AEI Regional Initiatives

New York Region
FDIC Community Affairs staff in the New York Region are focusing on three targeted geographic markets: Baltimore, MD; Wilmington, DE; and Rochester, NY.

Baltimore, MD
The Baltimore AEI was launched on May 1, 2007, and currently has over 40 members. Committees include the Asset Building Financial Products and Services Working Group, and the Research and Data Collection Working Group. The Committees are actively working on creating a collaborative small dollar loan program in Baltimore. The Committees also participate in the efforts led by the Baltimore Homeownership Preservation Coalition in homeownership preservation and foreclosure prevention outreach.

Wilmington, DE
The Wilmington AEI was launched on May 16, 2007, and currently has over 60 members. Committees include the Asset Building Products and Services Working Group and the Marketing, Promotion, and Program Assessment Working Group.

The FDIC, in collaboration with AEI – members United Way of Delaware and Nehemiah Gateway CDC, hosted The Economic Justice Symposium on May 20, 2008 on the Wilmington Campus of the University of Delaware for a diverse audience of more than 200 attendees representing financial institutions, community and faith-based organizations, academia and government. The focus of the event was on economic disparities in Delaware: addressing poverty and wealth-building issues impacted by the achievement gap with demographic information and best practices presented by experts in the field. The event included a gubernatorial candidate dialogue on economic policy issues.

FDIC, in collaboration with AEI members United Way of Delaware and YWCA of Delaware, co-sponsored the Asset Building Leadership Summit for approximately 100 community stakeholders on October 1, 2008. This event was a follow-up “Call to Action” based on the May 20th Economic Justice Symposium.

FDIC collaborated with AEI member-organizations to plan and host a Money Fair targeted to the Hispanic/Latino community, Dinero Sin Fronteras, (“Money Without Borders”) on October 11, 2008 in Wilmington, Delaware. Additionally, FDIC, in Partnership with the Delaware State Treasurer’s Financial Literacy Institute, helped launch the First State Saves Campaign in Wilmington, Delaware in February 2008. More than 600 people enrolled as savers by the first three months.

More than 181 loans totaling at least $85,250 were originated under a small dollar loan program resulting from collaboration between AEI members Westend Neighborhood House, Inc. and Wilmington Trust by the end of third quarter 2008.

Rochester, NY
The Rochester AEI was launched on May 15, 2008. The two task-based working groups are fully engaged in program activities. The Asset Building Products and Services Working Group is identifying features, benefits and opportunities for three products: a checking account, savings account and a small dollar loan product to meet the needs of the unbanked and the underbanked in Rochester. The Marketing, Promotion and Program Assessment Working Group is developing a strategy to create awareness and access for these products. The working groups are led by volunteer co-facilitators from community-based organizations with support from FDIC.

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