Some things are just better in person—like the CDFA National Development Finance Summit! Join us this November in Baltimore for three days of face-to-face engagement with top minds in development finance. This premier event brings together thought leaders, dealmakers, and industry experts from across the country, designed for both public and private sector participants. Network, share insights, and discover innovative financing solutions tailored to your needs. Register today! A special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors, the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Department of Housing and Community Development!

Thanks to $500 million in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a new initiative called the Green Bank for Rural America could help channel money to nonprofit lenders to support community solar arrays, apprenticeships in renewable energy fields, electrified public transit, and other projects. The program will link over 75 rural CDFIs, prioritizing those in the Appalachian mountain region. It is part of the EPA's $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund created to support financial organizations with a history of deep community relationships and investment in local projects. 

Learn how development finance agencies and other small business lenders work to increase underserved business owners' borrower readiness! During this session, panelists will provide a holistic framework for assisting underserved borrowers across the life of their loan, with a look at the technical assistance and business support services needed to prepare borrowers adequately. The discussion will include insights about how development finance lenders can help these businesses at each stage of engagement, from the application and underwriting process through loan repayment and obtaining future sources of capital.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $90 million in competitive awards to help states, cities, Tribal Nations, and their partners implement updated energy codes for residential and commercial buildings. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these awards will support 25 new projects across the country to help ensure buildings meet the latest standards for energy efficiency—lowering energy bills for American families and businesses while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The awards complement the $240 million in new funding recently selected through the Inflation Reduction Act to support the implementation of modern building codes.

CDFA is pleased to announce Rich Rodriguez, Finance Officer for Business Oregon, as the newest graduate of the prestigious Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) program. As a graduate, Mr. Rodriguez joins numerous others who have invested in their professional development and are recognized as the most qualified leaders in the development finance industry.

Municipal bond buyers scooped up an abundance of debt sales last week, eager to lock in higher yields before the Federal Reserve is widely expected to lower interest rates for the first time in more than four years. States and local governments sold more than $14 billion of debt last week, one of the largest weekly amounts of the year and 79% more than the five-year weekly average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Borrowers are rushing to market ahead of potential volatility before the US presidential election. Long-term municipal bond issuance is up more than one-third over 2023's pace.

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