For over twenty-five years, as Principal of Carras Community Investment, Inc., James Carras has concentrated on designing and implementing responses and solutions for community and economic development opportunities. Assignments have ranged from influencing national policy on community investment, affordable housing and community economic development (Fannie Mae’s “White Paper on Affordable Housing Context”) to creating local financing and funding partnerships (e.g. Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, Delaware Community Investment Corporation) across the country. Mr. Carras is recognized nationally for the creation and expansion of over fifty development financial institutions and community investment initiatives. He has served as the Founding Executive Director of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, the Founding President of the Broward Housing Partnership and the South Florida Community Land Trust. Prior to establishing his consulting business, he served as a Community Development Advisor to the Mayor of Boston and was the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Urban Reinvestment Advisory Group where he was awarded the John Hay Whitney Fellowship. Mr. Carras has published various articles and publications including ones focusing on New Markets Tax Credits for the American Planners Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Community Reinvestment Act for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, National League of Cities and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and Affordable Housing Loan Consortia for the National Association for Affordable Housing Lenders.