We’re building resilient economies that benefit everyone.

Since 2022, HR&A has supported New York State's Empire State Development to design and implement a comprehensive workforce strategy for the newly established Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The office’s core focus is to establish strategic priorities for job training aligned with industry needs and to fund new programs – through a $150 million grant program – that connect un- and underemployed New Yorkers especially from historically marginalized communities to in-demand, high-quality jobs in priority industries. Ultimately, this internal and external-facing effort seeks to strengthen New York’s economic competitiveness and expand economic opportunity and mobility for all New Yorkers.

The Knight Foundation engaged HR&A to evaluate their philanthropic investments in downtown revitalization across nine U.S. cities. Through comprehensive data collection and analysis, HR&A assessed the effectiveness of the Foundation’s priority grants, investigated the sustainability of supported organizations, and identified critical revitalization levers that could be applied to any city. This evaluation provided Knight Foundation with essential insights to guide future investment decisions and promote equitable economic development.

HR&A worked with the City of Dallas to develop and implement a groundbreaking Economic Development Policy that prioritizes equitable investment in Southern Dallas and communities of color historically excluded from opportunity. Through comprehensive strategic support, our work is helping turn the City’s bold vision into measurable outcomes—restructuring incentives, aligning City departments, and building a foundation for inclusive, long-term economic growth.

Access to high-speed broadband and digital literacy are essential for meaningful engagement with our increasingly connected world. Anchored in this belief, we help clients in both the public and private sectors close the digital divide and maximize the impact of broadband investments and digital opportunity programs to advance social and economic opportunity for all.

We partner with governments, educational institutions, and private clients to craft solutions and develop economic and workforce strategies that create jobs, spur opportunity, and build stronger communities.

Today’s hubs for innovation look nothing like the suburban office parks of yesteryear—they are dynamic, culturally rich places that foster connection and are embedded into the regional fabric. We work with universities, developers, local governments, and technology companies to harness the potential of the innovation economy by creating places and programs that attract and foster professional talent while creating economic innovation engines. Through our in-depth understanding of public, private, and institutional sectors, we structure partnerships and recommend policies that accelerate innovation and economic growth.

City transit systems are crucial to the success of city growth and economic development. Our nationally recognized team works with municipalities, transit agencies, and real estate developers to champion, fund, and implement transportation infrastructure projects that attract investment, support community cohesion, and promote growth that benefits everyone.

We work with professional teams, local governments, and institutions to advise on planning new stadium and event space developments as well as large district- and city-building efforts that drive economic and community benefits. We also help them understand and communicate the potential economic impacts of these large-scale developments on local economies, job markets, and surrounding neighborhoods.

When housing supply doesn’t keep up with demand, displacement often results. HR&A works with communities across the country that are experiencing displacement, helping them quantify this difficult-to-measure problem. We integrate anti-displacement strategies into larger local plans and programs, ensuring real estate development and growth benefits current residents.

We craft development strategies that strengthen cities by transforming underutilized and underinvested areas into vibrant places where residents want to live, work, and play. Whether we’re helping cities understand how to revitalize their downtown or working with a non-profit to invest in a neighborhood without displacing existing residents, we offer an expansive understanding of comprehensive planning, stakeholder engagement, and market analysis. Our approach combines community input with innovative financing strategies to unlock unrealized value and offer a clear implementation strategy. We guide jurisdictions through zoning reforms, public space improvements, and mixed-use development to preserve authentic identity while attracting investment and boosting local economies.

Cultural capital drives sustainable community transformation by honoring the historic, aesthetic, and economic assets that define neighborhoods and their people. We work at the intersection of real estate advisory, placemaking, and economic development to center chronically marginalized communities’ cultural strengths. Our approach leverages historical institutions and community assets to achieve equitable development that creates opportunity for residents and reinforces an authentic sense of place and belonging. We partner with local development agencies, planning offices, developers, foundations, and cultural institutions to develop comprehensive strategies that honor community identity while fostering conscientious growth. Through data-driven analysis and inclusive engagement, we help communities tell their cultural story and build sustainable pathways to prosperity.

Cities and regional governments face increasingly complex challenges that demand coordinated solutions across multiple sectors. We create comprehensive plans that bring together housing, jobs, land use, transportation, climate resilience, and more –across agencies. Our long-term planning approach pairs visionary goals with practical tools—grounded in fiscal realities, implementation power, and inclusive processes—to help cities, counties, and regions grow with intention. We work with City, County, and State leaders and the communities they serve to develop action plans that prioritize resources, coordinate agencies, and reform urban development systems. We build strategies that repair past harms, expand community ownership, and generate equitable, sustainable growth for generations to come.