-Overview
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, small businesses and communities across this nation will face liquidity challenges, job losses, and project stagnation. Credit will be tightening and small businesses will struggle to make payroll while communities will be forced to scale back or halt infrastructure development. As we have seen, communities are facing adversity while financing critical infrastructure such as healthcare facilities, broadband networks, and testing centers to address local COVID-19 demands. In rural communities that are already facing a multitude of economic stressors, the impact of COVID-19 will be amplified.
CDFA has partnered with the Alliance for Rural Impact to develop this webinar series to serve rural America and the unique challenges they face. This webinar series will cover both the immediate development finance solutions that communities can implement to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 as well as the tools and resources being developed to rebuild.
The Alliance for Rural Impact is a nonprofit organization serving rural and tribal communities across America. They are a collective partnership of technical assistance experts focused on community equity for rural and tribal regions. ARI is designed to provide all aspects of the community and economic development process utilizing a unique and comprehensive delivery methodology. ARI’s leadership, technical expertise, and on-the-ground local perspective position them to effectively bring community leaders and resources together in the Delta Region.
>>> Learn more about The Alliance For Rural Impact
The CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series will provide an informative and time-sensitive discussion on issues currently impacting rural communities and the resources available at the local, state, and federal levels.
This series will be split into four, one and a half hour, webinars focused on specific development finance tools and best practices for rural recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic.
-Agenda
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
| Wed 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
COVID-19 Response Resources for Local Leaders
Communities are facing difficult times in today’s COVID-19 driven crisis. Unemployment in on the rise, health care facilities are being overwhelmed, and businesses have been forced to close their doors. Many communities are unprepared and ill-equipped to face this challenge alone and are in need of urgent solutions. During the first installment of the CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series, we will explore the immediate response and resources at the state, local, and national levels that local leaders can use to reduce the impact of this crisis.
Speaker(s)
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Wednesday, May 6, 2020
| Wed 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
Tools, Programs, and Opportunities Within Rural America
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be developed. We have seen several new tools and programs launched including the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. As the situation evolves, so too will the way that development finance tools can assist in helping rural America recover. During the second installment of the CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series, we will continue to explore what responses and resources are available to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on rural America.
Speaker(s)
- George V. Crawford III, Member, Butler Snow LLP
- Katie Kramer, Vice President, Council of Development Finance Agencies
- Karama Neal, President, Southern Bancorp Community Partners
- James Parks, President and Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana Public Facilities Authority
- Andy Struckhoff, Vice President, Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2020
| Wed 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
Building the Road to Recovery
While COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on our economy, rural communities across the nation are also working to overcome tornadoes, historic flooding, and wildfires. In the pursuit of recovery from this crisis, rural America must look to rebuilding with resiliency in mind. During the third installment of the CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series, we will discuss the development finance tools that can support rural economies as they rebuild to be stronger than ever.
Speaker(s)
- Jordana Barton, Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
- John England, Practice Group Leader, Butler Snow LLP
- Alexander Flachsbart, President & Chief Executive Officer, Opportunity Alabama
- Ellen Harpel, Founder, Smart Incentives
- Chris Pedersen, Vice President, Development & Planning, Connected Nation
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Wednesday, July 8, 2020
| Wed 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
Access to Capital and Community Facilities
Access to healthcare services is critical for communities of all sizes, and COVID-19 has shown us just how great the need for these and other community facilities is in much of rural America. Although community facilities are challenging to finance, there are a variety of capital and investment sources for these projects available. During the fourth installment of the CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series, join us for a discussion of community facilities resources and other accessible capital for rural community development.
Speaker(s)
- Mackenzie Ledet, Director, Stonehenge Capital Company, LLC
- Mark Scheffel, Senior Vice President, Advantage Capital
- Kim Smith, Attorney, Butler Snow LLP
- Tony Smith, Executive Vice President, SB Friedman Development Advisors
- Jennifer Watkins, Director of Operations, Alliance for Rural Impact
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-Registration
This webinar series is free to attend. Webinars will be recorded and available online afterward. Attendees who register for the webinar receive an email with the recordings as well.
Register