Views

Analysis and points of view on research, trends, issues, ideas and opportunities.

Russell: A Place of Promise Empowers Residents to Build Community Wealth in Louisville

By / / Field Notes, Views / 3 minutes of reading

In Russell, Kentucky, a historically Black neighborhood in Louisville, one organization is empowering residents to take an active role in community planning while ensuring real estate investments build generational wealth for the local population.  Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) has been educating residents about real estate planning, engaging them in the land development process

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NCRC Warns CFPB of Risks of Reduced HMDA Data Collection to Fair Lending Enforcement

By / / Press Releases, Views / 2 minutes of reading

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) recently submitted a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to strongly support maintaining the current level of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data collection because reduced HMDA reporting would significantly impair fair lending enforcement.   53 state and local NCRC member organizations signed on to NCRC’s letter. The

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Another Disappointing Jobs Report Highlights Ongoing Labor Market Weaknesses: March 2026′s Race, Jobs and the Economy

By / / Research, Views / 3 minutes of reading

In last month’s edition of the Race, Jobs and the Economy series, we explored whether the 6-figure job gains seen in January were either a sign that the labor market was about to experience a turnaround or simply a fluke. It seems the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report provides an answer. The

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When Housing Was For Everyone: How Owning Went From a Rite of Passage to a Right of the Rich

By / / Research, Views / 7 minutes of reading

In 1955, a homebuilder called Foster Associates took out an ad in the Tampa Tribune for a new development called Manhattan Manor. Three bedroom homes starting at $10,250, with veterans able to move in for $150 down and monthly payments as low as $60. Adjusted for inflation, that is about $120,000 in today’s dollars. Tampa

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Mobility Monitor: Trump and Big Tech Attempt to Win Over Communities on Data Centers – Will Their Partnership Bring Electricity Rates Down?

By / / Views / 6 minutes of reading

Few issues have done more to shape the economy and American politics over the past year than the explosion of data center proposals to advance artificial intelligence (AI). In February, the Trump administration reportedly agreed to the terms of a “ratepayer protection pledge” with Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, xAI, Oracle and OpenAI – the Big

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The Importance of Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship Training towards Bolstering Economic Mobility in Communities

By / / NCRC Programs, Views / 4 minutes of reading

Well-paying, quality jobs are essential to economic mobility and building wealth. Without a steady, living-wage income and dignified working conditions, people will struggle to save enough to support long-term material wellbeing and build generational wealth. The workforce development system is one particularly important mechanism for preparing and connecting people to high quality employment. In recent

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More Than a Mortgage: YCMIHOC’s Education and Counseling Programs Turn Housing Challenges Into Opportunities

By / / Field Notes, Views / 3 minutes of reading

Despite soaring housing costs, stagnant wages, limited access to financing and the lingering effects of historical policies like redlining, many low- to moderate-income families continue to pursue the dream of homeownership. For over 20 years, the You Can Make It Home Ownership Center (YCMIHOC) has helped turn that dream into a reality in underserved communities

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Closing the Door on Immigrant Entrepreneurs: SBA’s New Loan Restrictions Create Barriers for Non-Citizen Small Business Owners

By / / Policy, Views / 4 minutes of reading

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently posted a policy notice that would prevent legal permanent residents, such as immigrants with green cards, from accessing any SBA financing product effective March 1, 2026. Legal permanent residents are authorized to live and work in the US. To receive an SBA-backed loan, the SBA now requires small businesses to be 100% owned by US citizens or nationals.   This is an abrupt reversal from SBA’s original policy notice released this past December, which would have allowed small businesses that were 100% owned by legal permanent residents to access SBA financing

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Does gentrification push people out? The answer depends on how it is measured

By / / Research, Views / 6 minutes of reading

Gentrification is one of those hot-button topics where people can look at the same city and see opposite truths. Some see disinvested neighborhoods finally getting access to grocery stores, improvements in public transit and safer neighborhoods while others see decreased affordability, the loss of cultural identity and the exit of longtime residents – often people

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Economic Mobility on the Ground: How Anchor Institutions Invest in Workforce Development

By / / Views / 3 minutes of reading

Anchor institutions are essential to driving economic mobility outcomes forward. These institutions – universities, hospitals and other large, place-based employers – are uniquely positioned to do just that. Unlike companies that may relocate or downsize, anchor institutions remain rooted in their neighborhoods, employing thousands, purchasing billions of goods and services and controlling numerous public spaces.   This combination of stability and scale allows them to deploy workforce investments strategically, creating tangible pathways for

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Social Justice in Action: How Nashville’s Interfaith Coalition is Bridging Divides to Build Economic Equity

By / / Field Notes, Views / 3 minutes of reading

During this divisive time in American politics, an interfaith coalition in Nashville is giving the nation a stunning example of unity by bringing together people of all backgrounds to advocate for social justice policies.  Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) is a multi-racial and interdenominational coalition of churches, synagogues, mosques, community organizations, nonprofits and

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“A tool for every type of need”: Capital for Change unlocks community development funds for Connecticut’s disadvantaged communities

By / / Field Notes, Views / 3 minutes of reading

The legacy of redlining in the US has left some communities at a considerable economic disadvantage, resulting in challenges that can only be addressed by strategically deploying accessible capital. However, many banks avoid lending in these communities, further exacerbating their shortage of quality and affordable housing.  Capital for Change was born from a need to

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Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania Helps Homeowners Protect Their Investment Across Generations

By / / Field Notes, Views / 3 minutes of reading

For the past 17 years, the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) has provided a range of programs designed to build wealth within low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. AHCOPA provides services to approximately 3,000 people each year via their pre-purchase, post-purchase and mortgage prevention counseling programs. When Kenneth Bigos joined AHCOPA as their Executive Director

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Is an Economic Turnaround on the Horizon? February’s Race, Jobs and the Economy Recap

By / / Research, Views / 3 minutes of reading

It’s hard to overstate how much of a surprise the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ January jobs report was with 130,000 jobs being added and an unemployment rate that declined a tenth of a percent to 4.3%. This was the first jobs report that resoundingly exceeded consensus expectations since 2024. The diffusion rate – a measure

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First Community Capital Helps Overlooked Entrepreneurs Become Bankable Business Owners

By / / Field Notes, Views / 3 minutes of reading

Traditional banks often use the term “unbankable” for entrepreneurs they deem too small, too new or too financially risky. First Community Capital (FCC), a Riverside, California-based community development financial institution (CDFI), has spent six years challenging that label. FCC has deployed over $5 million to more than 200 entrepreneurs, many of whom are Black and

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