Fed Communities

Any small business owner knows that in order to grow your business, you need capital. Yet data on the nation’s 33 million small businesses—particularly data on small businesses’ access to credit—are limited. The Fed’s annual Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) helps bridge that gap. In this survey, you will share whether and how you use debt, what financial conditions you face, and more. Your anonymous responses to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. If you are a small business owner with less than 500 employees (or know someone who is), we invite you to share your experiences with credit access this past year. The survey is open now through November 1. https://bit.ly/4dMgGVm

Whether filling out a digital job application, performing online banking, or completing remote coursework, having internet access is crucial to fully participate in the modern economy. However, many communities—particularly those that are rural or low-income—face significant financial and technical hurdles to getting connected. To combat this, grassroots organizations, state and federal offices, and Federal Reserve Banks have all joined the fight to close the digital divide to support a more inclusive economy. In early 2024, the American Enterprise Institute ranked ConnectLA as the nation’s top performing broadband office in its annual evaluation of state broadband programs. ConnectLA’s secret to its success—community engagement. Check out this blog by Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas colleagues to learn more about how ConnectLA is engaging and helping their community. https://lnkd.in/eYGhKCP2 #DigitalDivide #DigitalInclusion

There is a well-known relationship between the amount of education a person has and their eventual earnings. Generally, the more you learn, the more you earn. For this reason, higher education has often been seen as a road to economic security and intergenerational mobility—the pathway to doing better financially compared to your parents. However, recent trends in higher education are challenging this notion. Rising tuition, cost of attendance, and increasing student debt have contributed to a slight decline in enrollment rates. These trends are a cause of for some researchers and policymakers. They fear young people may face poorer economic outcomes in the future due to missed educational opportunities today. Peruse this blog post, written by colleagues from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, to learn more about how short-term credentials like a forklift driving certification, a teacher’s license, and a business analytics badge are gaining popularity. #ShortTermCredentials #EvolvingWorkforce https://lnkd.in/ef2aKT9C

The State Small Business Credit Initiative, or SSBCI, is a 10-year, nearly $10 billion program administered by the US Treasury that provides recipient jurisdictions with funding for two things: credit and investment programs for existing small businesses and start-ups (Capital Program); and technical assistance to small businesses applying for SSBCI funding and other government small business programs (Technical Assistance Grant Program). The SSBCI program was first used to help small businesses recover from the Great Recession as part of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. A decade later, SSBCI (“SSBCI 2.0”) was reauthorized and amended by Congress as part of the American Rescue Plan of 2021 and was scaled to meet even greater demand, especially among small businesses that are underserved. In August, jurisdictions throughout the Midwest and tribal governments convened with Treasury staff, bankers, and community development lenders in Kansas City to discuss ways to ensure funding from the SSBCI reaches small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly those in underserved communities. Find out more in this blog post. https://lnkd.in/exVS8PNv

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! Today we honor and recognize the strength, resilience, and beauty of Indigenous communities across the world. May today be a reminder that these communities have unique histories and cultures, but also face distinct, and in some cases, unique economic challenges. Check out articles and research published between July 1 and September 30, 2024 on Native communities from Federal Reserve System experts. https://lnkd.in/etMaC_52 #IndigenousPeoplesDay

Any small business owner knows that in order to grow your business, you need capital. Yet data on the nation’s 33 million small businesses—particularly data on small businesses’ access to credit—are limited. The Fed’s annual Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) helps bridge that gap. In this survey, you will share whether and how you use debt, what financial conditions you face, and more. Your anonymous responses to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. If you are a small business owner with less than 500 employees (or know someone who is), we invite you to share your experiences with credit access this past year. The survey is open now through November 1. https://bit.ly/4dMgGVm

Today's the day! Join us this afternoon at 3:00pm EST for a Connecting Communities webinar. Register now! https://cvent.me/X7Pyv1

Are you registered for this week's #ConnectingCommunities webinar? Join New York Fed staff David Erickson, head of outreach and education, and Javier Silva, community development senior outreach associate; and Bryan Garcia, president and CEO at Connecticut Green Bank; Lisa Richter, managing partner at Avivar Capital; Maggie Super Church, director of policies and programs at Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, and René A. Vargas Martínez, director, Puerto Rico Network at Inclusiv for a discussion about solutions to address urgent climate and community needs that affect vulnerable and lower-wealth communities of color. There's still time, register now! https://cvent.me/X7Pyv1

Community Development teams across the Federal Reserve System are constantly developing new research, analyses, and articles. Catch up with the Federal Reserve in this blog that captures new content published between July 1 and September 30, 2024. Topics include housing, child care, equitable development, small business, employment, weather resiliency, and Native communities. Find out what the Reserve Banks have been up to in one convenient place. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/etMaC_52

Findings indicate that more job postings have begun to mention short-term credentials. As a result, there are more students enrolling in short term credential programs, which challenges traditional four-year higher education programs. But that doesn’t necessarily mean short-term credentials are leading to better wages. Check out this blog, written by colleagues from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas to find out who stands to benefit with this latest education trend. https://lnkd.in/ef2aKT9C