Practitioner's Showcase...
CDFA Announces Finalists for 2008 Practitioner's Showcase
Best Revolving Loan Fund Program to be Announced at Annual Summit
The four finalists for the 2008 Practitioner's Showcase have been selected and will now compete to be crowned the best revolving loan fund in the country in St. Louis, MO on April 30 at the 2008 Annual Summit. The four finalist organizations are:
- City of Vineland, New Jersey – Fund for Economic Development
- Downtown Development Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky – Downtown Housing Revolving Loan Fund
- South Florida Regional Planning Council, Hollywood, Florida – Revolving Loan Fund Program
- St. Louis County Economic Council, St. Louis, Missouri – Saint Louis Business Development Fund
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Call for Entries
2008 Practitioner’s Showcase:
Best Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program
Deadline: March 21, 2008
The 2008 Practitioner’s Showcase will recognize outstanding development finance programs and success stories from the revolving loan fund industry.
The 2008 Showcase highlights the nation’s finest and most successful RLF Programs. CDFA is looking for excellence, efficiency and expertise in creating deal flow, marketing programs, executing loans, monitoring success/failure and raising the awareness of this important economic development finance tool. RLFs are one of the staples of a successful economic development finance effort and as the use of these programs has grown throughout the country, the creativity and implementation of these mechanisms has increased as well.
For 2008 CDFA is looking for the Best RLF Program in the country.
How the Showcase Works:
CDFA will accept entries for the Practitioner’s Showcase through March 21, 2008. Entries must be submitted according to the official submission requirements listed in this announcement. A select panel of CDFA members will judge entries to determine the four best programs in the country. The four finalists will be invited to present their entries during the Annual Luncheon session of the 2008 Annual Development Finance Summit in St. Louis, MO on April 30, 2008. Following the presentations, Summit attendees will cast a live audience vote to select the 2008 Practitioner’s Showcase: Best RLF Program.
The showcase will be the featured session of the 2008 Annual Summit and will be a hands-on demonstration of very best in the RLF industry.
Finance agencies, development departments and issuers of all sizes may submit entries to the Practitioner’s Showcase. The four finalists will be announced on April 1, 2008. The winner will be selected on April 30, 2008 at the Annual Summit. The winner will receive a commemorative plaque, two complimentary registrations for a future Annual Summit and one complimentary registration for CDFA’s RLF training course. The four finalists and showcase winner will also be announced in the June edition of CDFA Update and via an official press release from CDFA.
Four finalists…one winner! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be recognized as one of the best in the RLF industry. Join CDFA in celebrating the best practices in development finance!
Call for Entries:
CDFA will accept entries to this competition through 5:00 pm EST on March 21, 2008. Late entries will not be accepted. CDFA strongly urges submissions be sent via certified mail or direct delivery methods.
Entries should specifically address the agency’s revolving loan fund program and success story. CDFA is specifically interested in programs that generate innovative outcomes, partnerships, make significant community improvements, or use cutting edge marketing strategies. Programs of all sizes are encouraged to apply. The selection panel will weigh all submissions equally and base selections on effectiveness and impact. Small agencies can make a large impact and large agencies can fill a special niche. Entities that do not directly operate RLF programs will not be accepted but private entities are encourage to submit in partnership with local finance agencies.
Entries must include the following:
- Executive summary of the program
- Detailed description of the program with criteria, history, success stories and highlights
- Rationale for program success
- Marketing materials and internet features (if available)
- Explanations of any relationships, partnerships or collaborative efforts that make your program special
- Description of how you would present your program at the showcase at the Annual Summit (i.e. powerpoint, team presentation, single presenter, etc.)
Creative and innovative submissions are encouraged.
Applicants should submit 8 copies to:
Toby Rittner
CDFA
815 Superior Avenue
Suite 1301
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
No Application Fee:
There is no application fee for submissions to the Practitioner’s Showcase. However, the four selected finalists will be required to register and attend the Annual Summit in St. Louis, MO. Travel and hotel expenses for the Annual Summit will not be covered.
For questions or comments please contact Toby Rittner, Executive Director, CDFA at (216) 920-3072 or via email at trittner@cdfa.net.
CDFA is a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing over 240 public, private and non-profit development organizations.
Past Showcase Winners:
2007 Practitioner’s Showcase: Best TIF Program
City of Gahanna, OH
2006 Practitioner’s Showcase: Best IDB Program
Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Little Rock, AR |