In recent years several foundations have taken the lead in incubating new ideas around equity, environmental justice and U.S. community finance. One team that has taken a unique look at public finance and quietly and effectively changed the way municipalities approach health and outcomes is the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. One of the impact project managers that is part of the team doing this is Zoila Jennings. We had the opportunity to sit down with Zoila and chat all things impact and...

Capitol Gains features people moving the ball forward with one-on-one discussion in Off the Cuff. Today we look at data science, GIS and economic development with Calandra Cruickshank. Her company, Statebook, is moving the ball forward on these fronts. We discuss the evolution of the internet, the value of company relocation stats and learning to fly. You can read specific reports from her firm here.

In this episode of Capitol Gains, hosts Matt Posner and James McIntyre sit down with University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Joel Rogers, a leading advocate for high road development. They explore how local governments can foster equitable growth through sustainable infrastructure, workforce development, and democratic participation. Joel shares insights on the challenges cities face when financing resilience projects and how to break down silos between finance, resilience, and other...

This is Off the Cuff, a periodic interview with doers, thinkers and conveners when it comes to the world of community finance. Here, we keep it short and lively to get to know the people behind the big ideas shaping our shared future. Shayne Kavanagh is head of research and development at the Government Finance Officers Association - a very large membership organization of government finance officers in the Americas. This group helps institute any number of best practices and policies that...

In this episode of Capitol Gains, hosts Matt Posner and James McIntyre explore the pivotal role Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are playing in driving the clean energy transition. As CDFIs shift from their traditional focus on affordable housing and small business lending, they are stepping up to help deploy billions of dollars from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) under the Inflation Reduction Act. Joining the discussion is Oswaldo Acosta, CEO of City First...

Welcome, to a fresh, quick-take episode of Capitol Gains — our "sub-pod," if you will, titled Off The Cuff. If you've tuned in before, you know Capitol Gains usually dives deep into the waters of community development, public finance and the intersection of deep thinking and muni bonds, but today, we're taking a different approach: light, unfiltered, and off the cuff. This mini-cast is all about keeping things lively, with less of the usual industry jargon and more real talk with the people...

Welcome, to a fresh, quick-take episode of Capitol Gains — our "sub-pod," titled Off The Cuff. If you've tuned in before, you know Capitol Gains usually dives deep into the intricate waters of community development, public finance and the intersection of deep thinking and muni bonds, but today, we're taking a different approach: light, unfiltered, and off the cuff. This mini-cast is all about keeping things lively, with less of the usual industry jargon and more real talk with the people who...

Capital flows in, and out, of our communities is the principal topic for this episode of Capitol Gains. Race and rurality are the two most influential vectors, all else being equal, when reviewing the many community reports Brett Theodos of the Urban Institute has written. Co-hosts James McIntyre and Matt Posner spend time with Theodos in this episode to dig into the data behind what drives a community to thrive and to better understand the reasons for why they don’t. That data can be a...

In this episode of Capitol Gains, hosts James McIntyre and Matt Posner chat with Homero Radway, senior analyst at Activest, about the role of fiscal justice in promoting racial equity and community investment. Drawing from his extensive financial background, Homero explains how data-driven strategies can hold financial issuers accountable and drive systemic change. The discussion covers how investing in fundamental needs like income, housing, and healthcare can enhance community resilience,...

In recent years, tensions around race and culture in the U.S. have intensified, revealing deep divides that often manifest through state preemption of local laws and regulations. The relationship between different levels of government is a hallmark of America's unique approach to governance. When functioning effectively, it can surpass the more centralized systems seen in Europe and elsewhere. However, the growing trend of states overriding local rules—particularly in ways that amplify...

These days, there isn't a lot that can happen without a form of insurance. From buying a home, hopping in an Uber, using public WiFi, to investing in a mutual fund - insurance is everywhere. Weather-related events are increasing in size and frequency around the country and this is making property insurance unaffordable for many, which causes a lot of problems many may not be fully considering. This trend does not appear to be getting any better and the larger implications are not pretty....

Former Congressman Ben McAdams talks about his past and present and opines on the future of community finance given the hyper-partisan nature of national politics. The views expressed are solely those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or other associated parties.