The CDFA Equitable Lending Learning Series provides in-depth instruction to small business lenders on loan fund policies, lending processes, and other practices that remove barriers to capital and proactively advance economic justice. Register now to join CDFA, Lendistry, and The Center by Lendistry on Tuesday, June 27 at 1-4 PM Eastern for a discussion on key considerations and best practices for identifying, securing, and managing funds that can establish and grow equitable lending programs.

The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians has announced the development of a large-scale solar and energy storage project funded and approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC). The solar and storage microgrid will enable the Paskenta Tribe to power its operations using a sustainable and resilient renewable energy solution. The project is part of the tribe's efforts to achieve energy sovereignty by aligning its energy infrastructure plans with its economic development plans.

The Native American Agriculture Fund invests $12 million to stand up the first-ever Other Financing Institution (OFI) within the Farm Credit System. The OFI, Native Agriculture Financial Services, will begin by participating in loans with CDFIs investing in agriculture and rural economic development that support Native farmers and ranchers and then expand into providing credit and financial services for Native agriculture producers and Tribal governments.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury released a fact sheet detailing actions the Department has taken and their impact on Black households, businesses, and communities. A key Treasury Department action includes the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which provided $2.5 billion in funding and incentive allocations to support underserved businesses – with $1 billion of these funds to be awarded to the jurisdictions that are most successful in reaching underserved businesses.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced that 16 projects will receive grant funding totaling $650,000 through the new Healthy Soils Competitive Fund. This unique program provides financial assistance to qualifying farms—large and small—and organizations that adopt innovative conservation practices that benefit climate, soil, and water.

The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has closed on a $77.3 million Green Bond to support clean water projects for the Narragansett Bay Commission and the communities of East Greenwich, East Providence, Middletown, Woonsocket, and Warwick. The Green Bond also will support drinking water projects in the city of Providence.

The extensive work to rehabilitate the building in the Tobin Hill historic district makes the property eligible for historic tax certification if approved by the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC). Historic tax certification enables a property like the Pearl market to earn historic tax credits — freezing City of San Antonio taxes for 10 years or reducing city taxes on the property for five years.

The Turlock City Council — acting also as the Public Financing Authority — took steps to secure $25 million for its road rehabilitation program. The money will come through the sale of municipal bonds and is slated to be paid back over 15 years.

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