Time is running out to register for the 2024 CDFA National Development Finance Summit! Join us this November in Baltimore for three days of face-to-face engagement with the brightest minds in development finance from across the nation. Thought leaders, dealmakers, consultants, lenders – they'll all be here. You'll leave with more knowledge, more resources, more connections, and best of all, more inspiration. Reserve your seat at this once-a-year opportunity to engage with the best and brightest in the development finance industry. Register today!

After weeks of number-crunching, it now seems clear that investors in catastrophe bonds emerged from Hurricane Milton relatively unscathed. Holders of the bonds may be looking at returns of as much as 12%, according to Zurich-based asset manager and catastrophe-bond specialist Plenum Investments AG. Before Milton struck just south of Tampa as a Category 3 hurricane, the market for catastrophe bonds had been bracing for losses as steep as 15%, dwarfing those triggered by Hurricane Ian two years earlier. In the event, losses from Milton will likely be closer to 1%, possibly even less.

The Green, Social, and Sustainability (GSS) Bonds market has now surpassed $5 trillion in cumulative issuance, according to the latest quarterly GSS report by leading ESG, Sustainability, and Impact data provider MainStreet Partners. The Q3 2024 GSS Bonds Market Trends Report highlights the strength of the market in 2024, with Green Bonds once again leading the way – now representing 57% of total GSS Bond issuance year to date. In the first half of 2024 alone, Green Bond issuance reached a record-breaking $356 billion, making it the most active period for Green Bonds since the market's inception.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will begin issuing more than $2.14 billion in payments to eligible agricultural producers, and landowners—providing much-needed support through key conservation and safety-net programs. Producers should soon receive payments from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) for their participation in these programs aimed to conserve natural resources and keep family farms economically viable.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $3 billion through the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program to lower electricity costs as part of President Biden and Vice President Harris' Investing in America Agenda. The USDA is awarding nearly $2.5 billion in financing for the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and has selected six rural electric cooperatives to move forward in the awards process for nearly $1 billion in New ERA funds.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury hit a three-month high, topping 4.25%, before dipping slightly to close out the week. Traders are looking ahead to fresh jobs figures and consumer confidence data in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election. Investors will also continue to digest a slew of central bank commentary following last week's IMF meetings in Washington, D.C., with Federal Reserve policymakers now in a blackout period which prevents commentary ahead of next week's interest rate decision.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $39 million in grants to U.S. business owners to increase the availability of domestic biofuels in 18 states and give Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel options. The Department will also make $200 million available through the new Biobased Market Access and Development Grants made possible by Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds.

The Economic Development Coordinator position may perform a variety of duties within the Office of Economic Development, for which some or all of the listed under "Essential Functions" and "Knowledge, Skills & Abilities" may apply.  General responsibilities may also include administrative, technical, financial, and/or other professional functions in preparation of economic and/or community development plans, programs, projects, finances, and/or services. May assist businesses with local and state permitting processes and may perform research and/or analysis as needed for management ad-hoc requests, presentations, and projects under consideration. Application closes November 7. 

The Manager or Senior Manager, Emerging Funding Strategies (EFS) leads and grows Children's Funding Project's efforts to identify local economic development opportunities and other innovative strategies to finance child and youth programs and services. The Manager/Senior Manager is expected to 1) develop, field test, and refine EFS-related research, methodologies, tools, and advisory services; 2) successfully implement current EFS projects; and 3) track, document, and elevate success stories from past EFS projects. This full-time, exempt position reports to the Vice President for Strategy and Advocacy. Some travel is required.

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