CDFA Legislative and Federal Affairs Update - March 7, 2023

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Legislative Features |
Coming Up Next Week: CDFA's Intro and Advanced Bond Finance Courses!
Join CDFA for our upcoming Bond Finance Week! The Intro Bond Finance Course will take place on March 13-14 followed by the Advanced Bond Finance Course on March 15-16. Register for one or both of these courses to learn from experts about how to bring economic growth to your community by utilizing the vast resources of the bond finance industry.
Treasury Deputy Secretary Highlights American Rescue Plan with Tribal Nations
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo visited two Tribal nations in southern California--the Agua Caliente Tribe, and the Torres Martinez Tribe--and witnessed first-hand the impact American Rescue Plan Act resources are having on Tribal Nations. The American Rescue Plan included $30 billion in funding for Tribal nations to help them recover from the pandemic and invest in long-term community development.
U.S Treasury Announces Three More Capital Project Awards
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the approval of high-speed internet projects in Arizona, Tennessee, and Wyoming under the American Rescue Plan's Capital Projects Fund in the American Rescue Plan Act. These states will use their funding to connect nearly 190,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet. A key priority of the Capital Projects Fund program is to make funding available for reliable, affordable high-speed internet infrastructure.
USDA Invests $63M in High-Speed Internet for Rural Americans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $63 million to bring high-speed internet access to people living and working in rural areas in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Mississippi. The investments include funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $65 billion to expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to all communities across the U.S., and the ReConnect Program, in which USDA invested a total of $1.7 billion.
USDA Announces $133M in Funding to Expand Local Food Systems
The USDA is now accepting applications for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), with a total of $133 million available in competitive grant funds to expand and strengthen local and regional food systems and increase the availability of locally grown agricultural products. The funding available for this year's program includes $65 million in supplemental funding from the American Rescue Plan, funds under the 2018 Farm Bill, and annual appropriations.
$262M to Rural Partners Network for Jobs Access, Healthcare, and Infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $262 million to improve access to jobs, healthcare, and infrastructure for historically underserved communities across the Rural Partners Network (RPN), which was established to transform the way federal agencies partner with and serve rural people and places, including Native American communities. RPN includes funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
EPA Announces Initial Program Design of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced initial guidance on the design of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program, created by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. EPA published two Federal Assistance Listings outlining key parameters of the grant competitions that will ultimately award nearly $27 billion to leverage private capital for clean energy and clean air investments across the country.
Guidance on Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Program Released
The U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Department of Energy released information on the expanded Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit program. This program renews and expands an investment tax credit initially included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and provides incentives for clean energy property manufacturing and recycling, industrial decarbonization, and critical materials processing, refining, and recycling.
Guidance on Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program Released
The U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Department of Energy released guidance on the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program. This program in the Inflation Reduction Act provides a boost of up to 20 percentage points to the investment tax credit for solar and wind energy projects in low-income communities. The notice outlines the program goals benefitting individuals and communities that have experienced adverse environmental impacts or lacked economic opportunities.
DOT Announces $660M Available Through Port Infrastructure Development Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity making available more than $662 million for MARAD's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The PIDP investment will modernize our nation's ports and help strengthen our supply chains, helping to reduce shipping time, costs, and the costs of goods for the American people.
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Upcoming Events |

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Federal Features |
Register for CDFA's Federal Policy Conference and Attend the Grant Writing Workshop
Join experts from federal departments and agencies on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at CDFA's Federal Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. where we will discuss how economic development and infrastructure projects can be financed in your community. These experts will highlight the financing and funding tools available to support community projects and discuss best practices to identify, successfully apply for, and administer federal grants. Don't miss out!
Northwood, ND Receives $25M USDA Loan for Hospital
A $34 million health center addition and renovation project in Northwood, ND will get federal help after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced a $25 million loan for Northwood Deaconess Health Center. The loan comes from USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Program, which provides affordable funding to develop community facilities in rural areas.
USDA Offering Money to Preserve Illinois Farms and Create Wetlands
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering money to farmers who want to keep their land agricultural or turn flood-prone fields into wetlands. The program's purpose is to preserve farmland and recreate wetlands. The easement prices range from $3,150 per acre for wetland easements in southern Illinois to $7,560 for cropland easements in the Chicago region including LaSalle County.
$7.5M Available for New Market Opportunities for Food and Agricultural Products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $7.5 million through the Acer Access and Development Program and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program and is accepting applications through USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. These competitive grant programs fund projects that strengthen and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products.
USDA Makes $250M Available for New Rice Production Program
A total of $250 million is being made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new Rice Production Program. Rice farmers that endured losses in 2022 will be eligible for assistance and are encouraged to prepare to apply for funding support. The application portal will not officially open for several weeks, but USDA is taking preemptive action to simplify the process.
New Funding and Financial Services for Underserved Communities from U.S. Treasury
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund awarded $194 million in financial assistance awards to 252 CDFIs through the Community Development Financial Institutions Program and Native American CDFI Assistance Program. These awards will allow CDFIs to build on their capacity and expand lending and investment activity in underserved communities.
