Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Dallas, one of 11 banks within the Federal Home Loan Bank System, serves approximately 800 members and associated institutions across a five-state district. FHLB of Dallas first came to Cooksey in 2017 for media relations to support its financial products and services, including loans to members and grant programs for affordable housing and economic development. In 2023, the relationship grew when FHLB of Dallas hired Cooksey to design and develop its first annual ESG report, which Cooksey supported again in 2024.
industry
- professional services
services
- creative services – branding and collateral
- media relations
- sustainability / ESG assessment, planning & reporting
the challenge
Raising Awareness for Affordable Housing Finance in Five States
Throughout its five-state district, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas, FHLB offers four types of Community Investments programs to help members and communities thrive. These programs are broken up into four categories, including grants and subsidies for homeowners, organization and veterans, disaster relief, advance programs and small business. Over the last six years, Cooksey has been tasked with increasing awareness about these programs and FHLB’s investment in countless communities across each of its five states.
the strategy
Conducting Media Relations Alongside ESG Reporting
Cooksey curated media lists specific to each press release’s subject matter and location. Each media list included hyperlocal, regional, national and appropriate trade contacts, as well as local and state officials and community organizations, like chambers of commerce. Cooksey also followed a consistent outreach regimen, which included same-day email distribution, one to two rounds of email follow-up and a final round of phone calls. In 2023, FHLB of Dallas engaged Cooksey in an additional workstream: design and development of its first ESG report. FHLB rehired Cooksey again in 2024 to produce its second ESG Report, “Investing in What Matters.”
the solution
Implementing a Two-Pronged Approach for Maximum Impact
Cooksey has worked diligently to develop strong relationships with key local media contacts in each of the five states’ major media markets over the last six years. As a result, Cooksey has secured nearly 100 unique media clips each year to raise awareness about FHLB’s community investment efforts. Most notably, through Cooksey’s efforts, FHLB of Dallas has been prominently featured in Albuquerque Journal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Biz New Orleans, Bossier Press-Tribune, D Magazine, Dallas Business Journal, Dallas Innovates, Dallas Morning News, Community Impact, Mississippi Free Press and the Santa Fe New Mexican. The partnership continues to yield consistent coverage in diverse markets throughout the region.
