Host Tim Sablik shares some of the key insights from community development experts at the Richmond Fed's fifth annual Investing in Rural America Conference. The event was held in Roanoke, Va., in May 2024.

Upcoming Event: The general public is invited to join the Richmond Fed on Wednesday, May 15, for an enlightening conversation on the state of the economy, consumer and business sentiments, and the potential implications of any disconnect between the two. Registration required.

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.

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.