CDFA partnered with Frost Brown Todd LLC and its affiliate FBT Project Finance Advisors LLC to present the Infrastructure Finance Series. This in-depth series focuses on the characteristics of infrastructure, the innovative tools for financing various infrastructure projects, and how the private sector impacts the landscape of infrastructure investment. Watch Water Finance 101 now to learn more about financing water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects.

The White House released a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook to help state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments in rural areas unlock the benefits from the historic investments in our nation's infrastructure and launched a rural infrastructure tour led by the President and other senior administration officials to engage rural communities across the country.

Bringing broadband to rural areas is difficult because of the economics; the infrastructure is expensive to deploy, and sparse populations mean a small customer base for traditional internet service providers. Creating regional districts raises aggregate demand by combining the populations of multiple towns.

On March 15, President Biden signed the Omnibus Spending Bill, which included the "EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022." This bipartisan bill restores viability to EB-5 by reauthorizing the lapsed Regional Center Program, a component essential to the success of EB-5. The character of available financing and the projects most desirable for EB-5 investment are directly influenced by program requirements that must be met to qualify investors for a green card.

 The USDA announced it will establish a Rural Community Economic Development (RCED) Subcommittee as part of the recently launched Equity Commission. "The Rural Community Economic Subcommittee (RCED) will be crucial to addressing issues of persistent poverty in rural communities," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

There is no one-size-fits-all economic development strategy for rural communities. How can local leaders—including governments, businesses, and individuals—put rural regions on track to thrive? This article examines the types of rural communities in the United States and suggests that attention to three foundational elements—sectors, workforce, and community and connectivity—can promote economic success.

Municipal broadband is booming, growing 600 percent since 2018. Yet over 30 percent of American households do not have broadband at home, while as many as 42 million do not have the option to purchase it in the first place, especially in rural areas. Alternatives to private-sector Internet service promise better access and affordability to communities. But are they really cost-effective?

CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Where's the Beef? Financing Meat Processing Infrastructure
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 - 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern

Exploring Equitable Capital Technology (EC-Tech) in Development Finance
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern

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