Agenda - 2020 CDFA Virtual National Summit

The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-reaching effects on all sectors of the economy. Local governments are being forced to deal with reduced and delayed tax revenues, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, dramatic shifts have affected the municipal markets, and major economic drivers like airlines and transportation agencies are warning of dire consequences if more action isn’t taken. During the first session of the 2020 CDFA Virtual National Summit, we will convene experts to set the stage by offering an overview of the economy right now.

• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

• Toby Rittner, President & CEO, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Bob Isaacson, Senior Vice President, Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness
• Steve Johnson, Director, Community Development, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
• Marquita Russel, Chief Executive Officer, New Mexico Finance Authority

Small businesses are the pillars of local economic activity, and the pandemic is putting a serious strain on small business ecosystems across the nation. Small businesses in communities across the country have faced revenue challenges, job losses, and project stagnation. During this session, you’ll hear perspectives from various industries talking about how COVID-19 has impacted the small business sector.

• Katie Kramer, Vice President, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Kim Hawkins, Vice President/COO, HEDCO, Inc.
• Tricia Kovacs, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Nate Loewentheil, Vice President, Camber Creek

Development Finance Agencies at the city, county, and state levels responded to COVID-19 in many different ways. Exploring how DFAs addressed early budget pressures and stabilized local economies while still managing ongoing deals can help every region plan for the future. During this session, we will highlight several proactive approaches and synthesize what we have learned to better prepare cities, counties, and states for long-term recovery.

• Toby Rittner, President & CEO, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Matt D. Chase, Executive Director, National Association of Counties
• Mark Robyn, Senior Officer, Fiscal and Economic Policy, Pew Charitable Trusts
• Anita Yadavalli Ph.D, Program Director, City Fiscal Policy, National League of Cities

The dual threat of declining tax revenues and increased expenses to address public health needs have sent the capital markets on an unpredictable, roller-coaster trajectory. As of late, the markets have stabilized and rates have become favorable, yet this doesn't necessarily depict how communities are faring. This panel will set the stage for the day by discussing the latest movements in the capital markets and what can be expected heading into the new year and beyond.

• David Safer, Managing Director, U.S. Bank

• Michael Decker, Senior Vice President of Policy and Research, Bond Dealers of America
• Eric Kazatsky, Head of Municipal Strategy, Bloomberg Intelligence
• Tom Kozlik, Head of Municipal Credit and Strategy, Hilltop Securities
• Michael Placencia, Managing Director, Head of Public Finance, Stern Brothers

Issuers have experienced market highs and lows this year, causing significant uncertainty in the markets. The Federal Reserve intervened to try and increase liquidity, which provided some assurance, but those tools were largely not needed or used. Instead, we have seen some issuers looking at refunding opportunities and bringing new deals forward to finance health systems, education, and critical infrastructure. During this session, experts will examine the types of deals closing during the pandemic and how these financings are helping communities mitigate their effects.

• Antonio Portuondo, Managing Director, The Bank of New York Mellon

• Brian Battle, Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners
• James Hamill, Managing Director, California Statewide Communities Development Authority
• Lauren Mack, Partner, Reyes Kurson, Ltd.

Ratings always affect project finance outlooks and determining when or if you need a rating is especially critical during times of crisis. What do cities, states, and conduit issuers need to know about credit risk in today’s municipal bond market, and what are the key factors to know when seeking a credit rating? This session will feature experts from ratings agencies discussing the trends they’ve been witnessing during the pandemic and outlooks for various sectors.

• Malcolm Guy, Coordinator, Marketing & Communications, Economic and Community Development Institute

• Amy Laskey, Managing Director, Fitch Ratings
• John Medina, Vice President - Senior Credit Officer, Moody's Investors Service

Technological changes spurred on by the financial crisis of 2008 have transformed the capital markets, and COVID-19 has only accelerated ongoing innovations. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has taken note of these changes and how they will affect financial reporting and trading. The MSRB recently designated $10 million of its reserves to modernize its market transparency systems using the cloud, and new online bond trading platforms are making data on municipalities and market access easier than ever before. During this session, hear from key market standard-setters and innovators on how technology will transform the municipal markets.

• Malcolm Guy, Coordinator, Marketing & Communications, Economic and Community Development Institute

• Joel Black, Chair, Governmental Accounting Standards Board
• Adam Cusson, Chief Information Officer, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board

COVID-19 has illustrated just how vital access to high-speed internet is to enabling online education, remote work, connecting with friends and family, as well as accessing essential services such as healthcare and groceries. Additionally, 2020 has exposed the vulnerabilities of our current healthcare infrastructure in both rural and urban communities. In this session, we will explore how communities across the nation are using traditional development finance along with creative new approaches to improve broadband and healthcare access.

• Amy Condaras, Member, FBT Public Finance Advisors

• Louise Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, Primary Care Development Corporation
• Lindsay Miller, Partner, Ice Miller LLP
• Kenneth Neighbors, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP

The Economic Innovation Group (EIG), with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, has released a report, “Advancing education and child development in Opportunity Zones,” that explores the environmental conditions faced by children growing up in some of the nation’s most distressed communities. In this session join representatives from EIG as they examine the needs of children in Opportunity Zones and how the bipartisan community investment tool can be leveraged to support schools, childcare centers, and businesses focused on improving life outcomes for children.

