The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has created a Center for Rural Economies to advance economic opportunity and resilience in rural communities across the Fifth District and beyond. The Center will lead research, policy analysis and community engagement focused on education and career pathways, business dynamics and economic resilience. The initiative is intended to deepen the Bank’s work on challenges facing rural areas, with community development director Daniel Davis pointing to a stronger focus on understanding and addressing those issues. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said existing rural efforts will continue through the Investing in Rural America Conference, the Rural Economic Development Webinar Series and the Rural Investment Collaborative; the Fifth District covers the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and most of West Virginia.