USDA Invests $15M into Rural North Carolina Academy
Members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development North Carolina team, along with federal and local officials, participated in a groundbreaking ceremony at Pinnacle Classic Academy. USDA Rural Development is investing $15 million in the building as an addition to the school facility in Shelby through the USDA Rural Development Community Facility Loans and Grants Program.
HUD Announces $3.2B Available for Public Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $3.2 billion in funding to nearly 2,770 public housing authorities (PHAs) in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to make capital investments to their public housing stock. Grants are awarded for dedicated housing to public housing residents to make sure they have secure adequate housing.
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Federal Financing Clearinghouse Spotlight |
CDFA's Federal Financing Clearinghouse is the only online resource cataloging the development finance programs offered by the federal government. Check out our featured agencies and programs below. >>> Learn More
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Legislative and Federal Headlines |
SBA Gives Federal Assistance to New York Residents, Businesses Affected by Blizzard
ABC 7 Buffalo | Mar. 1 | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | Federal | Legislative | U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) | Legislative Activities
EPA Launches First Phase of $5B Carbon Reduction Program for States, Cities, and Tribes
Utility Dive | Mar. 1 | Federal | Green Finance | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
$5.6B for Affordable Housing, Community Development, and Homeless Assistance
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Feb. 27 | Access to Capital | Community Development | Federal | U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) | Urban Development | Legislative Activities | Health
Over $10.5M Coming for Public Housing in Oregon
Office of Senator Merkley | Feb. 22 | Access to Capital | Community Development | Housing Finance | Legislative | Urban Development | Case Studies | Legislative Activities
$59M Investment to Strengthen Food Supply Chain and Rural Economies
USDA | Feb. 21 | Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Federal | Food Systems Finance | Rural Development | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
North Carolina Projects Awarded $1.4M to Reduce Diesel Vehicle Pollution
Coastal Review Online | Feb. 21 | Energy Finance | Green Finance | Legislative | State Green Finance Programs | Legislative Activities
Hinton, WV to Receive Federal Funds for Affordable Housing
Yahoo!News | Feb. 20 | Community Development | Economic Development | Federal | Historic Preservation | Housing Finance | Rural Development
State Ag Officials Push for On-Time Farm Bill to Fund Slew of Programs
Star Local Media | Feb. 20 | Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Federal | Legislative
Black Farmers Were Persistently Left behind by the USDA's Loan System
NPR | Feb. 19 | Agriculture Finance | Federal | Tribal Finance | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
New Investments for Addressing Water Supply Challenges for Producers in the West
USDA | Feb. 13 | Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Federal | Resiliency | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) | Water Finance
Availability of Inflation Reduction Act Funding for Climate-Smart Agriculture
USDA | Feb. 13 | Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Federal | Resiliency | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
NJEDA Puts Out Call for Investment Managers to Oversee $150M in Funding
NJBiz | Feb. 13 | Access to Capital | Federal | State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) | U.S. Dept. of Treasury | Treasury State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) | Legislative Activities | State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)
Indiana Senator Supports Tax Relief for Small Businesses
WTCA | Feb. 12 | Federal | Legislative | Legislative Activities
Small Businesses in Fresno, CA Can Get Money to Fix Their Storefronts
The Fresno Bee | Feb. 11 | Access to Capital | Infrastructure Finance | Legislative | COVID-19 | Planning & Land Use
NIFA Invests $70M in Sustainable Agricultural Research
USDA NIFA | Feb. 9 | Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Federal | Resiliency | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
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New Additions to the Online Resource Database |
Treasury Announces Approval of up to $339M to Support Small Business across Three States and Two U.S. Territories
Access to Capital | Economic Development | Federal | State Finance Program | State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)
Treasury announces approval of up to $339 million to support small business success across three states and two U.S. Territories. These SSBCI Initiative funds are awarded to Arkansas, Guam, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin to support local small business financing and investment programs
2023 CDFA Policy Proposal - Disaster Recovery Bonds
Access to Capital | Bond Finance | Disaster Recovery & Relief | Infrastructure Finance | Legislative
The CDFA Disaster Recovery Bonds Policy Proposal outlines the CDFA national legislative proposal for a special, permanent category of Disaster Recovery Bonds.
Local Policy to Promote Healthy Food Access: A Food Systems Framework
Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Brownfield Financing | Federal | Food Systems Finance | Foundations | Local Finance Program | Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) | Rural Development | Social Finance | State Finance Program | Tax Credits | Urban Development
To help local policymakers, leaders, advocates, researchers, and others understand policy options for communities seeking to increase access to healthy food, the Healthy Food Policy Project (HFPP) developed a framework to show how local law—including legislation, administrative regulations, and executive orders—can promote access to healthy food at various points along the food system. This framework also highlights planning documents such as comprehensive plans and sustainability plans which are often used to guide development and evaluation of local laws and other efforts.
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The Council of Development Finance Agencies is a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation's leading and most knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing public, private and non-profit entities alike. For more information visit CDFA.net or email info@cdfa.net
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Council of Development Finance Agencies
100 E. Broad Street, Suite 1200
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 705-1300
info@cdfa.net
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