Anchor Task Force

• Background
• What We Do
• Task Force Management and Administration
• Evolution of the Task Force
• Become a Member

Background

The Anchor Institutions Task Force has been convened as a permanent organization to develop and disseminate knowledge to help create and advance democratic, mutually beneficial anchor institution-community partnerships. Earlier this year (2009), The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was recently advised by a national Task Force, coordinated by the University of Pennsylvania, on how HUD could increase its impact and strategically leverage anchor institutions, particularly higher education and medical institutions ("eds and meds"), to improve communities and help solve significant urban problems.

This Task Force functions as an ongoing think tank, developing long-term strategies, and making the case for the crucial role of anchor institutions in economic and community development. Communities cannot be revitalized and redeveloped without greater alignment across policy, institutions, civil society organizations (such as community based nonprofit organizations), and private resources (such as philanthropy). A new administration with a fresh vision presents an opportunity to develop and implement new strategies emphasizing partnerships that cross traditional boundaries.

Leveraging the resources of anchor institutions to address societal needs has recently gained increased attention, particularly with respect to community colleges, colleges, and universities, which bring a wide range of resources (e.g., financial, physical, and human) and maintain deep-rooted commitments to localities. As numerous communities have experienced capital flight, institutions of higher education have remained as critical anchors of stability.