Connecting Communities®

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Jul 2026

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Federal Reserve community development experts are uniquely positioned to discuss emerging and important community and economic development topics. Connecting Communities webinars are an easy way for you to connect with what the Fed is learning through our research and outreach.

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29 recent

August 13, 20261 hr 0 min

Understanding Benefits Cliffs Evidence Insights

Benefits cliffs are increasingly recognized as a critical barrier to economic mobility in communities across the country. When a raise, promotion, or new job pushes an individual or family above eligibility thresholds for public benefits, the result can be a net financial loss. This creates difficult choices for workers, employers, and policymakers. As awareness of benefits cliffs grows, so does momentum around research, policy innovation, and community-driven solutions. This Connecting Communities webinar brought together researchers and practitioners to explore the latest evidence on how benefits cliffs affect workforce participation and economic opportunity, highlight promising strategies emerging from innovative pilots, and identify priorities for future research. During this event, participants learned more about: key research findings on how benefits cliffs affect employment and advancement decisions for workers and job seekers, learnings from innovative pilot programs designed to reduce the impact of benefits cliffs, and a research agenda that can inform more effective, equitable solutions for policymakers, community-based organizations, and employers. Related Resources: What Are Benefits Cliffs?: https://www.atlantafed.org/what-we-study/workforce-development/advancing-careers-for-low-income-families/what-are-benefits-cliffs The Research Landscape for Benefits Cliffs: Reviewing the Benefits Cliffs Research: https://www.atlantafed.org/-/media/Project/Atlanta/FRBA/Documents/news/events/2026/02/12/2026-benefits-cliffs-research-convening/conference-recap.pdf Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF) tool: https://www.atlantafed.org/research-and-data/data/cliff-tool Benefits Cliff Story Series: https://fedcommunities.org/benefits-cliffs/

July 1, 20261 hr 28 min

Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Rural Economies through Investment

Investment is a critical part of any healthy, growing economy, and plays a key role in rural economic development. During this seminar presented by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on June 25, 2026, experts discussed the barriers to community investment in smaller towns and rural communities. The seminar featured insights from the Richmond Fed's Rural Investment Collaborative as well as research on factors that support community investment.

June 15, 202659 min

Highlights from the 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking

During this Connecting Communities webinar, researchers from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors shared key findings from the annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED), which was fielded in October 2025 and released on May 13, 2026. The survey is a key tool for measuring the economic well-being of U.S. households and identifying potential risks to their finances. In addition to monitoring household financial circumstances, each year the survey explores a range of related topics. In 2025, it introduced new questions about the use of generative Artificial Intelligence at work, alongside expanded modules on family finances, employment, and economic hardships. The survey also continues to track other financial topics such as access to credit, housing affordability, savings and investments, child care costs, and banking. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists during a live Q&A session, gaining deeper context and clarity on the findings. Related resources: Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking Interactive Charts Codebook for the 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (PDF)

May 13, 202658 min

Bank On and Reaching the Unbanked in Our Communities

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), approximately 5.6 million households are without a checking or savings account – otherwise known as "unbanked." Unbanked households lack a secure and safe place to store their money and can miss out on interest gains and credit-building opportunities. This Connecting Communities webinar featured leaders from organizations focused on advancing banking access for households through safe and affordable accounts via the Bank On program. Panelists also explored findings from the most recent Bank On National Data (BOND) Hub, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This interactive conversation highlighted the benefits of having a bank account, lessons learned in reaching unbanked and underbanked households, strategies for building strong partnerships between financial institutions, local governments, and nonprofit organizations, and how data can inform access to banking. Whether you're a financial institution, policymaker, nonprofit leader, researcher, or advocate, this session will provide practical insights to advancing financial access in your community. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists during a live Q&A session, which provided deeper context and clarity to the findings.

April 15, 202657 min

Unlocking the Voice of Small Businesses: New Insights from the 2025 Small Business Credit Survey

The  Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) has been administered nationally since 2016 by the 12 Federal Reserve Banks in collaboration with a network of hundreds of community and business groups throughout the country. The SBCS gathers information from thousands of small-business owners on business conditions and characteristics, credit experiences, and owner demographics. It continues to be the largest national dataset of its kind, and its reports provide awareness of small business challenges and how owners respond to them.  During this webinar, Federal Reserve experts provided an in-depth look at findings from the 2026 Report on Employer Firms. They explored key insights from the 2025 Small Business Credit Survey, including: Business financing needs Credit approval outcomes and challenges Customer dynamics and trade activity Adoption of artificial intelligence This session offered timely, data-driven perspectives for those working directly with small businesses, supporting economic development efforts, or seeking to better understand the current small business landscape. Attendees gained actionable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping small businesses nationwide. Business financing needs Credit approval outcomes and challenges Customer dynamics and trade activity Adoption of artificial intelligence This session offered timely, data-driven perspectives for those working directly with small businesses, supporting economic development efforts, or seeking to better under stand the current small business landscape. Attendees gained actionalbe insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping small businesses nationwide.

