Economic development and small business are the drivers of the economy by creating jobs, providing goods and services, and facilitating commerce. Harnessing the economic opportunities for low-income individuals involves the availability of capital and resources to support firms that will provide goods and services and hire workers; physical and strategic connection of low-income communities to regional economic activity; and wealth creation to support commerce and community building. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco seeks to support economic and small business development in low-income communities by strengthening the availability of capital and entrepreneurial know-how to small businesses and improved connectivity to regional economic drivers.
Community economics focuses on the business ecosystem in a specific neighborhood and how well its economy functions. The goal of the Community Economics Project is to build local capacity to reverse the decline in neighborhood conditions and create communities of opportunity.
Publications
Notes from the Frontlines in the Small Business Finance Revolution: A Microlender’s View
Community Investments: Volume 26, Issue 3, 2015
Building Wealth and Stability through Entrepreneurship
Community Investments: Volume 26, Issue 2, 2014
Investing in What Works for America’s Communities: Essays on People, Place, and Purpose (2012)
A New Way to Talk About Small Business: The Time Has Come for a Common Language
Working Paper, 2011-02 (February 2011)
Enhancing New Markets Tax Credit Pipeline Flow: Maintaining a Continuous Deal Flow In Spite of Funding
Gaps and Market Volatility
Working Paper, 2010-06 (October 2010)
The Community Reinvestment Act and Small Business Lending in Low- and Moderate-Income Neighborhoods during the Financial Crisis
Working Paper, 2010-05 (October 2010)
Transit-Oriented Development
Community Investments: Volume 22, Issue 2, 2010
Place-Based Initiatives
Community Investments: Volume 22, Issue 1, 2010
Related
FedCommunities.org
FedCommunities.org is a web portal to community development resources from all 12 Federal Reserve Banks and the Board of Governors. Through a single web gateway, users can access hundreds of Fed materials that address barriers to economic growth and promote fair and informed access to financial markets.