Describes the benefits of collaboration between CDFIs and mainstream financial institutions; regulatory and legislative opportunities for building and strengthening such partnerships, and an analysis of the types of relationships that have evolved in recent years. Detailed case studies describe how creative partnerships have developed between a variety of CDFIs and conventional lenders.

Analyzes the diverse impacts and contributions of eight community development credit unions (CDCUs) in different economic, institutional, geographic, and demographic settings. It is designed to help CDCUs develop and implement new community development programs and form collaborations with community organizations, intermediaries, trade associations, and banks.

Daniel Immergluck

An analysis of the long-awaited small business loan data released by federal bank regulators shows lower-income census tracts in Chicago area receive fewer loans per business than upper-income areas.

This Alert is a call to action for community organizations and others concerned about the impact of electronic funds transfer (EFT) on low-income households. It provides a summary of regulations proposed by the Treasury Department and recommendations on how they can be improved. An analysis of electronic benefits transfer (EBT) in Illinois demonstrates why currency exchanges should be prohibited from serving as EFT access points.

Between 1990 and 1996 there was a large increase in the number of lower-income home buyers in the Chicago region. This good news is tempered by the facts of where these households were able to purchase homes. Most of them bought in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Unless lower-income buyers have a choice of homes throughout the six-county region, they will not gain the full benefits of homeownership.

Uses new CRA data to analyze lending by 50 largest small business lenders in the Chicago area. Ranks lenders by their tendency to lend to lower-income areas and smaller firms in such areas.

Advises community development financial institutions on how they can use CRA to attract more resources from banks and thrifts, thereby building scale and increasing their impact in their communities. Recommends ways CRA can improve regulation of community development lending and investments.

Describes how different parts of the Chicago area fared in different industrial sectors from 1991-1996, and determines whether job sprawl has slowed in the 1990s compared to the 1980s. Examines municipal-level employment changes within the region to identify relationships between suburban income and racial demographics and changes in employment levels. The report also lays out key policy implications, focusing on state and federal government.

Demonstrates how low-income credit unions (LICUs) have become a growing force in the world of financial institutions, using data collected from the National Credit Union Administration for the years 1990-1996. Highlights LICUs' successful financial management and crucial role in community reinvestment while stressing the need for targeted resources for these institutions.

Produced under contract with Bethel New Life, this report describes how Bethel developed programs that reduce lead hazards in homes, educated the public about the dangers of lead poisoning, and trained and employed local residents.