April 11, 20261 hr 28 min

2026 Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series: Place-Based Strategies: Strengthening Local Economies

Where an individual lives can play a role in shiping their employment opportunities and interactions. While issues related to where a person is located have been overshadowed by issues related to an individual's personal circumstances, this is starting to shift. During this seminar, presented by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors on April 2, 2026, experts from research and policy discussed how location affects job markets and can contribute to income inequality.

February 11, 20261 hr 29 min

How Fed Data Tools Can Inform Economic Mobility

Occupational and economic mobility are crucial for a healthy economy that supports all. In this Connecting Communities webinar, learn more about the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland's Occupational Mobility Explorer (OME) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF) tools. The OME sheds light on skills-based career pathways in the US labor market for jobseekers and employers. CLIFF tools help workers understand how career advancement decisions may affect public benefits, taxes, and tax credits. Together, these two tools can help workers and employers identify potential career advancement opportunities and better understand how such trajectories might better position them for greater economic stability. The session provides a brief overview of each tool and demonstrates how they can be used together to help individuals understand their economic mobility journey. This includes a better understanding of their possible career paths and the potential financial implications of specific occupational choices. Panelists from organizations that use data resources, including these tools, shared their perspectives on skills-based hiring, helping workers navigate benefits cliffs, and ways to foster partnerships with employers. Related resources: Occupational Mobility Explorer Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster Fed Communities' Benefits Cliff story series Powerful tool helps job seekers chart a path to higher-paying roles

November 13, 202548 min

How Your Experience of the Economy Matters to the Fed: A Conversation with Governor Michael S. Barr

How your community experiences the economy—whether you and your neighbors can access employment, afford your home or small business expenses, or save for future goals—matters to the Federal Reserve. Through its community development function, the Federal Reserve builds relationships and regularly engages with communities in every region of the country. The first-hand insights and real-time impressions of economic conditions that arise from these community connections help inform the Federal Reserve's work. During this special conversation with Governor Michael S. Barr, the Federal Reserve Board's oversight governor for consumer and community affairs, we will explore the importance of community engagement. Governor Barr discusses how community engagement helps Fed decisionmakers better understand Americans' day-to-day-economic experiences, concerns, and opportunities. Hear more about Governor Barr's background in community development and its role in his work over the years. Learn more about what he is hearing from communities and businesses around the country and the value he and the Fed gain from these community insights.

October 2, 202559 min

CDFIs Unpacked: Trends and Takeaways from Mission-Driven Lenders

Every two years, the 12 Federal Reserve Banks survey community development financial institutions (CDFIs) about industry conditions. During this Connecting Communities webinar, participants learned more about what CDFIs have shared, including: How demand for CDFI's products and services changed over the past year and how it might evolve in the future, How CDFIs leverage public funding to accomplish their work, and What challenges CDFIs encountered in meeting demand and delivering on their mission. In addition to sharing the CDFI Survey results, Federal Reserve staff connected with community development leaders and financial institutions to gain a deeper understanding of economic conditions affecting a broad range of consumers, individuals, and businesses. Attendees hear more about this outreach, including how the Federal Reserve engages with local community development lenders and what we've learned from several CDFI success stories. 2025 CDFI Survey Key Findings Report: https://www.richmondfed.org/region_communities/regional_data_analysis/surveys/cdfi/survey_results/cdfi_survey_key_findings_2025 CDFI Survey Results Over Time: https://www.richmondfed.org/region_communities/regional_data_analysis/regional_matters/2025/cdfi_survey_results_over_time

August 21, 202558 min

Economic Insights from Lower-Income Communities: Findings from the 2025 Community Perspectives Survey

This Connecting Communities podcast explores key findings from the 2025 Community Perspectives Survey, which was conducted in April and May 2025. The survey captured the current conditions and future outlook of low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities across a range of critical issues, including: Economic mobility Labor market trends Housing Financial stability Small business conditions Health Digital access Education The session also explored the capacity and needs of organizations that serve LMI communities – focusing on their ability to deliver services, access resources, maintain staffing, and managing expenses.

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