DENVER – Anchor institutions – organizations such as hospitals and universities that develop deep roots in surrounding communities – are finding new ways to bolster local economies and create opportunities for more low-income residents, according to a new report by the Funders' Network.

Dace West, vice president of community impact with the The Denver Foundation, says local funders are also getting into the action.

"There's a real opportunity for us to work with institutions that haven't traditionally been involved in community and economic development in a way that's driven by community needs," she states.

The Denver Foundation played a key role in a collaboration that resulted in jobs for 400 local community members.

Working with the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus, 80 students from local neighborhoods have graduated from a 10-week training program.

Nearly 60 percent of graduates were hired, with a 98 percent retention rate.

Charles Rutheiser, a senior associate with The Annie E. Casey Foundation, notes the core business aspects of universities and hospitals can be deployed in partnership with communities to achieve better health and educational outcomes.

He points to programs that encourage students to stay in school and that help young people make a successful transition to college.

"Anchor institutions are a new and important chapter in the long history of new approaches to community development in the United States,” he states. “These institutions can partner, invest and act in new and different ways without sacrificing their bottom line."

Ruthheiser adds the foundation is exploring how to expand the anchor category to include other institutions with community connections, including for-profit companies, sports teams, libraries and museums.

The next step, he says, is to translate these best practices into policy, so that more localities can support anchor-based community development.



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Today the nation honors the "drum major for peace" - the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The civil rights leader committed his life to equal treatment for jobs and education using non-violent protests.

Celebrations of King's life through plays, lectures, and other activities are happening throughout Indiana.

Jody Heaston is the state's Department of Natural Resources Indiana State Park volunteer coordinator. She suggested another option as an example of giving back to the community.

"On Martin Luther King Day, DNR properties are looking for people to be a volunteer," said Heaston. "People can come out to our properties today, walk our trails, walk around our lakes, pick up sticks and litter if they would like to. It's a day on, not a day off."

Heaston said volunteering is self-directed. She added that people can show up and hit the trails with a broom or shovel to clear away trash or sticks, and clear picnic areas and shelters of snow.

If you're interested, find the park of your choice on the IDNR website. The Indiana State Parks system manages 24 parks and eight reservoirs.

King believed community service promoted unity, addressed social issues, and uplifted neighborhoods - ways he viewed as avenues to change.

Heaston encouraged families to come out and work as a team on the MLK Jr. Day of service.

"We will find something for individuals, families, groups, civic groups, youth groups, businesses," said Heaston. "We'll find something for you to do."

Park staff accept volunteers during park hours from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. throughout the year.

The DNR says volunteer efforts are most productive during daylight hours, which are ideal for taking scenic photos for social media.

And if cold temperatures are stopping you, Heaston said sign up now to donate time when the weather warms up.

The Department of the Interior recently announced the largest single investment in local parks in the communities across the country and two Maryland cities will benefit from it.

Frederick, Maryland, received a $1 million grant from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program for its Hill Street Park. The park is currently undergoing a renovation.

Bob Smith, deputy director of parks and recreation for the City of Frederick, said the skate park, which was built in 2004, will be the main beneficiary of the federal grant.

"It is entirely concrete," Smith pointed out. "In the mid-Atlantic region, we know concrete doesn't fare very well during the winter sometimes, with the freeze and thaw. The park is in disrepair. It does need a major renovation."

The grant will fund more than 50 projects across 24 states with more than $250 million, the single largest investment ever from the program. The city of Baltimore also received a nearly $1.4 million grant for the Baltimore Greenway Trail Network.

The grant is part of the Biden administration's America the Beautiful Initiative, a locally led effort to address climate issues, improve access to the outdoors and strengthen the economy. Smith hopes to have the design of the park renovations finalized by the middle of 2025. Other parts of the park include a basketball court, two multipurpose fields, two in-line rinks, a playground, pavilion and walking paths.

Smith emphasized it will be a major part of the community, once all parts of the park are finished.

"Certainly hope that the community will be able to enjoy the upgraded amenities," Smith added. "It will be a heavily used community park, neighborhood park. The revitalized park, once completed in its entirety, will be a gem for the community there."

In December, the Biden administration announced another grant opportunity totaling an estimated $450 million over the next five years.


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The Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded GI Bill benefits, removing the 36-month cap for veterans with multiple periods of service. This change is expected to impact more than a million veterans, offering greater access to education and job training. Ohio is home to programs that aim to empower veterans, providing them with the tools to succeed after their service. One such initiative, DAV Patriot Bootcamp, has been making a profound impact.

Dan Clare is AV Patriot Bootcamp chief communications and outreach officer.

"Ohioans need to know about DAV Patriot Bootcamp. It's an entrepreneur program... trying to give them the building blocks to make success accessible to them after they've served and sacrificed for their country," he said.

The Ohio-founded DAV Patriot Bootcamp provides mentorship and resources to help veterans and their spouses start businesses. While the program has been praised for its impact, critics argue that initiatives like this only address a narrow aspect of veterans' reintegration, leaving broader challenges like affordable health care and housing unmet.

John Matecki, owner of the Whiskerman company, is a veteran who benefited from the bootcamp and said it shaped his entrepreneurial path.

"Since going through, it's a three-day, drinking-from-a-fire-hose-type entrepreneur course... I've landed an amazing mentor who helped get us copyright (and) trademark of our logo and name," he said.

While programs like DAV Patriot Bootcamp foster business success and economic contributions, veterans and advocates emphasize the need for comprehensive solutions to reintegration challenges. With upcoming bootcamp cohorts in February and May, Ohio veterans have new opportunities to engage, but questions remain about addressing the broader needs of those who served.


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