Delta Communities: Tapping the Community Reinvestment
Act for Community and Economic Development

Registration is closed for these events.

Hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, this Delta Communities convening will bring together local leaders to discuss the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) with regard to community and economic development in the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta.

The CRA was enacted by Congress in 1977 with the intent of encouraging depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate. Since that time, the CRA has prompted investments totaling more than $1 trillion dollars and provided economic opportunities in cities and rural areas across the country. During this session, participants will learn about the background and definitions that underpin the CRA and hear from representatives of financial institutions about what they look for in community and economic development partners and opportunities.

These meetings are very similar in format and content; please register for either the event in Greenwood or the one in Helena.

Participation is free; however, registration is required by Friday, Jan. 13, as space is limited. Lunch will be provided.

For more information, please contact Teresa Cheeks Wilson at 901-531-5109 or teresa.cheeks.wilson@stls.frb.org.

With an aim of strengthening communities across the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta region, the St. Louis Fed has launched the Delta Communities initiative to build awareness of promising tools and strategies for community and economic development through regional forums. The meetings will feature presentations from St. Louis Fed staff and regional and national representatives with experience in building and sustaining community and economic development efforts. Six forums, each taking place in both Arkansas and Mississippi, have been scheduled through the beginning of 2017, with additional dates to be announced later. Themes for the current slate of Delta Communities forums include or have included:

• Identifying Challenges and Opportunities through Data and Dialogue
  June 9 – Greenwood, Miss. | June 10 – Helena, Ark.
• Understanding the Credit Environment for Small-Business Development and Expansion
  Aug. 11 – Greenwood | Aug. 12 – Helena
• Building the Right Team and Relationships for Community and Economic Development
  Sept. 15 – Greenwood | Sept. 16 – Helena
• Making a Plan and Sourcing Financial Resources for Financing Community and Economic Development
  Oct. 20 – Greenwood | Oct. 21 – Helena
• The Role of Housing as an Asset for Families and an Economic Development Driver for Communities in the Delta
  Dec. 1 – Greenwood | Dec. 2 – Helena
• Tapping the Community Reinvestment Act for Community and Economic Development
  Jan. 19 – Greenwood | Jan. 20 – Helena

Representatives from financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, chambers of commerce, government entities and other local leaders are welcome to participate. While the first six forums will be in Greenwood, Miss., and Helena, Ark., leaders from communities across the Delta region are encouraged to attend.