Activating Place-based Partnerships for Equitable Economic Development: A Playbook for Anchor Collaboratives

Posted by Healthcare Anchor Network on May 28, 2024

Activating Place-based Partnerships for Equitable Economic Development: A Playbook for Anchor Collaboratives, was released on May 16, 2024 at the 2024 Anchor Economy Conference, an event co-hosted by HAN and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

More than a decade ago, the phrase anchor collaborative did not exist. The idea that individual anchor institutions should intentionally leverage all of their assets—including their hiring, purchasing, investing, real estate, and voice—in concerted partnership with their peers and the community to improve economic mobility and build community wealth was not part of the conversation.

Fast forward to today, and this idea has taken root in cities across the country. At the Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN), we believe there is incredible power in this collective strategy. Through this playbook, we attempt to capture what we believe is the most comprehensive set of learnings to date from this growing body of work, including key success factors that need to be present for an anchor collaborative to get started, build momentum, and be sustainable.

This playbook provides a framework for partnership and action that offers the seeds for another way—a culture of collaboration and local investment—that can meaningfully address racial and economic inequities in place and strengthen local economies in the process.

Whether as a health system or other local anchor institution, funder, community partner, economic development practitioner or policymaker, you have a role to play in realizing a successful anchor collaborative in your community. Please share the playbook widely with your colleagues and networks!

Learn more.

Playbook for Anchor Collaboratives: Media & Social Media Promotion Kit.