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Education

CDFA offers a variety of educational opportunities, including training courses, seminars, workshops, webcasts, and publications. Through the CDFA Training Institute’s vast course offerings and professional development opportunities, participants from both the public and private sectors can learn how to utilize the development finance toolbox. Click on the options below to learn more about how to build your development finance knowledge and expertise.

-CDFA Training Institute

The CDFA Training Institute offers the nation’s most comprehensive education dedicated to the economic development finance industry. Courses are offered in both in-person and online settings using a variety of teaching methods. Development finance professionals are encouraged to further their industry knowledge by completing CDFA's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program.

The CDFA Training Institute offers courses in two broad categories: Tool Specific and Topic Specific. Click on a course name below to learn more about that course’s objectives and agenda.

Tool Specific Courses

Topic Specific Courses

Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Course

Bedrock Tools

Intro Bond Finance Course
Advanced Bond Finance Course
Intro Public-Private Partnership (P3) Finance Course
Intro Federal Finance Course

Targeted Tools

Intro Tax Increment Finance Course
Advanced Tax Increment Finance Course
Intro Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Finance Course

Investment Tools

Intro Tax Credit Finance Course
Advanced Tax Credit Finance Course
Intro EB-5 Finance Course
Intro Opportunity Zones Finance Course

Access to Capital Tools

Intro Revolving Loan Fund Course
Advanced Revolving Loan Fund Course
Intro Seed & Venture Capital Finance Course

Intro Brownfields Finance Course
Intro Energy & Water Finance Course
Intro Food Systems Finance Course
Intro Housing Finance Course
Advanced Housing Finance Course
Intro Incentives Course
Intro Rural Development Finance Course
Intro Infrastructure Finance Course

-Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program

CDFA’s Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program is an intense training course learning experience and is the industry's only comprehensive development finance professional certification program. The DFCP Program is designed to produce graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of development finance concepts, tools and applicability as well as a deep understanding of the entire development finance spectrum. Participants in the DFCP Program are required to complete six courses in the CDFA Training Institute and then pass a comprehensive exam to receive the professional DFCP designation.

Learn More about the DFCP Program

-Seminars & Workshops

CDFA offers customized seminars and workshops on a variety of development finance topics. Seminars and workshops can be conducted onsite at the CDFA offices, online in a web-based format, or at a specific location. These events are tailored to the specific needs of the client and audience, and can range from very basic to advanced development finance topics. CDFA has provided targeted seminars or workshops to the following clients in the past:

  • Business Oregon
  • California State University at Fresno
  • Georgia Institute of Technology: Economic Development and Technology Ventures
  • International Economic Development Council
  • LISC Milwaukee
  • Mid-America Economic Development Council
  • National Association of Home Builders
  • National League of Cities
  • New Jersey Economic Development Authority
  • New York State Economic Development Council
  • North Carolina Economic Developers Association
  • Ohio Department of Development
  • Ohio Economic Development Association
  • Oklahoma Department of Commerce
  • Pennsylvania Economic Development Association
  • Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
  • Texas Economic Development Council
  • Southern Economic Development Council
  • University of Tennessee
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Energy

To learn more about customized seminars and workshops and to receive a specific quote, contact CDFA.

-Webcasts

CDFA offers webcasts on timely and pressing topics in the development finance industry. Most webcasts are available for free to the general public and feature panel discussions from industry experts. All webcasts are archived in the CDFA Online Resource Database for long term viewing.

View CDFA Webcasts

-Publications

The CDFA Bookstore offers several publications on development finance topics, including bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, revolving loan funds, and more. These publications form the primary curriculum for courses offered through the CDFA Training Institute. Publications are available for purchase with special discounts available to CDFA members.

View CDFA Bookstore



CDFA National Sponsors

  • Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
  • BNY Mellon
  • Bricker Graydon LLP
  • Business Oregon
  • CohnReznick
  • Frost Brown Todd LLP
  • Grow America | Formerly NDC
  • Hawes Hill and Associates LLP
  • Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
  • Ice Miller LLP
  • KeyBanc Capital Markets
  • Kutak Rock LLP
  • McGuireWoods
  • MuniCap, Inc.
  • NW Financial Group, LLC
  • PGAV Planners, LLC
  • Raza Development Fund
  • SB Friedman Development Advisors
  • Stifel Nicolaus
  • The Bond Buyer
  • U.S. Bank
  • Wells Fargo Securities
Become a Sponsor