The Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance WebCourse is the foundation for all of CDFA’s educational offerings. This course will help you understand the variety of development finance tools available, from bonds, tax credits and TIF, to federal financing programs, RLFs, and access to capital lending resources.
The Fundamentals WebCourse is based on CDFA's Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance, the only comprehensive reference guide dedicated to building and utilizing the development finance toolbox. The Practitioner’s Guide provides the insight and practical information needed to critically understand how economic development is financed and the tools, strategies and techniques used to build strong communities.
The Fundamentals WebCourse is presented via the web over two days and includes lecture and presentations from speakers throughout the country. During the WebCourse, attendees can raise their hands, ask questions, comment on presentations and take interactive polls during the sessions. CDFA's Course Advisor moderates the WebCourse to ensure speaker and participant interaction throughout.
Participants must have access to a computer and phone to attend the WebCourse. Participants receive instructions for logging into the WebCourse in a follow-up email after registering. Course materials are mailed to participants approximately one week before the course.
This course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
By attending, you will:
- Learn the fundamentals of development finance
- Interact with leading development finance professionals from around the country
- Discuss best practices and case studies that can be implemented in your community
- Gain a greater understanding of the diversity of development finance tools
- Establish a foundation for attending future in-depth financing courses
- Receive a copy of the Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance
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You will learn through:
- Lecture
- Real life case studies
- Presentations from industry experts
- A comprehensive resource guide
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Topics covered include:
- Understanding development finance
- The financing spectrum
- Building the development finance toolbox
- Bedrock tools: bonds and the basics of public finance
- Targeted tools: tax increment and special district financing
- Investment tools: tax credits, seed and venture capital
- Access to capital lending tools: revolving loan and mezzanine funds, loan guarantee and microenterprise programs
- Support tools: federal, state, incentive and grants programs
- Implementing the toolbox approach
- Trends in development finance
- Development finance challenges and policy considerations
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Who should attend?
- Bond issuers
- Economic development professionals
- Community development professionals
- Broker, dealers and underwriters
- Elected officials
- Government and nonprofit finance officers
- Corporate trustees
- Legal counsel
- Underwriters
- Commercial bankers
- Accountants
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Course Advisor:
Toby Rittner runs the day-to-day operations of the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), which includes management of a 32 member Board of Directors, and the organization’s various educational, advocacy and research initiatives. Rittner is a frequent speaker at local, state and national conferences and events focused on economic development finance. He has been featured extensively in The Bond Buyer and other national media publications concerning the advancement of development finance tools. He is the author if CDFA's highly acclaimed Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance and is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) through the National Development Council (NDC). Rittner has also advised state and federal government leaders, including President Obama’s Administration Transition Team, on economic development finance policy and focus.
Prior to joining CDFA, Mr. Rittner was the Director of Legislative Affairs and former Director of Training for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Mr. Rittner has also worked for the Franklin County, Ohio Board of Commissioners, Community and Economic Development Department as a Senior Program Coordinator for Economic Development and as an Associate Planner for the City of Gahanna, Ohio.
Mr. Rittner is a member of the Board of Directors for the Mid-America Economic Development Council (MAEDC) a 10 state, regional economic development finance association and is a member of the Advisory Board for Heritage Ohio. Heritage Ohio is a statewide nonprofit organization promoting the revitalization movement in Ohio. Rittner is also an appointed member of City of Cleveland Heights Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), which oversees the city’s annual CDBG program. Mr. Rittner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's of City and Regional Planning degree from the Ohio State University.
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The following is the preliminary agenda for this course. This agenda will be updated and modified slightly to accommodate speakers and content. However, the main areas of content as outlined in this agenda will be covered.
| 12:00 – 12:15 pm | Welcome & Overview |
| 12:15 – 1:00 pm | Understanding Development Finance & the Toolbox Approach |
This session will set the stage for attendees to build their core knowledge base of the roots and basic principles of development finance. Attendees will also learn about the fundamentals and concept of building a comprehensive financing strategy.
| 1:00 – 3:00 pm | Bedrock Tools |
Bonds are the bedrock of development finance and are the cornerstone of most development finance projects. This session will address the basics of bond finance including the various types of bonds, what they can finance, how they are used and important legal elements to be considered.
There will be a 10 minute break during the middle of this session.
| 3:00 – 5:00 pm | Targeted Tools |
Targeted financing programs are the most popular form of development finance. Attendees will learn the basics of several financing tools including tax increment financing, special improvement districts/business improvement districts and special assessment districts as well as how they can be used to meet economic development goals and objectives.
There will be a 10 minute break during the middle of this session.
| 12:00 – 1:50 pm | Investment Tools |
In this session attendees will learn about the investment tools available for catalyzing job growth, real estate development, community revitalization and entrepreneurial development. Presentations will cover several highly successful federal tax credit programs and how to effectively apply these programs to development opportunities. Speakers will also address the use of innovation finance mechanisms such as seed, venture and angel funds for encouraging local entrepreneurial growth.
| 2:00 – 3:20 pm | Access to Capital Lending Tools |
Important components in any development finance toolbox are tools that address access to capital concerns such as revolving loan funds, mezzanine finance and loan guarantee programs. This session will examine how communities can use these tools to bridge financing gaps and encourage development efforts.
| 3:30 – 4:30 pm | Support Tools |
The last component of the development finance toolbox is the supporting tools such as abatements and federal funding sources. This session will address the myriad of support programs that exist with presentations on a select number of important federal programs. Attendees will learn about these programs and how to effectively apply them to development opportunities.
| 4:30 – 5:00 pm | Implementing the Development Finance Toolbox |
Development finance agencies throughout the country are implementing the toolbox approach. This final session of the course will focus on case study examples of successful agencies utilizing the toolbox model and strategies for putting the toolbox in place at your agency.
Check back for upcoming course dates or email CDFA to find out when this course will next be offered.
This course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
| Early-Bird Registration | Standard Registration |
| Member | $550.00 | $600.00 |
| Non-Member | $675.00 | $725.00 |
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