Javier Silva, Senior Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Brian Manning, Corporate Communications Senior Associate, Communications and Outreach

In early July, New York Fed President John Williams visited the Hudson Valley and Albany, where he met with stakeholders to learn about local economic conditions. Key issues in the region include workforce development, changing demographics, concerns about equitable growth, and a lack of affordable housing and public transportation. Communities visited during the two-day trip included Yonkers, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Claverack, and Albany. The trip was President Williams’s third regional visit of the year.

Javier Silva, Senior Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Betsy Bourassa, Corporate Communications Associate, Communications and Outreach

Ahead of New York Fed President Williams’ regional visit to Albany and the Hudson Valley tomorrow, we’re looking back at his last one in May. For that visit — his second of 2019 — he met with community, business, and government leaders throughout Manhattan to hear their views on local economic conditions. Issues around education, affordable housing, gentrification, small businesses, and transportation featured prominently in the day’s discussions.

Javier Silva, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Brian Manning, Corporate Communications Senior Associate, Communications and Outreach

New York Fed President John C. Williams visited Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in late March, where he met with elected officials and community and business leaders to gain a deeper understanding of current economic conditions and the continuing recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The hurricanes battered the region in quick succession in late 2017, and the islands still have a long road to recovery. This was President Williams’ first regional visit of the year, and topics in focus included ongoing hurricane recovery efforts, collaboration among organizations, a burgeoning entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem, and the numerous challenges small businesses face.

Javier Silva, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Betsy Bourassa, Media Relations Associate, Communications and Outreach

President Williams’ final regional visit of the year was to the Bronx, a borough that has made great strides since a period of declining population and rising crime that stretched from the 1970s into the 1980s. The progress of the last few decades notwithstanding, the Bronx still lags economically behind the rest of New York City, with the lowest median household income and highest poverty rate among the five boroughs. During his daylong visit, President Williams met with local nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders to discuss efforts to strengthen the local workforce, challenges facing small businesses, strategies to promote development without displacement, and the importance of anchor institutions and public-private partnerships.

Javier Silva, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Brian Manning, Media Relations Associate, Communications and Outreach

President Williams’ second visit into the district took him to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, where he discussed the Western New York economy with local officials, private sector representatives, and community leaders. A number of common themes emerged over two days of engagements, including the need for investment in new infrastructure and transportation, the reuse of existing resources, the importance of the Buffalo Niagara region’s relationship to Canada, and the value of cooperation between public institutions, private interests, and nonprofit organizations.

Javier Silva, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Brian Manning, Media Relations Associate, Communications and Outreach

For his first regional roadshow as New York Fed President, John Williams spent the day in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, meeting with local stakeholders to learn about the issues their communities face. Recurring themes throughout the day included jobs, housing, and other issues related to equitable growth and gentrification; small business concerns such as access to credit; and economic growth factors such as investment and workforce development.

Javier Silva, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Betsy Bourassa, Media Relations Associate, Communications and Outreach

Today’s post continues our two-part series on the New York Fed’s recent visit to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), a trip that focused on understanding current economic conditions and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, USVI marked our first regional roadshow of 2018.

Javier Silva, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Betsy Bourassa, Media Relations Associate, Communications and Outreach

In the first regional roadshow of 2018, President Dudley and a team from the New York Fed traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to meet with local nonprofit, government, and business leaders, with the aim of understanding economic conditions and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The devastation of these storms resulted in a significant setback to areas already facing very difficult circumstances.

Javier Silva, Associate Director for Community Engagement, and Brian Manning, Media Relations Associate, Communications and Outreach

On our fourth and final regional visit of 2017, we learned about key issues facing Northern New Jersey and efforts underway to promote inclusive economic growth. The local business and community leaders we spoke with in New Brunswick, Kearny, and Newark raised issues of affordability and mobility, discussed efforts to link local residents to local jobs, and highlighted efforts to repurpose and adapt land and buildings for the 21st century economy.

Chelsea Cruz, Senior Program Manager, and Betsy Bourassa, Media Relations Associate, Communications and Outreach

For our third regional visit of the year, we traveled to Syracuse, Ithaca, and Rochester. The stops on our trip varied widely — from visiting a drone accelerator site, to meeting with members working on an anti-poverty initiative. Throughout, we heard from community leaders about their efforts to address challenges, such as developing a strong workforce and tackling poverty. We also learned about the promising industries in their communities and their hopes for future growth.