In today's blog we interview Marc Norman, from the University of Michigan, who is just starting his term on the Federal Reserve's Community Advisory Council. We ask him about his role, responsibilities, and outlook. What do you do for the University of Michigan's A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and how does your work relate to community and economic development? I a... Read More

The Peer City Identification Tool V3.0 (PCIT) has launched with new data and calculations, updated analyses, and a new feature that allows users to select up to three cities of their own choosing. Background The PCIT is an interactive data exploration tool created by the Community Development and Policy Studies division at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The PCIT enables users to identif... Read More

We are delighted to announce that registration for the Eleventh Biennial Federal Reserve System Community Development Research Conference, “Renewing the Promise of the Middle Class,” is now open. On May 9-10, 2019, the Conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss the latest research on promoting an inclusive middle class. The Conference agenda features... Read More

Ten years after the end of the Great Recession, Chicago's neighborhoods are still recovering. Understanding the dynamics of this recovery, where it has occurred and where it is lagging, is a key objective of the 2018 Chicago Area Community Lending Fact Book (the Fact Book) recently released by Woodstock Institute. The Fact Book is designed to make data on home mortgage and small business lending ... Read More

"Because good health does not [just] happen in a doctor's office" -Elissa J. Bassler, Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Public Health Institute The Community Development and Policy Studies (CDPS) division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, in partnership with the Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN), Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) and County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, hosted an... Read More

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Community Development and Policy Studies Division regularly holds economic development forums around the 7th District that provide both a general economic overview and focus on topics of interest to stakeholders. On November 29 at a convening in Madison, WI, the topic was "Updates on the Midwest Economy & Fair Lending in a Social Media Context." ... Read More

Redeveloping communities across the country are facing gentrification and displacement pressures that threaten the well-being of low- and moderate-income residents. The pattern of gentrification and displacement is not always the same. Experts indicate that velocity is a key component. Once it is perceived that and area is an up and coming neighborhood, the velocity can be so rapid that it preclu... Read More

Greater Chatham is a 15-square-mile area in the city of Chicago that includes the neighborhoods of Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham, Greater Grand Crossing and Chatham. For decades, the area has been an African-American middle-class neighborhood known for its attractive and quality homes built between 1920s and 1950s as part of Chicago's “bungalow belt.” However, like many other neighborhood... Read More

There is a role for Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) presence and activity in smaller markets, where the needs of low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities are often no different than those in larger markets. With a mandate to understand the credit needs of all communities across the Seventh District, the Community Development and Policy Studies division of the Federal Reserve ... Read More

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Community Development division regularly holds economic development forums around the Seventh District that provide both a general economic overview and focus on topics of interest to stakeholders. On May 23rd, the topic was “Updates on the Midwest Economy & Data Driven Supervision and Fair Lending Risk Management.” Bill Testa, Vice Presid... Read More