For most of 2020, the country has been beset by the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest sparked by longstanding racial injustice, and the devastating impacts of climate change. Although low interest rates and continued growth in some sectors have...

The Local Food Facility hopes to become a pivotal hub in the King County local food network, helping to grow businesses and connect local food partners. ECONorthwest's analysis led to conclude that this food facility concept could be financially...

County leaders have witnessed firsthand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their neighbors and constituents and are well-informed on needs arising in their local communities. While county governments are uniquely positioned to support recovery...

This paper addresses the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing timely and accurate information on the impact of the current pandemic on income and poverty to inform the targeting of resources to those most affected and assess the...

This report from Columbia University presents monthly poverty rates in the U.S. before and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. In contrast to measures of poverty based on a family’s annual resources, the study projects poverty rates based on a...

CDFA's first publication of the CDFA Charter Schools Financing Initiative series, funded with support from the National Alliance For Public Charter Schools. This paper demonstrates how charter schools can access development finance tools and public...

This is the sixth and final white paper in a series examining the potential creation of a food systems asset class that supports the market growth of local and regional food systems. This paper presents three replicable strategies for restoring...

More than 30 USDA grant and loan programs provide support and assistance for local and urban food producers and producer groups. These grant and loan programs may be grouped into several broad program categories, including marketing and promotion;...

The New Markets Tax Credit program, created to spark investment in disadvantaged communities, has become a valuable source of flexible capital for healthcare providers and health systems to tackle the immediate needs of both their organizations and...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to supporting robust regional food economies across the food chain. This graphic is designed to be a guide for which programs are best suited for different parts of the supply chain.

The Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for monitoring and oversight of the receipt, disbursement, and use of Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) payments. Treasury OIG was also assigned authority to recover funds...

History informs us that some people, especially the wealthy, flee cities in response to pandemics and other major catastrophes. In past pandemics and crises, refugees have typically returned, remaining attracted to the social and cultural dynamism...

This report from the White House' Council of Economic Advisers compares the advantages of OZs with those of other Federal antipoverty programs and documents the characteristics of the nearly 8,800 low-income communities designated as OZs. It also...

USDA’s Forest Service (FS), Rural Development (RD), and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) have developed this resource guide for rural communities to identify resources that develop the recreation economy.

The CDFI Fund has released its calendar year 2019 awards for the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. The round of funding awarded over $3.5 billion in NMTC allocation to 76 community development entities.

This is the 2020 edition of NMTC Coalition’s annual report on the loans, investments, and community impact of the New Markets Tax Credit.

A new paradigm is emerging – one in which mainstream investors increasingly want to invest in the social, economic, and environmental well-being of communities. LISC's research paper, CDFIs and the Capital Markets: Tapping into Impact Investors,...

The Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan provides a framework of common goals and actions that serve to unify residents, schools, community organizations, businesses, and local government in supporting a healthy, strong, and resilient...

Despite being viewed primarily as an economic development tool in low-income communities—that is, positioning the local economy on a higher growth trajectory—many proponents have suggested that OZs also have a community development purpose of...

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, we explored financing programs that support healthcare development and showcase successful projects that have increased access to healthcare for rural communities.

The SBA's Community Advantage Loan Program provides mission-oriented lenders, primarily nonprofit financial intermediaries focused on economic development, access to 7(a) loan guaranties for loans of $250,000 or less. This program participation...

The National League of Cities, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Mayors & CEOs for U.S. Housing Investments prepared this guide for elected officials to help maximize federal resources made...

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, we will explore the challenges of historic preservation projects and how financing tools can be combined to make preservation projects possible.

During the May 1, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, listeners heard how four prominent leaders in impact investing are responding to both the economic crisis and the public health crisis, learned about the types of solutions and...

During the April 24, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, listeners were given updates from SBA and HUD on early statistics for the PPP and EIDL programs, as well as additional actions taken by both agencies such as payment forgiveness...

The Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response provides grantees with information on implementing CDBG funds in a coordinated effort with local health authorities before undertaking any activity to support state...

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, we will explore if the performance of social impact bonds (SIBs) is living up to the hype and how SIBs can be used as a powerful tool for community development.

On April 16, 2020, HUD and FHA published these answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to all multifamily housing stakeholders. Topics include Emergency Preparedness, CARES Act assistance and other funding available Asset Management,...

This white paper looks at how 5 successful programs can be used to finance the recovery from COVID-19. The 5 programs are C-PACE and R-PACE, State Historic Tax Credits, State Opportunity Zones Programs, State New Markets Tax Credits, and Solar and...

USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This resource matrix organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and...

During the April 10, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, Bruce Katz from Drexel University, Rachel Reilly from the Economic Innovation Group, and Katie Kramer from CDFA examined relief efforts run by local governments, philanthropic...

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina published this business relief resources document with FAQs and links to important resources for North Carolina business owners.

During the April 3, 2020 Weekly COVID-19 Development Finance Briefing, experts from the North Carolina Rural Center, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the New Orleans Business Alliance discussed their respective approaches to local...

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals prepare to file for a loan.

This is a summary of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from the Congressional Research Service. This is the third in a series of legislative packages addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Created by Business Oregon's finance team, this resource guide is meant to help small businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This Resilience Toolkit for Los Angeles Businesses was produced by LAEDC.

The novel coronavirus has tested the durability of federal, state and local governments around the country and the world. This list of resources is meant to connect leaders with useful tools to aid in response efforts.

Local government managers should prepare their communities by reviewing their emergency response plans for pandemic events. Begin by discussing these prompts with your leadership team and partner organizations and pair this discussion guide with...

Local elected officials are distinctly positioned to protect the health and safety of residents and to provide reassurance in times of crisis. The National League of Cities developed this resource page to support cities, towns and villages during...

Based on the input of our 500+ members, CDFA has developed a set of policy proposals that would allow state and local governments, through development finance agencies, to be immediate problem solvers that can help alleviate the extreme economic...

It is now clear that the coronavirus pandemic will exact a staggering toll on the American economy. By any measure, an economy that not long ago had driven Americans' confidence in the labor market and optimism about their financial security to...

This Reinvestment Roadmap was drafted by the City of Erie and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership for the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.

CALED knows from its work supporting economic development throughout California that infrastructure financing is a challenge for many rural communities. CALED collaborated with CDFA to develop this guidebook to meet the need for a resource to help...

"Moving America and the Environment Forward" is a House Ways and Means Committee statement of principles on how the committee wants to approach an infrastructure bill. It includes $760 billion of proposals.

This report by the Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation was prepared on January 29, 2020 for a hearing before the House Committee on Ways and Means. It discusses an overview of infrastructure financing options, including the highway trust fund,...

The Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan Program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities. This is an Applicant Guidance Book for the USDA's Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.

This report provides financing strategies for the redevelopment of One Monument Square in Troy, NY.

Communities that face socioeconomic challenges often lack the capacity to undertake the use of many financing tools that are used for economic growth and development. In urban, rural, and suburban communities alike, communities are exploring locally...

This report addresses questions often asked by caring people who shepherd resources that could be channeled to advance rural people and places — foundation leaders, individual investors and government officials.