The health and richness of a local community and economic development ecosystem—much like in natural ecosystems—require diversity and density. These elements need sufficient deal flow to build sustained interaction in development and finance networks, supporting each other, and competing. The ecosystem includes mission and mainstream lenders and investors, nonprofit and for-profit developers, government, community groups, corporations, universities, hospitals, and philanthropies. Join the Urban Institute for a conversation about what it takes to build local capacity to accomplish not just compelling projects but lasting pipelines that build economic growth and shared opportunity.

SPEAKERS:

• Zoila Ligia Jennings, Impact Investment Lead, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Robert J. "R.J." McGrail, Senior Research Fellow, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
• Christopher Tyson, President, National Community Stabilization Trust
• Karen Williams, Principal, Karen M. Williams Consulting
• Brett Theodos, Senior Fellow and Director of the Community Economic Development Hub, Urban Institute (moderator)