The Atlanta Fed held the conference Strengthening the Green Foundation: Research and Policy Directions for Development and Finance on March 10–11 in New Orleans in conjunction with the Tulane University School of Architecture. The conference presentations and papers investigate core issues surrounding green development and assess the policies, challenges, opportunities, and innovation in financing green development. The conference brought in policymakers and researchers from across the country, including:

  • Raphael Bostic, assistant secretary for policy development and research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Nils Kok, PhD, assistant professor/visiting scholar, Maastricht University/University of California, Berkeley
  • Scott Muldavin, CRE, FRICS, executive director, Green Building Finance Consortium
  • Dana Bourland, AICP, vice president, Green Initiatives, Enterprise Community Partners Inc.

Discussions focused on:

  • the underwriting and valuation of green development projects
  • the role that real estate industry organizational structure plays in supporting green development
  • the application of green standards to real estate portfolio management
  • green measurement criteria and certification issues

The Changing Landscape of Community Development: Linking Research with Policy and Practice in Low-Income Communities was the theme of the 2011 Federal Reserve Community Affairs Research Conference held April 28–9 in Arlington, Virginia. Selected presentations and papers discuss the evolution of research to inform community development policy and practice.

Speakers included:

  • Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
  • Governor Elizabeth Duke, Federal Reserve Board of Governors

The agenda included:

  • Alternative Financial Services
  • The Future of Community Development Finance
  • Future Paths to Sustainable Homeownership

"Strengthening the Financial Safety Net in Emerging Markets," the Americas Center Consumer Banking Conference held May 4 in Miami, focused on increasing financial capacity and stability through access to banking in U.S. and Latin American communities. The speakers included:

  • AmbassadorCharles Shapiro, senior advisor for economic initiatives, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. State Department
  • Rogerio Fernando Lot, general manager, Banco do Brasil, Miami Branch
  • Alonso Martín, community affairs consul, Consulate General of Mexico in Miami

Presentations addressed:

  • mobile banking and remittance innovation
  • responsible alternatives to traditional banking for unbanked communities
  • how to leverage access to banking for economic growth