• Ira Weinstein, Principal, CohnReznick LLP

• Mike Landes, Opportunity Zone Program and Special Projects Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
• Liz Lopez, Senior Director, Social Impact Investing & External Affairs, YWCA USA
• Rachel Reilly, Senior Advisor, Council of Development Finance Agencies

Many redevelopment projects were actively in progress before the pandemic hit and government closures took effect. Deals that had financial projections utilizing tax increment finance and tax credits had to get creative to see their projects continue. This session will look at how current redevelopment projects are faring and the financial tools being used to keep their capital stacks in the black.

• Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP

• Emily Metzler, Senior Vice President, MuniCap, Inc.

• Kate Crowley, Principal, Baker Tilly
• Price Finley, Partner, Bricker & Eckler LLP
• Andrew Levine, Partner, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young

In recognition of Veterans Day, Michael Kinninger from Ohio Statewide Development Corporation (OSDC) will be speaking on OSDC's VetLoan Advantage Program. A strategic initiative of SBA 504 Loan Program-providers, VetLoan Advantage offers fee waivers and discounts to veteran-owned business purchasing real estate and equipment. Please listen in as Michael details the specifics of this program and how you can access a similar version from your local CDC.

• James Metz, Disaster Recovery Planner, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
• Darnell Moses

• Michael Kinninger, Executive Director, Ohio Statewide Development Corporation

From accelerating businesses to strengthening neighborhoods to creating new jobs, Newport News bands together to ensure success in every corner of our City. Hometown businesses expand, entrepreneurs thrive, and innovation accelerates, thanks to the teamwork and vision of our community.

Newport News Economic Development Authority

Development finance agencies mobilized resources and launched new programs to help small businesses when many of them had to close their doors suddenly at the start of the pandemic. This session will highlight rapid response strategies deployed by DFAs, including loan and grant programs, technical assistance, and coordination with federal resources. Speakers will share their approaches for identifying sources of capital, repositioning organizational priorities, and marketing new or existing programs to support local businesses.

• Maryland Department of Commerce

• David Rogers, Attorney, Frost Brown Todd LLC

• Erin Baca
• Alejandro Contreras, Director of Preparedness, Communication and Coordination, U.S. Small Business Administration
• Darla Garrett, Director, Maryland Department of Commerce
• Florence Kingston, Director of Development, City of Newport News

The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely impacted our communities through job loss, halted development projects, and rapid closures of small businesses. COVID-19 has also unveiled weaknesses in supply chains and increased demands for local community facilities. During this session, we will discuss financing approaches that are being taken to ensure long lasting, sustainable recovery for local community facilities, food systems infrastructure, affordable housing, and other community development projects.

• PGAV

• Allison Rowland, Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Kevin Boes, President & Chief Executive Officer, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Matthew Dalbey, Director, Office of Community Revitalization, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Jenny Ryan

Hundreds of programs have sprung up this year at the federal, state, and local levels to combat the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these efforts, many minority and women owned businesses have been left behind due to trouble with applications, lack of banking relationships, and other barriers that arise with traditional lending. During this session, we will take a look at how the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated pre-existing social and racial inequality in the lending community and how communities can work to improve access to capital for women and minority owned businesses using tools like Opportunity Zones, New Markets Tax Credits, SBA backed loans, and more.

• Seth Kirshenberg, Partner, Kutak Rock LLP

• James Carras, Principal, Carras Community Investment, Inc.
• Anisha Murphy, Director of Community Advancement, Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc.
• Ladell Robbins, Managing Director, BlackRock
• Jennifer Wilhelm, Director of Commercial Lending, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh

A Presidential election and a new Congress always spur policy discussions in the development finance industry. This year, these conversations are especially important as the country hopes for additional stimulus packages and increased aid to state and local governments. What can we expect from now through the inauguration, and what does industry outreach look like in the coming year? This session will feature CDFA's legislative team and our partners discussing the current state of affairs on Capitol Hill.

• Katie Kramer, Vice President, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Martha Dale, Chief Finance and Strategy Officer, NASDA - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
• Ben Husch, Federal Affairs Counsel, Natural Resources and Infrastructure, National Conference of State Legislatures
• Eric Silva, CDFA Legislative Representative, North South Government Strategies

Throughout the week we have heard recovery strategies from economic development finance experts across the country. How can we implement these innovations and bring financing solutions to the problems that COVID-19 has created? Join us for this inspiring conversation as we reflect on the year and find hope in our call to action for the coming year.

• Toby Rittner, President & CEO, Council of Development Finance Agencies

• Ellen Harpel, Founder, Smart Incentives
• Maurice Jones, Chief Executive Officer, OneTen
• Marjorie Kelly, Executive Vice President & Senior Fellow, The Democracy Collaborative
• Aaron Seybert, Social Investment Officer, The Kresge Foundation

One of the things we’re all missing right now is the ability to gather together, meet new people, and make connections. While we can’t meet face-to-face this year, we invite you to grab your favorite drink and join us for this optional virtual networking session. Get to know colleagues in your state in a fun, engaging, and socially-distant setting.