Regional Matters

Fifth District states have amassed budget surpluses over the past few years. Additionally, state and local governments received aid through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Now, states must decide how to spend both.

Focusing on a complete household’s needs, Garrett County Community Action Committee’s integrated “2Gen approach” links children to high-quality early education and their parents to services that build financial security.

Manufacturers have recently seen an increase in orders, but disruptions in the supply chain have made meeting demand a challenge.

Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) like Woodlands Community Lenders are uniquely positioned to help rural towns address unique challenges through place-based revitalization and by attracting investment.

Surveyed Fifth District firms are raising wages at an above normal pace as they struggle to fill open positions.

Vance-Granville Community College’s early college high schools and workforce programs are improving education and job opportunities for area residents.

Choptank Electric Cooperative on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is an example of how many electric cooperatives are providing broadband service in rural communities.

In our new Rural Spotlight series, we explore solutions to the economic challenges faced by rural communities in the Fifth District.

This post looks at the current assessment of roads and bridges in the Fifth District and how states have recently allocated federal funds.

This post explains how the newest round of stimulus dollars can be used to help governments and communities recover from the pandemic.