CDFA's Intro Federal Finance WebCourse Returns!
Register for CDFA's Intro Federal Finance WebCourse taking place on December 9-10 to learn the federal funding resources available to help advance economic development. Our panel of expert speakers will discuss how federal support tools can work in coordination with other development finance tools for programs and projects on the local level.
New Tool From Croatan Institute: Food & Agriculture Investment Database
Croatan Institute has launched a new database that identifies investable products across asset classes focused on financing food and agriculture systems. The data included consists of publicly available information and features investable products across Cash & Equivalents, Fixed Income, Public Equity, Private Equity/VC, and Real Assets. Investors who wish to explore investments focused on sustainable and regenerative agriculture can filter by asset class, level of exposure to agricultural themes, and find specific firms and products of interest.
USDA and Reinvestment Fund Invest Nearly $6M to Increase Equitable Access to Healthy Foods Across Country
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to invest nearly $6 million to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities across the country. The investments are being made through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Planning Grant Program, which provides grants to organizations for healthy food retail or food retail supply chain projects in early-stage planning and predevelopment phases.
Tri-State Won $2.5B to Close Coal Plants, Get New Renewable Energy for Rural Customers
Tri-State Generation has won praise from environmental groups for an aggressive plan to build clean, renewable energy. The co-op won the financing to do it: $2.5 billion in federal loans and grants to retire existing coal plants and acquire new renewable energy resources across four Western states where its member cooperatives provide electricity to a million rural consumers in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona. A Farmer Benefit Plan will encourage awardees to work with local agriculture producers to identify ways the new projects can benefit them.
KIND Snacks Announces Major Sustainability Milestones to Scale Regenerative Agriculture
KIND Snacks is partnering with Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment to join their Regenerative Services Match Program. Wolfe's Neck Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating change in food systems through regenerative farming, innovative research, and collaborations. This partnership will unlock more than $300,000 in funding for regenerative practice adoption and resource deployment within KIND's almond supply network.
Governor Shapiro Announces $3M Investment in Erie County, PA, Organic Potato Company
Governor Josh Shapiro announced a $3 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) investment in start-up company Folkland Foods. This funding will support a significant capital expansion that will enable Folkland's parent company Troyer, Inc.—the only organic potato supplier on the East Coast—to expand its operations, transition more acreage to organic farming, and begin producing a range of potato products, creating up to 50 new local jobs in the region over the first three years.
California Sells $150M in Bonds to Finance Home, Farm Purchases for Veterans
California sold $150 million in bonds to finance the purchase of homes and farms for California veterans. The bonds authorize the issuance of obligations to provide funds for the financing of contracts for the purchase of homes and farms for California veterans under the CalVet Home Loan Program. Under the loan program, the California Department of Veterans Affairs acquires residential property to be sold to eligible veterans. These acquisitions are financed principally with the proceeds of Veterans G.O. Bonds and revenue bonds and from other money available in the Veterans' Farm and Home Building Fund of 1943.
RSF Social Finance Invests $13.5M in Social Enterprises
RSF Social Finance added three new loans to its portfolio in summer 2024, investing a total of $13.5 million in social enterprises that are integrating social and environmental innovation to maximize their impact and demonstrate the potential for systemic change. The loans—to Glavel, Mad Capital, and Goodr—are fueling advances in sustainable food systems, climate-friendly construction materials, and food security across the country.
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