susan M. Collins and Governor Adriana Kugler walking to the Idea Lab located in Fitchburg, MA.

In Fitchburg, Boston Fed CEO, Federal Reserve governor learn about city’s strengths and struggles

Residents tell Collins and Kugler how city found its confidence and moved forward

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What We Do

Empty street of a small town.

Supporting Growth in Smaller Industrial Cities and Rural Communities

Research and field support for New England’s smaller cities and rural communities focusing on efforts to improve prospects for their low- and moderate-income residents.

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A photo of a balance beam with a house and money on each side

Advancing Household Economic Security and Equity

Applied research and engagement initiatives to identify and address the causes of financial precarity and lack of mobility of low- and moderate-income households and to understand the causes and consequences of differences between demographic groups.

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Expanding Employment Opportunities

Research and engagement efforts to promote better employment opportunities for lower-income individuals.

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wwd-tracking-elevating-low-income-issues

Tracking and Elevating Low- & Moderate-Income Issues

Ongoing research and interactions with First-District organizations and constituents to build understanding and promote awareness of challenges facing New England’s lower-income residents.

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Programs & Initiatives

Wealth Inequalities

We are analyzing patterns, causes, and consequences of persistent racial-ethnic inequities in regional economic conditions—evident in New England’s large wealth divides—to help policymakers understand and consider solutions for promoting equity.

Early Child Care for Working Parents

The Early Child Care for Working Parents Initiative recognizes that child care access affects the financial health and job prospects of working parents. The goal is to make high-quality early care a successful part of the workforce infrastructure.

Working Cities Challenge

Building civic infrastructure through leadership and cross-sector collaboration to spur and accelerate economic resurgence and growth in smaller industrial cities.

Increasing the Quality of Jobs

Many low-wage jobs do not provide workers with economic security. This initiative seeks to upgrade the current low-wage jobs in our economy to rebuild a strong middle class—an outcome that better serves workers, businesses, and communities.

Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) internship program

The Boston Fed’s long-standing high school internship program for local low-income youth that combines employment opportunities with applied, research-based workforce/life-skills enrichment.

Services & Resources

Internships and Co-ops

The Boston Fed offers a variety of paid and unpaid internship and co-op opportunities to high school and college students interested in economic research, community development, technology, finance, accounting, human resources, and other fields.

Education Resources

The Boston Fed recommends quality education resources from the Federal Reserve System and other reputable sources.

Community Reinvestment Act

The Community Reinvestment Act requires the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to assess each state member bank's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its local communities consistent with safe and sound operation.

Publications & Data

Featured

Invested

Series

Invested

An interview-based publication focused on a range of community voices speaking to issues affecting low- and moderate-income New Englanders.

Featured

High-Quality Early Child Care: A Critical Piece of the Workforce Infrastructure

High-Quality Early Child Care: A Critical Piece of the Workforce Infrastructure

by Sarah Ann Savage

Featured

The Color of Wealth in Boston

The Color of Wealth in Boston

by Ana Patricia Muñoz, Marlene Kim, Mariko Chang, Regine O. Jackson, Darrick Hamilton, and William A. Darity Jr.

Working Places at 10 with Colleen Dawicki

Six Hundred Atlantic

Working Places at 10 with Colleen Dawicki
Household perceptions of price changes and coping strategies

2024 Series • 24–1

Community Development Field Notes

Household perceptions of price changes and coping strategies

by Michael Evangelist and Amy Higgins

Boston Fed releases 2023 financials, spotlights notable work during the year

2023

Annual Reports

Boston Fed releases 2023 financials, spotlights notable work during the year
COVID-19 amplified gender disparities, hurting employment most for mothers and women of color

2023 Series • 23–3

Community Development Issue Briefs

COVID-19 amplified gender disparities, hurting employment most for mothers and women of color

by Rebecca Strull, Sara Chaganti, Amy Higgins, and Marybeth J. Mattingly

Interprets: Working Places Initiative Alumni on Proven Principles for Community Development

Invested

Interprets: Working Places Initiative Alumni on Proven Principles for Community Development
Work-hour volatility by the numbers: How do workers fare in the wake of the pandemic?

2023 Series • 23–2

Community Development Issue Briefs

Work-hour volatility by the numbers: How do workers fare in the wake of the pandemic?

by Julie Cai

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Events

March 3, 2022

Maine Working Communities Challenge Implementation Award Announcement
November 16, 2021

Racism and the Economy Series

Racism and the Economy: Focus on Financial Services
October 15, 2021

Essential Today, Essential for the Future

Latinos and an Equitable Labor Market Recovery
February 19, 2021

President's Speeches

President Rosengren to speak about the economy and monetary policy
December 16, 2020

Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act: An Overview of the Federal Reserve Proposal
November 19, 2020

Vermont Working Communities Challenge Awards Announcement
October 21, 2020

Maine Working Communities Challenge Announcement Event
October 16, 2019

Reinventing Work Initiative: Massachusetts Business Perspectives on Recruiting, Retaining, and Engaging Talent in Today’s Marketplace
August 19, 2019

Community Development Advisory Council Meetings

Roundtable Discussion and Questions

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Media Inquiries? Media Inquiries?

Contact our media relations team. We connect journalists with Boston Fed economists, researchers, and leadership and a variety of other resources.

Media Relations