Tamar Kotelchuck is a Vice President in the Regional & Community Outreach (R&CO) department, the Bank’s community development unit, which focuses on improving outcomes for low-income people and communities. Tamar currently leads the Bank’s Working Places Initiatives in R&CO, which catalyzes economic growth in struggling smaller cities and rural areas. Tamar oversees the Bank’s three active initiatives in Connecticut, Vermont and Maine, as well as our network of past rounds in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She and her team have been responsible for all aspects of the Working Cities and Working Communities challenges model — a program that has generated significant cross-sector collaboration in New England cities, and involved new levels of Bank partnership with public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders — from concept to completion. Her team is also responsible for Leaders for Equitable Local Economies (LELE) which supports leaders for economic development in smaller cities, and is developing a new initiative — Inclusive Economies — to connect inclusive economic growth initiatives in these areas with best practice and public and private capital.

Before joining the Bank in 2012 as a senior community development analyst in R&CO, Tamar helped to co-found and held a range of positions at a leading community development corporation in one of Massachusetts’ Working Cites, and held a number of statewide leadership roles. Tamar brings 20 years of experience in community and economic development in smaller cities, where she has led more than $50 million in public and private investment.

Tamar has a Master in city planning from MIT, and is active in her local community, including volunteering with many local nonprofits. Tamar has also participated in the Bank’s Leadership Edge program.