The Tax Credit Finance Reference Guide provides an exploratory overview of how communities can use tax credit finance programs, such as New Markets Tax Credits, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, or Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, to support economic growth. Written in conjunction with Ice Miller LLP, this guide examines how to effectively apply tax credits to development opportunities, and explains the basics of tax credits and the fundamentals of using these tools. In addition, the guide walks through the pros and cons of using tax credits along with the guidelines for completing due diligence, performance monitoring, and benchmarking success. This comprehensive Reference Guide discusses in detail the primary tax credits available at the federal level, along with certain state tax credit programs, and includes numerous case studies of successful tax credit projects. This guide covers:

• New Markets Tax Credits
• Low Income Housing Tax Credits
• Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
• Brownfield Tax Credits
• Energy Tax Credits
• Innovative State Tax Credit Programs

Published: October 2011

The Federal Financing Reference Guide is the most comprehensive resource available for assessing federal economic development financing programs. This printed guide gives an overview of each federal economic development financing program available and includes agency information, program descriptions, and application details, as well as other helpful information. This guide covers:

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• U.S. Department of the Treasury
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• U.S. Economic Development Administration
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Department of Energy
• U.S. Department of Defense
• Export-Import Bank of the United States
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Department of Justice
• Internal Revenue Service
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• National Science Foundation
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration

All CDFA member organizations will receive one copy of the Federal Financing Reference Guide upon renewing their membership with CDFA. In addition to the printed reference guide, CDFA has this information available through the online, members only Federal Financing Clearinghouse. Non-CDFA members can purchase the guide only.

Published: May 2011

The Innovation Finance Reference Guide explores the growing seed, venture capital and angel investment industry. Written by Robert Heard of Cimarron Capital Partners and Jim Troxel of Development Capital Networks, this guide gives development finance agencies a roadmap for building an innovation finance initiative that supports entrepreneurship, business investment, job creation, and 21st century technology development. This guide covers:

• How Innovation Finance can enhance your economic development strategy
• How to design and establish an investment program
• How to manage, market, and promote a program
• The decision making process
• Pre- and post-investment closing
• Managing an investment portfolio

Published: May 2011

The Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance is the only comprehensive resource 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. From bonds, tax increment finance and special districts to tax credits, seed & venture capital, revolving loan funds and much more, this Guide outlines the financing tools required for succeeding in today's competitive economic development climate. This guide covers:

• Understanding development finance
• Building the development finance toolbox
• Bedrock tools
• Targeted tools
• Investment tools
• Access to capital lending tools
• Support tools
• Case studies

Published: May 2009

The Revolving Loan Fund Reference Guide offers an in-depth look at RLF program development, implementation and management. This guide demonstrates how a RLF program can compliment economic development strategies, encourage investment and assist traditionally underserved businesses. With seven case studies of proven RLF programs and over twenty sample documents, policies, and applications, this guide covers the essential elements of operating a successful RLF program. This guide covers:

• RLF basics
• Designing and marketing RLF programs
• Pre-closing and the loan closing process
• Post-closing and follow-up
• Loan servicing and reporting
• What to do when a deal goes bad
• Case studies

Published: November 2010

The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) have collaborated with teams of Tax Increment Finance (TIF) experts from across the country to develop the Tax Increment Finance Best Practices Reference Guide. The reference guide addresses what TIF is, why it should be used and how best to apply the TIF tool. The reference guide also highlights TIF projects from across the country and discusses how they can be applied to address many common economic development issues. This guide covers:

• What is TIF and when should it be used
• Project-specific vs. district-wide TIFs
• Typical improvements
• Building community buy-in
• TIF bonds
• Financing variations
• Case studies for retail, mixed-use, housing, transportation and transit-oriented developments, brownfields, community improvements, and economic development

Published: November 2007

The Advanced Tax Increment Finance Reference Guide is published in partnership with the CDFA Training Institute and the Council’s Tax Increment Finance Coalition. The Advanced TIF Guide builds upon CDFA’s introductory offerings by exploring in-depth the complexities and transformative potential of tax increment financing. The guide examines model policies, guidelines & procedures and outlines the TIF process from A to Z. Throughout the book, clear guidance is offered for assessing project feasibility and monitoring the performance of active TIF districts. In addition, the guide outlines the critical elements of state TIF statutes that should be known in order to ensure project success and long term economic prosperity. This guide covers:

• Model policies, guidelines & procedures
• TIF process from A to Z
• Assessing project feasibility
• Monitoring the performance of active TIF districts
• Critical elements of state TIF statutes
• Case studies

Published: November 2009

The Development Bond Finance Reference Guide provides practitioners with a solid foundation for understanding the use of tax-exempt bonds, with an emphasis on small issue industrial development bonds and 501(C)(3) bonds. With numerous examples of sample bond transactions and a glossary of municipal finance terms, this guide covers the essential elements of private activity bonds and the issuance process. This guide covers:

• Municipal and industrial development bonds
• Governmental and qualified private activity bonds
• Small issue tax-exempt bond financing (IDBs, IDRBs, IRBs)
• 501(c)(3) bonds
• Role of bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel
• Role of the trustee
• Bond ratings and credit analysis
• Structuring and sizing bond issues
• How bonds are sold
• Glossary of municipal finance terms

Published: January 1998
Updated: June 2008

The Advanced Bond Finance Reference Guide is written for professionals who already have an understanding of tax-exempt financing and seek detailed instruction on complex financing techniques, including the application of financial derivatives, advance refundings, how to spot arbitrage issues, and investing bond proceeds. Also included are seven case studies of proven state and city bond guaranty programs. This guide covers:

• Financial tools and auction rate bonds used in the tax-exempt bond industry
• Negotiating professional fees and bond pricing
• Investing bond proceeds
• Arbitrage and rebate
• Advance refunding bonds
• Municipal securities rulemaking board
• Credit enhancement
• Advanced bond financing case studies

Published: January 2003
Updated: April 2010

CDFA members can receive discounts of up to 15% off the regular price for Novogradac & Company publications. The following Novogradac & Company publications are available for purchase at the discounted CDFA member rates. Contact CDFA for pricing and ordering codes.

• Deal Negotiation Manual
  
• GAAP Accounting for the Low-Income Housing and New Markets Tax Credit Handbook - 2005 Edition
  
• Historic Rehabilitation Handbook – 2009 Edition
  
• LIHTC Property Management Book – 2010 Edition
  
• Low-Income Housing Tax-Exempt Bond Handbook - 2009 Edition
  
• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Handbook - 2010 Edition
  
• New Markets Tax Credit Handbook - 2012 Edition
  
• Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits
  
• Renewable Energy Tax Credit Handbook - 2010 Edition