University Honors Fed's Little Rock Branch

The Community Development Institute at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) presented the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis with its “Friend of Community Development Award,” in tribute and gratitude for the Branch’s support of UCA’s Community and Economic Development Programs. The award was presented during the university’s 22nd Annual Community Development Institute Central on Aug. 7, 2009.

From left: Kelly Lyon, executive director of the Community Development Institute at UCA, presents the “Friend of Community Development” award to the Little Rock Branch’s community development specialists, Amy Simpkins and Lyn Haralson, and Senior Branch Executive Robert Hopkins.

“The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is dedicated to improving access to high-quality information, education and resources that promote best practices and innovation in the field of community development,” said Robert Hopkins, senior branch executive. “We are proud of our collaboration with the Community Development Institute, and the Little Rock Branch is honored to be the recipient of the 2009 ‘Friend of Community Development Award.’ ”

The Federal Reserve has an objective of providing information and technical assistance to communities that historically have not functioned well. On a local level, the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis participates in local and regional collaborative initiatives with community organizations, government agencies and financial institutions to address issues surrounding community development finance, asset building, and neighborhood stabilization and revitalization.

Throughout the state of Arkansas, the Little Rock Branch has stressed the importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit and individual development accounts, promoted innovative financing tools to support small business and entrepreneurship, and co-hosted the “The Ripple Effect” meeting with the Community Development Institute to respond to the foreclosure crisis and tightening credit and capital markets.