CDFA and Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) are excited to announce the achievement of a strategic food systems financing plan for their regional food system! This is the first strategic financing plan created for SENDD that focuses on how the region can use traditional development finance tools to meet the capital needs of food and agriculture-related small businesses to generate economic prosperity while advancing racial and social equity.

Nebraska's Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) has added a Meat and Poultry Processing Loan program to its current loan offerings made possible with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program. Independent meat processors have access to $15 million in loan capital through the program's loan fund. Loans can be used for expansion of existing processors, start-up of new processors, real estate and equipment, facilities updates, and working capital.

Revolving Loan Fund Week is coming up next month, with the Intro Revolving Loan Fund Course on May 1-2 followed by the Advanced Revolving Loan Fund Course on May 3-4. Register for one or both of these courses to learn from experts about developing, implementing, and managing revolving loan fund programs that are efficient and impactful.

Organic farm company Hardee Fresh has secured $56 million of bridge financing from X-Caliber Rural Capital (XRC), an affiliate of X-Caliber, for its planned enclosed organic vertical farming facility in Americus, Georgia. The debt package will fund ground-up construction of the project slated for completion by late 2024.

Nestlé, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and Cargill are coming together to invest a combined $15 million to help scale the adoption of voluntary conservation practices that help fight climate change. Through this work, the companies will support vital habitat for native wildlife, while also sustaining a robust beef supply chain. This commitment will leverage up to $15 million in federal funds, leading to the activation of up to $30 million in grant funding over the next five years.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will provide $123 million in additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk, as part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The announcement builds on financial assistance offered to borrowers through the same program in October 2022.

More than a year after a blaze destroyed the creamery of California's biggest raw dairy producer, a new facility is in the works — powered by a $10 million loan three years in the making. Raw Farm LLC, formerly Organic Pastures Dairy Co., is unveiling the design for its new creamery. Funding for the project comes from a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan the company applied for in 2020 through the CARES Act.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is hoping more farmers take advantage of underused programs. The legislature passed expanded agricultural tax credits to incentivize farmers to grow their operations and purchase new equipment. The Beginning Farmer Loan Program allows local lenders to receive federally tax-exempt interest on loans made to beginning farmers. The amount available to loan to a new farmer increased by 7% to more than $600,000.

Black Farmer Fund solicits investors for its $20 million community-led investment fund to support Black agricultural and food businesses in the Northeast with capital through a combination of patient low-interest loans and grants. In its pilot phase, the Fund's experienced team of agricultural and finance professionals oversubscribed a $1 million pilot fund and supported eight thriving food businesses across New York State with $643,000.

The Department of Commerce announced that No Meat Factory, a Canadian manufacturer of plant-based meat alternative products, will open a new production facility in Stanwood, Washington. The new plant will reopen a facility closed by Twin City Foods in 2017. A $200,000 state economic development grant to Economic Alliance Snohomish County will support site engineering and development costs as well as initial upgrades to the plant.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series: Utilizing TIF with Brownfield Redevelopment Projects
April 18, 2023 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern

CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series: Access to Capital Tools & Food Systems
April 25, 2023 - 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern

>>> VIEW THE FOOD SYSTEMS RESOURCE CENTER   
>>> VIEW THE AGRICULTURE RESOURCE CENTER   

CapShift has released "How to Invest in Sustainable and Regenerative Food and Agriculture," a guide to understanding the complex landscape of food and agriculture investing. The food and agriculture space touches on climate change, economic opportunity, health and nutrition, animal welfare, and more and is seeing growing interest among ultra-high-net-worth families. This report provides a framework to help families assess their impact goals and a review of some investable food and agriculture solutions.

In the seed market, promoting fair and vibrant competition involves considerations of intellectual property (IP) law, antitrust and other fair business practices law, and public investment in our food system. These are complex and often confusing areas even for the most experienced farmers, plant breeders, small businesses, and others. This report analyzes the current situation and makes recommendations for the U.S. Government to promote fair competition and innovation.

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>>> SEARCH AGRICULTURE RESOURCES