Cross-Sectoral
Overview \
Support Organizations \ Models
& Best Practices
Research Resources \ Articles-Publications
OVERVIEW
A critical challenge for practitioners and foundations is how to
develop linkages across sectors in a way that broadens and deepens
the overall impact and support base for community wealth-building
strategies. Ideally, an integrated approach would encompass mutually
reinforcing government, community, and individual wealth-building
efforts. It might include direct government asset-based efforts
that promote local job stability (such as local investment policies
and municipal enterprise), matched savings programs, and community-based
wealth-building efforts. Each of these strategies can have a positive
impact on community development on its own; in combination the potential
for anchoring jobs and promoting community development could be
greatly enhanced.
In some areas, cross-sectoral collaboration is already common
as, for instance, between CDCs and CDFIs, which share both common
roots (the civil rights movement) and a common focus on community
economic development. In a number of other areas, different asset-based
approaches have also worked in a coordinated manner for mutual benefit.
For instance, some community development financial institutions
provide financing to cooperatives and many CDCs administer IDA and
micro-enterprise programs on behalf of their communities. A number
of local community foundations have also adopted a broad cross-sectoral
community development focus.
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