Economic & Community Development
We help local leaders create more prosperous and equitable communities through strategic economic and community development by providing resources and support to lay the foundations of economic mobility – housing affordability, thriving small businesses, vibrant neighborhoods, access to capital, and career pathways in growth industries. We identify and share innovative solutions, create collaborative learning communities supported by national experts, and deliver specialized technical assistance that drives meaningful local impact.
Current Initiatives
Impact Stories
RIVERSIDE, CA
AFA provided technical assistance to Riverside by developing an Inclusive Development Action Plan (IDAP), which outlines how local leaders can leverage the region’s economic strengths to benefit all residents. This plan serves as a model for similar work in other cities. Additionally, AFA supported Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Chair of the California Big City Mayors Coalition, at the coalition’s inaugural summit, facilitating discussions and policy planning on critical issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, and economic competitiveness.
ALLENTOWN, PA
The City of Allentown set an ambitious goal to reduce prime-age unemployment from 12% to 5% by 2030, supported by a $20 million federal Recompete grant. AFA provided essential technical assistance, helping local leaders establish rigorous KPIs and evaluation tools to track progress and ensure grant accountability. Additionally, through a partnership with AFA Harvard-based research and policy institute Opportunity Insights provided research resources that inform data-driven strategies for improving childcare access and integrating economic opportunity into their violence prevention strategy, ensuring all residents can benefit from regional growth.
KANSAS CITY, MO
AFA provides capacity building and technical assistance to Kansas City, partnering with Mayor Quinton Lucas, philanthropy, and regional government to promote equitable infrastructure, workforce, and economic growth. AFA helped the city secure a federal designation for the Kansas City BioHub – one of 31 Tech Hubs in the nation – attracting over $54 million in grant funding. Additionally, AFA designed an “Investment Playbook” for regional economic growth. The playbook includes the Critical Materials Crossroads initiative, which earned a National Science Foundation grant to establish a hub for critical materials innovation, commercialization, and workforce.
