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.

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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Ohio State Director Jonathan McCracken announced that USDA is accepting applications for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers. This committee recommends solutions to challenges faced by minority farmers and ranchers and is part of USDA's commitment to advance equity for all, especially for farmers and producers in underserved communities. The Committee is administered by USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced nearly $300 million for nine small and medium-sized bridge projects in both rural and urban areas in eight states and the District of Columbia.

The Thriving Communities Program funds tailored technical assistance to under-resourced and disadvantaged communities, helping them better access historic infrastructure investments and deliver transformative projects. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced funding through the Thriving Communities program to help 64 communities across the country have a fair shot to access historic funding opportunities provided by the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (FDIC), is hosting a series of regional economic development workshops on the "Path to Prosperity" in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Georgia to provide small businesses, including farmers and ranchers, with the resources and tools they need to grow.

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.

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

CDFA Tribal Finance Webinar Series: Promoting Access to Capital for Tribal Small Businesses
May 9, 2023 - 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern

>>> VIEW THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE RESOURCE CENTER