CDFA is proud to announce the new CDFA Board of Directors members, Kayla Gross, Abigail McKnight, and Rebecca Sullivan. We are delighted to welcome our new board members who will bring diverse expertise and insight to the work of CDFA. Board members play a vital role in guiding CDFA's strategic vision, shaping policy, and strengthening our impact across the country. We look forward to your contributions and dedication.

Groundswell Capital announced the successful disbursement of $250,000 in small business grants in its first year supporting the Rio Nuevo Impact Grant program! Rio Nuevo's mission is to revitalize downtown Tucson to create a vibrant, urban environment where residents and visitors can live, stay, work, and play. Rio Nuevo funds are generated from a portion of state sales tax from businesses in the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District. Groundswell hopes to continue supporting the creative solutions and innovations of local businesses for Tucson's Rio Nuevo District through future programming.

President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will transform taxes and other federal policies, is indeed big at 1,116 pages. Its beauty, however, will be limited to those who benefit most from it – top earners, according to analyses from multiple sources. The U.S. House narrowly passed the bill by a vote of 215-214 early on May 22, after intense Republican negotiations for changes. It now heads for the Senate, which has signaled it plans to make revisions. The plan would make permanent the 2017 tax cuts from Trump's first term. It would reduce some taxes, but it would raise others, and change spending amounts.

President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" has cleared the House Budget Committee, incorporating a $60 billion investment in agricultural programs. This funding aims to address challenges faced by farmers, including rising input costs and declining commodity prices, by enhancing crop insurance, conservation efforts, and rural development initiatives. The bill also proposes increasing payment limits for farm programs from $125,000 to $155,000 per individual or entity, starting in 2025. While these measures offer potential relief to the agricultural sector, the bill's broader fiscal implications—such as substantial tax cuts and spending reductions in programs like Medicaid and SNAP—have sparked debate among policymakers. Development finance and community development professionals should monitor these developments closely, as the bill's provisions could significantly impact rural economies and funding structures.

The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee approved a tax bill incorporating key provisions from the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA), aiming to enhance the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Notable measures include reinstating a 12.5% increase in 9% LIHTC allocations for 2026–2029, reducing the private activity bond financing threshold from 50% to 25%, and introducing a 30% basis boost for projects in rural and Native American communities. These changes are projected to alleviate bottlenecks in affordable housing development, with experts like Daniel Cruz Jr. of Cruz Cos. highlighting the potential to significantly reduce project backlogs. While the bill enjoys bipartisan support, some opposition remains, indicating that further negotiations are anticipated as the legislation progresses to the full House and Senate.

Join us for the Intro Housing Finance Course on June 25-26! The impact of housing on economic development efforts is a critical issue in many communities. This course will explore how the development finance toolbox can be utilized to support a myriad of housing challenges and opportunities. Register by Friday, June 6 for early bird rates!

The Program Associate is responsible for answering and fulfilling administrative requests from partners, answering customer calls and resolving their concerns. Their primary responsibility is to review and approve applications for grant weatherization services, tracking lead assignments, and assisting program managers with administrative tasks. This position will ensure that client applications and requests are completed in a timely manner. We are looking for individuals with great customer service skills and attention to detail when processing documentation. The successful applicant should be able to manage multiple tasks and adjust to changing priorities responding to varying demands.

The Program Associate supports program operations by reviewing applications, managing documents, and providing guidance to stakeholders. They help develop policies, prepare reports, and coordinate with staff and partners. Ideal candidates are proactive, adaptable team players with strong critical thinking skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks independently.

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