Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

The Federal Reserve Board is cosponsoring a policy forum next week to explore changing demographic and economic trends that affect housing and community development policy in rural communities. The aim of "The Future of Rural Communities: Implications for Housing," is to explore methods and resources for encouraging initiatives and partnerships that increase access to capital and strengthen local economies. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 10, and it will be streamed live on the Board's website. The conference is cosponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, with key partners NeighborWorks America and the Housing Assistance Council.

Featured speakers include: Eric Belsky, director of the Board's Division of Consumer and Community Affairs; Julie Stackhouse, executive vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Lisa Mensah, under secretary for rural development of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; Paul Weech, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America; and Moises Loza, executive director of the Housing Assistance Council.

Participants in the conference will discuss policies and practices that are supporting, or hindering, rural economic vitality and the efficient delivery of housing supply and mortgage credit to various rural populations and communities, as well as the changing nature of housing and service needs that could affect the economic potential of rural communities.

For more information, and to view the conference online, visit https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/conferences/ruralconf.htm.

For media inquiries, call 202-452-2955.