The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is excited to announce that the Tucson Industrial Development Authority and the Development Finance Agency of Summit County, have begun active lending within the CDFA Minority Capital Loan Guarantee Program.

The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) created a technical committee on tax increment financing to share knowledge and resources to help communities leverage these tools. This primer was prepared by CALED's technical committee members to give local governments and economic development organizations a practical guide to various tax increment financing tools, with an emphasis on EIFDs and CRIAs, to assist in the deployment of these emerging tools.

The Lending Barriers for Small Businesses Survey aims to help identify, understand, and address some challenges that small businesses face when accessing lending and financial support. By taking just a few minutes to complete this survey, you will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the specific obstacles faced by small businesses in obtaining financing. Your experiences, insights, and expertise will help to develop targeted strategies and initiatives that directly address these challenges.

After a series of setbacks, an $88 million proposal to redevelop the crumbling Congress Theater is moving forward — with some help from the city. City Council's Finance Committee unanimously approved dedicating $27 million in tax increment finance dollars (TIF) to the ambitious project. Members of the committee also approved a three-year extension of the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district.

The Schenectady City Council approved $20 million in bonds to address water infrastructure projects, with the city aiming to procure state and federal funds to cover the costs of the upgrades. During the board's meeting, it approved the issuance of $11.6 million in bonds to finance improvements to the Washington Avenue pump station, with the board also authorizing the issuance of $9.8 million in bonds for infrastructure upgrades for the city's Water Resource Recovery Facility.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched two grant competitions for $20 billion under the historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, an Inflation Reduction Act program. Together these competitive grant opportunities will mobilize private capital into clean technology projects to create good-paying jobs and lower energy costs for American families, especially in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $7.4 million in 25 selected grants that support urban agriculture and innovative production. Selected grant recipients, including community gardens and nonprofit farms, will increase food production and access in economically distressed communities, provide job training and education, and allow partners to develop business plans and zoning proposals.

TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) investment of $1 million into Cerebro Capital, Inc. Cerebro is a business that offers a marketplace for commercial borrowers and lenders allowing for a faster, more efficient process of finding and closing loans.

NYCEDC is issuing a Request for Proposals, to launch the Cannabis NYC Loan Fund, a loan fund that will promote the development of an equitable cannabis industry in New York City. The goal of the Loan Fund is to provide flexible capital at below-market rates to cannabis businesses that are run by Social and Economic Equity Applicants.

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