This web page offers links to educational resources for consumers, and research and articles from our publications.

The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) and NeighborWorks America Housing Counselor Training Program to Protect Homeownership in Partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond have announced the following training sessions in Virginia.

The Department of Defense's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process ultimately means that an affected community must change. Whether it's a community experiencing growth or loss, by recognizing potential partners and understanding the redevelopment process, localities can be better equipped to address common community development issues such as housing, schools, workforce development and infrastructure.

The Community Affairs officers of the Federal Reserve System are accepting proposals for papers to be presented at the 2009 Federal Reserve System Community Affairs Research Conference, to be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. on April 16-17, 2009. The purpose of this biennial research conference is to encourage objective research into financial services issues affecting low-and moderate-income individuals, families, and communities.

Governor Tim Kaine Announces Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) and NeighborWorks America Housing Counselor Training Program to Protect Homeownership in Partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

A new Community Development Working Paper, "The Portfolios and Wealth of Low-Income Homeowners and Renters: Findings from an Evaluation of Self-Help Ventures Fund's Community Advantage Program," by Michael A. Stegman, Allison Freeman, and Jong-Gyu Paik of the Center for Community Capitalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is now available on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's website.

The Community Affairs Office is updating its contacts database. You can send us your updated information online.

In an effort to re-evaluate our website and explore how our web page and on-line products can be more useful, the Community Affair's Office has suspended the publication of MarketWeb, an on-line newsletter. Continue to check the CAO's page for updates on web content changes.

The American Planning Association (APA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have selected the City of Richmond's Neighborhoods in Bloom program as the 2006 recipient of the HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award.

Since it began five years ago, Neighborhoods in Bloom has helped restore and revitalize six deteriorating neighborhoods in the city. Using $15 million in public funds, the program focuses on bringing back one neighborhood at a time. The strategy is working. A Richmond Fed sponsored study of the targeted areas shows a 19 percent decline in crime compared with 6 percent citywide, while housing values have appreciated nearly 10 percent faster than the city's average.

The Community Affairs Office (CAO) of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has compiled a Community Development Investments Directory. This directory consists of descriptive profiles of community development corporations and related entities in which bank holding companies and state-chartered banks have invested. Each profile includes information on the amount of initial capital invested by an institution, a description of the community development projects and activities undertaken or planned, and contact persons who can provide additional information.