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Analysis and points of view on research, trends, issues, ideas and opportunities.

The Power of Partnerships: NCRC Members Invest in People, Properties for a More Equitable Delaware

As the first state established in the US, Delaware has long been recognized for its role in shaping the nation’s history. It has since emerged as a major hub for the financial services industry – becoming home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of financial institutions. In fact, two-thirds of America’s Fortune 500 companies

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Recap: Reinvest Washington Summit Brings Together Housing and Community Development Leaders in Tacoma

On September 22, community development leaders, housing advocates, financial institutions and policymakers gathered in Tacoma for the sold-out Reinvest Washington summit. The day began with a blessing and welcome dance from members of the Puyallup Tribe, the original stewards of the land on which Tacoma stands, a powerful reminder of who came before and why

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The Impacts of the AI Jobs Boom on BIPOC STEM Professionals: September Race, Jobs and Economy Update

The rise of artificial intelligence has brought fears of a potential collapse of the Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Technology (STEM) professional job market. In this month’s Race, Jobs and Economy update, we will look at the change in STEM employment for different racial groups and how these changes intersect with AI developments and other major

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Reinvest Washington Summit: Washington Housing Leaders Unite in Tacoma to Tackle Affordability Crisis

Washington State has one of the most complex housing ecosystems in the country. Increasing tech salaries has driven some of the highest cost-of-living rates in the nation, while homeownership has become unaffordable for 80% of households. Low- and moderate-income residents face rising housing costs, displacement pressures, widening wealth gaps and uneven access to capital. As

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Investing in community: Benjamin Rose unlocks homeownership for aging Ohioans

Vanessa Jackson never imagined herself as a homeowner. Even with a full-time job at a local nonprofit, all the moving parts of buying a home felt overwhelming.  That was until Jackson took Benjamin Rose’s homebuyer education courses. Benjamin Rose, a Cleveland, Ohio-based nonprofit founded in 1908, helps aging Americans build the knowledge, skills and access

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CRA’s New Benchmark Could Put 85% of Current Community Development Activity at Risk

The strategic plan provisions in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) proposed CRA rule have received less attention than the proposal’s headline changes. However, combined with the OCC’s December 2025 guidance, it could make it easier for banks to pass CRA exams while providing less community development financing than they have historically. 

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The Proposed CRA Rule’s Strategic Plans: A More Predictable Path to Doing Less

The strategic plan provisions in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) proposed CRA rule have received less attention than the proposal’s headline changes. However, combined with the OCC’s December 2025 guidance, it could make it easier for banks to pass CRA exams while providing less community development financing than they have historically. 

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NCRC Awards $1.34 Million in Field Empowerment Fund – Housing Counseling Services Grants to 95 NCRC Member Organizations

Annually, these agencies serve over 85,000 households across the United States, with over 63,000 of those households falling under 80% of their regional median income levels. This grant funding will fuel their critical services, empowering families across the country to achieve housing stability and homeownership.

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The Proposed 2026 CRA Rollbacks: Key Takeaways and Why it Matters

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) proposed Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule would weaken bank obligations to invest, lend and provide services in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities, while reducing transparency and accountability.

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Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers Secure Millions for Affordable Housing and Small Business Development

Like most states, Minnesota is facing an affordable housing shortage with over 100,000 residences needed for low-income residents. The Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD), a network of community development organizations, is working to fill this gap. MCCD advocates statewide for equitable housing and economic policies that generate wealth for people of color (BIPOC) and

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A Place At The Table: What Black Immigrant Entrepreneurs Teach Us About The American Dream

For many immigrants, home is not simply a place they leave behind. It’s something they carry with them and, sometimes, find in familiar foods, shared traditions and communities thousands of miles away.  By 2000, Columbus, Ohio was home to more than 11,000 African-born residents as a result of a wave of immigration that had occurred

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Mobility Monitor: Expanding American Housing Supply Will Require Investment in Workforce Development

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act was recently passed into law without President Trump’s signature, marking the most significant federal legislative action on housing in over 20 years. Although the president refused to sign the bill into law without other strings attached, lawmakers’ interest in housing affordability appears solidified heading into the midterms. That

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Bank branch trends for 2026 (2nd quarter): Continued growth in the Southeast and Southwest metros

The nation’s bank branch network changed little compared with the first three months in the second quarter of 2026, with 261 openings and 248 closings. This is the third straight quarter of net gains in branches, something that we haven’t seen since 2009. It has been a long time since we could say bank branches

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NCRC Opposes Main Street Act That Weakens Banking Oversight and Community Voice

NCRC’s President and CEO Jesse Van Tol released a statement in regards to the House’s recent passage of H.R. 6955 (the Main Street Capital Access Act) and the devastating ripple effects it will have on regulatory accountability for banking institutions as well as fair lending for communities: The House voted to hand banks a green

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