The Partners for Rural Transformation (PRT) is a national coalition dedicated to advancing economic mobility in persistent poverty areas.

Collectively, the PRT members provide financial products and services that advance quality jobs, housing, infrastructure and address other vital needs in America where the poverty rate has exceeded 20 percent for at least three consecutive decades. PRT is creating healthy communities with access to healthcare, financial security, resident leadership, and economic development to reach its vision of bringing all persistent poverty communities out of poverty.

During the past few months the group—Community Development Corporation of Brownsville, Communities Unlimited, Fahe, First Nations Oweesta Corporation, Hope Enterprise Corporation and Hope Credit Union, and Rural Community Assistance Corporation completed a strategic plan to challenge philanthropy, financial institutions and government to end persistent poverty.

Below is a link to the policy paper written by Ed Sivak of Hope Enterprises that makes the case for this work. The paper was presented at the Opportunity Finance Network Conference the week of October 21.

Read the report, Transforming Persistent Poverty in America:How Community Development Financial Institutions Drive Economic Opportunity.