Philadelphia Fed President and CEO Anna Paulson visited Delaware to meet with Renata Beata Kowalczyk, who leads the Wilmington Alliance and serves on the Federal Reserve Board’s Community Advisory Council. Their conversation centered on efforts to expand economic opportunities across the region.
The Wilmington Alliance collaborates with community and business leaders to expand job opportunities and economic mobility for residents. Its initiatives include workforce development, support for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and neighborhood revitalization projects. In 2020, the Wilmington Alliance participated in the Philadelphia Fed’s Reinventing Our Communities Cohort Program, and earlier this year, Kowalczyk joined a panel discussion at the Economic Mobility Summit on how employer partnerships with anchor institutions can enhance economic mobility and access to higher-paying jobs. Working with community groups like the Wilmington Alliance helps the Philadelphia Fed gain a deeper understanding of local labor market challenges and opportunities as well as the impact of monetary policy on the region's economy.
Earlier in the day, at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, President Paulson addressed local business professionals about the economy and shared insights into regional trends. She also participated in a fireside chat, during which she answered questions on several topics, including challenges facing the local hospitality sector, demographic shifts in the U.S. workforce, and ongoing discussions about the economic impact of artificial intelligence.
"The Philadelphia Fed’s partnerships with Delaware stakeholders help us combine our research and convening power to strengthen the economy. Whether it’s learning about local employment challenges or gathering real-time data on small business conditions, these relationships provide crucial insights that let us bring Delaware's voice into national economic discussions,” said President Paulson.
About President Paulson’s Community Tours
Philadelphia Fed President and CEO Anna Paulson is visiting communities throughout the Third Federal Reserve District to hear the perspectives of residents and communities and to learn about the region’s economy. The Philadelphia Fed serves Delaware, southern New Jersey, and eastern and central Pennsylvania. The insights President Paulson gains will deepen her knowledge of the region and inform her work representing the region in monetary policy discussions at the Federal Open Market Committee.