The Chicago Fed has had a longstanding interest in the work of community development financial institutions (CDFI) and the evolution of the development finance industry. In this edition of Profitwise News and Views, we provide overviews of two conferences that addressed ways the industry is...

This study examines the nature of the interaction of banks and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in small business lending. We examine the experience of six different CDFIs that vary by size, corporate structure, and market. We explore how they both collaborate and compete...

The national Community Action program began in the 1960s to serve as a focal point in local communities for the war on poverty. Programs were established in a majority of counties across the U.S., including some in rural areas. Many programs continue to thrive today, and in mostly rural southern...