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Winchester, Virginia, is known for its blend of history, culture and natural beauty, making it a popular destination for visitors and a vibrant community for its residents. The Winchester Metro Area is the fastest growing metro area in the state of Virginia, with its population growing at almost five times the rate of Virginia as a whole. In May, our Community Conversations team visited the Winchester area to learn more about their economic strengths and opportunities.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Community Investment Training program, a 16-week opportunity offered through the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Rural Investment Collaborative.
Building relationships, developing the next generation of leaders and innovation. These were among the takeaways recently shared by panelists and presenters at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s fifth annual Investing in Rural America Conference, which took place in Roanoke, Virginia, and showcased the efforts of stakeholders to build strong partnerships, develop innovative programs that address community needs, and educate and retain a talented workforce in their small towns and rural communities.
In April, President Tom Barkin, Regional Executive Matt Martin and Regional Economist Laura Ullrich met with local community and business leaders in North Carolina’s Surry and Yadkin counties to gain a fuller understanding of the economic strengths and opportunities facing the region as part of the Bank’s Community Conversations program.
The Richmond Fed’s Community Investment Council convened to share insights centered around our Bank’s community development goals for our region and to discuss some of the issues that impact the work including the labor market and current economic conditions of households and communities. Leaders representing all states within the Fifth District met at the Richmond location.
More than 40 bankers from institutions across the Fifth Federal Reserve District recently convened for the Richmond Fed's Community Bank Credit Forum.
We talked to Bhagya Nair to learn about her experience as a Discover Analyst and how she embraces her heritage and culture at the Richmond Fed.
From quaint storefronts offering a variety of gourmet peanuts to sprawling farms where generations have perfected their craft, this area has solidified its spot as an important part of Virginia’s agricultural economy thanks to its continued commitment to one of America’s favorite legumes. But as our Community Conversations team learned on a recent trip to Southeastern Virginia, the pull between maintaining a rural, small town feel and embracing the potential benefits of urbanization hangs in the balance.
We talked to Brittany Hayes to learn about her journey from college to a test engineer for a currency technology program, including a recent work trip to Munich, Germany.
Western North Carolina is known for stunning mountain views, the eclectic tourist hotspot Asheville, and the opulent former residency of the Vanderbilts, the Biltmore Estate. But, as our Community Conversations team learned as they traveled an hour west of Asheville to places like Jackson County and the Qualla Boundary, Western North Carolina is also home to a strong sense of community, resiliency and innovation.