Production methods such as regenerative agriculture are associated with climate adaptation and resilience. Such methods offer the best path forward to preserving long-term viability of an industry that is foundational to basic societal needs. From a...

The Climate Capital Guidebook aggregates current federal funding opportunities—including grants, loans, loan guarantees, and cooperative agreements—for small- and medium-sized companies, both start-ups and established businesses, focusing on clean...

This issue brief produced by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment examines the varying definitions of regenerative agriculture and details the three types of factors that make financing regenerative agriculture difficult: outdated...

The SLM White Paper, Investing in Regenerative Agriculture: Reflections from the Past Decade, sets out the investment and environmental case for regenerative agriculture, while also highlighting the risks and challenges. It is an update to an...

During the January 2024 State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) all-jurisdiction overview, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) presented a summary of the Regional Technology & Innovation Hubs Program.

On January 19, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury published an updated FAQ document for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The update concerns questions about a jurisdiction's venture capital fund program.

CDFA and its coalition partners submitted a $2 billion Clean Investment Accelerator for Development Finance Agencies (DFAs) proposal for the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator competition under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Under this...

The “Reframing Farmland as an Investment: A Compelling Opportunity in an Inflationary Environment” report explains why interest in the farmland asset class has never been higher - from historically being one of the most stable asset classes...

The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is excited to announce that the Tucson Industrial Development Authority and the Development Finance Agency of Summit County, have begun active lending within the CDFA Equitable Capital Loan...

Sovereignty and Indigenous definitions of wealth make up the core values on which Natives have built their economic and financial power. Yet, there is still the issue of economic invisibility for Native Peoples, and one of the ways to combat this is...

Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses includes sources of local, regional, and national finance opportunities that may be available to producers, distributors, food hubs, and food-related businesses. Initially informed by a list of funding...

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) shared an expanded fact sheet for the Tech Hubs program. Designed to help those interested in applying for the upcoming funding opportunity, the fact sheet outlines...

CapShift has released “How to Invest in Sustainable and Regenerative Food and Agriculture,” a guide to understanding the complex landscape of food and agriculture investing. The food and agriculture space touches on climate change, economic...

In the seed market, promoting fair and vibrant competition involves considerations of intellectual property (IP) law, antitrust and other fair business practices law, and public investment in our food system. These are complex and often confusing...

Challenged by the historically discriminatory lending practices that inform the lack of diversity and equity in our current agricultural landscape, the mission of Black Farmer Fund is to nurture Black community wealth & health by investing capital...

A new report from Croatan Institute highlights how the Soil Wealth Area model can facilitate more investment in regenerative agriculture, enhance conservation, and support resilient rural economies. The report provides specific recommendations for...

This FOA supports the administration goals laid out above by supporting the development of workforce programs and partnerships that will facilitate the continued deployment of solar energy technologies, while supporting an inclusive workforce with...

This request for information (RFI) is intended to inform the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on the development of a new platform to...

The U.S. Department of Treasury announced an additional group of nine state plans approved under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Treasury has approved more than $1.5 billion in funding to promote small business growth through...

This program is specifically designed to boost ownership among individuals disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement. Funded by $500,000 of the city's cannabis sales tax revenues, the program seeks to train and elevate...

The Franklin Templeton Institute, a global investment management organization, released its latest insights paper, “Food innovation: Investing to feed our future,” focusing on the innovation and investments needed to feed a growing global population...

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) launched a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic...

Widening geographic inequality in the United States has shifted federal policymakers' attention to investing in "places" as well as "people." Given the large proportion of rural places in the Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional...

Launched in 2016, SEED Initiatives is supported by an ongoing $1 million in cannabis tax revenue allocation and is a vehicle for single-source monitoring, measuring, and reporting on the city’s cannabis tax revenue. The SEED Grant Fund supports...

This report reviews the Biden administration’s key efforts and accomplishments to advance equity in its first year and outlines future policies needed to build a better and more dynamic nation that equitably respects the rights and meets the needs...

The California Public Banking Alliance (CPBA) is a coalition of public banking activists in California founded in 2018 to create socially and environmentally responsible city and regional public banks. Since the passage of AB 857, multiple local...

This brief analyzes U.S. EDA data from 2010 to 2019 to paint a broad picture of the agency’s programs and grantmaking activities. During this period, EDA invested an average of $361 million a year across its programs.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) awarded $3.9 million in federal funding to thirteen grant recipients to establish MBDA American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) projects. To support...

CDFA hosted this public briefing on November 22, 2021 to provide an overview of the new SSBCI Capital Program Policy Guidelines as well as application timelines and requirements. CDFA along with representatives from Treasury discussed key provisions...

Treasury has posted documents and resources for the 2021 SSBCI program application. An online application portal will become available in the coming days.

Tulsa Remote, one of the nation’s first and largest remote worker relocation initiatives, has brought more than 1,200 remote workers to the city since 2018 by offering a $10,000 grant and additional support services to eligible workers who move to...

This white paper from gener8tor discusses the importance of supporting underrepresented founders and underinvested business sectors (i.e. music, art, child care).

Gener8tor produced this summary/reading guide of the SSBCI guidance that the U.S. Department of the Treasury released on November 10, 2021.

This November 2021 Fact Sheet from the U.S. Department of the Treasury discusses the five types of SSBCI programs. The programs available under SSBCI are 1) Venture Capital Programs, 2) Loan Participation Programs, 3) Loan Guarantee Programs, 4)...

To achieve the broader range of positive impact possible with place-based investments, policymakers at all levels should take an integrated approach to transformative placemaking, which enables them to design their strategies and evaluate their...

This report is a blueprint to renew New York. It includes actionable ideas from over 175 New Yorkers—including small business owners, company CEOs, labor leaders, community advocates, nonprofit practitioners, artists, college presidents, and former...

The Angel Funders Report 2021, published by the Angel Capital Association, uses verified data provided directly by active angel investing groups. The report is based on information collected from a variety of ACA member groups, including some of the...

In this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we broke down the real and perceived risks of lending and discussed a variety of affordable financing solutions that are being employed by development finance agencies to invest in...

Together, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development mission area have developed this Joint Resource Guide to further our commitment to...

This Interactive Guide from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provides an interactive, step-by-step approach for users to filter through more than 90 broadband related programs compiled from 12 federal agencies...

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...

This white paper, authored by three researchers at Drexel University's Nowak Metro Finance Lab, argues that to drive a recovery that expands opportunity and innovation, local leaders would be well put to think about ways they can maximize SSBCI...

In this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explored how tech innovations are increasing access to financing for food-related businesses and projects, and how finance is supporting the integration of new technology in...

This guide was created by the USDA in 2021 for community leaders and other local entities. The guide highlights four key assistance types necessary to building a stronger rural workforce: 1) Workforce development planning; 2) Infrastructure and...

The USDA Rural Development published a final rule outlining changes to the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) on June 7, 2021. The program provides loans and grants to microenterprise development organizations to help them establish...

This paper considers the role of TCUs and in particular the role of TCU curriculum in business development and entrepreneurship in tribal areas. We utilize existing data on TCU curriculum and tribal area characteristics and consider whether and to...

This investment profile from the Economic Innovation Group showcases Agile Space Industries located in Durango, CO. Agile designs, manufactures, and tests integrated aerospace propulsion systems, and has the only independent propulsion test facility...

Quality Electrodynamics (QED) turned to JobsOhio for support in creating a research and development (R&D) center for collaboration and innovation. This case study examines how the JobsOhio Research & Development Grant Program was able to assist QED.