Are you expanding economic opportunities in your community? Do you want to learn from peers across the country? We invite you to participate in our Economic Development Peer-Learning Network, which is supported by Truist Bank.

Upcoming Meetings

September 24 online meeting | Coalition Building & Messaging Stragegies — Register Now
Hear from Bernie Mazyck, President & CEO of the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development, and Capacity Building Program Director Jonathan Nazeer. Learn how their coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and messaging strategies have evolved in the face of challenges to the reauthorization of South Carolina's Community Development Tax Credit.

During this online meeting you will:

  • Gain insight into advancing community development policy and strengthening advocacy partnerships.

  • Explore how to shape the narrative around community impact and continued investment in underserved communities.

  • Connect with peers to share experiences and refine strategies for legislative opportunities.

November 16-17 in San Antonio, TX | Opportunity Zones & Your Influence

This convening is for community development practitioners and association professionals seeking to better understand the Opportunity Zone landscape and explore opportunities for engagement and influence. Through expert insights, discussion with investors, and peer exchange, participants will examine lessons from the initial Opportunity Zone program, learn about the new version of the program, and gain strategies for advancing projects that support affordable housing, economic opportunity, and community prosperity.

  • Where: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas San Antonio Branch | ​San Antonio, Texas
  • Registration: Opens September 2026. A limited number of scholarships will be available to cover travel, lodging, and registration costs.


Previous Meetings

November 20, 2025 | Equipping Commercial Corridor Managers for Success 

Meeting Recording | PACDC Presentation Slides | Community Opportunity Alliance Slides 
The Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporation (PACDC) shared information about their Commercial Corridor Manager Onboarding Program during this meeting. Presenters included from the program director, a coach, and a corridor manager who participated in the program. The speakers were Joanna Winchester, Director of Training & Technical Assistance, PACDC; Akeem Dixon, Founder, The Intersect; Mónica Parrilla, Commercial Corridor Manager, Esperanza Nueva. PACDC also shared their 2025 Program Curriculum Overview and Corridor Manager Core Competencies Framework.

The meeting also featured a Community Opportunity Alliance briefing on the economic development activities of community developers, based on the national census survey that we commissioned by the Urban Institute. 
   

August 21, 2025 | Nurturing Local Ecosystems for Economic Opportunity

Meeting Recording | BLDG Memphis & Klondike-Smokey City CDC Slides | Alliance Slides

This meeting featured BLDG Memphis and Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation. They highlighted several strategies for supporting underserved entrepreneurs — a hub-and-spoke model that works through trusted community partners; a one-stop hub that connects small businesses to key resources; and their MEMFix temporary neighborhood transformation initiative that boosts visibility and investment.

July 10, 2025 | Small Business Technical Assistance

Meeting Recording | MACDC Slides | CDP Slides

This meeting featured the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) and Community Development Partnership (CDP). They showcased Massachusetts’ Small Business Technical Assistance program, highlighting how statewide advocacy and strategic use of public funding fuels equitable small business growth.

May 20, 2025 | Government Partnerships & Counseling for Small Business Growth

Meeting Recording | MCCD Slides | Alliance Slides

This meeting featured the Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD). They shared how they partner with local and state governments to shape policies and funding for small business support. They also highlighted how they deliver capital and technical assistance to entrepreneurs using shared ownership models that build community wealth and preserve local culture.