Newly-authorized programs at the USDA and EDA are available to invest in rural community facilities. CDFA will be joined by EDA's Deputy Assistant Secretary Craig Buerstatte, as well as USDA's Assistant Deputy Administrator of Community Facility Programs, Joseph Ben-Israel, to discuss their financing solutions for local community facilities and how to coordinate with partners during the next Federal Financing Webinar on Tuesday, August 24.

The USDA is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes, and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance. These funds may be used to increase vaccine distribution and telehealth capabilities; purchase medical supplies; replace revenue lost during the pandemic; build structures for health care services; and support operations expenses associated with food banks and food distribution facilities.

The Oklahoma Development Finance Authority approved contracting with bond counsel, special counsel, disclosure counsel, and 18 banks to underwrite the state's new, mammoth utility ratepayer debt securitization programs. ODFA could end up issuing about $4 billion in bonds in an effort to limit the interest rate payments that utility companies will pass along to Oklahomans who sustained inflated electricity and gas bills when natural gas prices spiked during February's historic winter storm.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Chair, California School Finance Authority (CSFA), announced the successful completion of a $68.31 million College Housing Revenue Bond sale through the CSFA to finance first-ever student housing on the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC). The Bonds priced on Thursday, July 15, 2021, and closed on July 29, 2021. This financing marks the inaugural issuance of community college student housing bonds by CSFA.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program to support the continued recovery of small businesses. The first in a series of economic recovery programs set to launch by the administration, B2B will offer small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers, and take continued steps to rebuild amid the fallout from the pandemic.

California reallocated $200 million of tax-exempt private activity bonds formerly reserved for Fortress Investment Group's Las Vegas tourist train to be used instead by affordable housing projects. In January, the state's Debt Limit Allocation Committee set aside that portion of California's limited financing resource in anticipation that the firm's Brightline Holdings would request it later in the year. Instead, the venture said in June it will seek an undisclosed amount of debt next year.

Florida officials announced the largest pandemic-era municipal-bond sale backed by port revenue, hoping to tap into investor demand for local-government debt tied to recovering sectors of the U.S. economy. Miami-Dade County said Monday it is selling around $1.4 billion of bonds due 2050 and backed by revenue from the Port of Miami, the county's largest municipal bond sale ever.

Wake County and the North Carolina Department of Transportation are poised to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars for construction and renovation. The Local Government Commission unanimously approved Wake County's plan Tuesday to borrow nearly $600 million for school and community college projects. The NCDOT also got unanimous approval to sell $300 million in bonds.

U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) announced that their bipartisan Carbon Capture Improvement Act has passed the Senate as part of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. The Carbon Capture Improvement Act makes it easier for power plants and industrial facilities to finance the purchase and installation of carbon capture, utilization, and storage equipment, as well as direct air capture (DAC) projects through the use of private activity bonds (PABs).

Interest on many municipal bonds issued by local and state governments and some non-profits is exempt from federal income taxes. As a result, investors, mainly high-income individuals, are willing to lend money to issuers at a lower interest rate than they would demand if the bonds were taxable. The BABs program ended in 2010, but the concept has been part of the 2021 debate over financing increased federal infrastructure spending.

The Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments (MWVCOG) is seeking a new member to join its team as the next Business Lending Program Manager. This Senior Staff position is part of the Economic and Community Development Division which houses the Economic Development District Support Staff. This position will manage the financial services to small businesses.

The Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments (MWVCOG) is hiring a Loan Documentation / Loan Servicing Specialist. This person will report to the Lending Program Manager and will work directly with existing and potential loan(s), and perform a variety of clerical and administrative duties in support of the Small Business Loan Program.

>>> SEARCH HEADLINES   

America's rural workforce provides a vital foundation for the nation's economy. Rural America supplies the nation's food and energy resources, and the fiber necessary for goods and manufacturing. As USDA continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and help restore the economy, USDA remains committed to supporting rural employers and job seekers.

>>> SEARCH ONLINE RESOURCE DATABASE