While commerce is certainly concentrated in urban areas, it is rural Oregon that has the urgent need. Tim McCabe, Director of Business Oregon, gives an op-ed that boosts confidence in the less talked-about areas of the state.

USDA announced a $7.3 million loan to Colton Telephone Company to complete a fiber-to-the-premises project that will provide enhanced broadband services for rural residents and businesses in its Clackamas County service area.

Solar Forward encourages community members to contribute money, building a revolving loan fund so other solar projects can be completed.

Many projects show what the Strategic Reserve Fund can accomplish when working in concert with public and private partners, Gov. John Kitzhaber said in a prepared statement celebrating one of the projects.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - Portland, Oregon
Join CDFA and Business Oregon for the first-ever Oregon Financing Roundtable Conference on November 12, 2013 as we focus on "Exploring Development Finance in the Beaver State". This one-day conference will feature a number of economic development finance experts and leaders from around the state discussing new development finance tools, resources, authorities, and approaches and how these methods can move Oregon's economy forward. Topics to be discussed include bonds, redevelopment, loan funds, innovation capital, tax credits, federal funding and much more.

In addition, attendees can choose to stay for a targeted half-day workshop on November 13 focused on Clean Energy & Bond Financing. This special half-day program will focus on using bond financing to support clean energy development in Oregon. The workshop is included in the full CDFA Oregon Financing Roundtable Conference registration.

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The City of Eugene's Business Development Fund (BDF) provides assistance to new and existing businesses via the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

This flyer provides an overview of Oregon's New Markets Tax Credit program, including who may apply and the structure of the credit.

USDA Rural Development Business and Cooperative Programs can support private rural businesses and farmers who are undertaking either renewable energy or energy efficiency projects. The programs listed here, most notably the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), are particularly suited to helping with rural energy projects.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $474M to 52 rural and urban transportation projects across the country. This resource offers detailed information for each of the awards including applicant, project descriptions, costs, highlights, and benefits.

The Opportunity Finance Network provides a snapshot of CDFI-related policy activity at the state level during 2012. The report includes analysis and information on legislative trends, State New Markets Tax Credit programs, and the State Small Business Credit Initiative programs.

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Interested in putting your organization in front of hundreds of economic development finance professionals in the state? Sponsor the 2013 CDFA Oregon Financing Roundtable in Partnership with Business Oregon.