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Online Resource Database

Most resources in the ORD are available to CDFA members only. CDFA members should login with their CDFA Account at the top of the page to access the full set of resources. Non-members are encouraged to join CDFA today to gain access to the entire database.

Search Results: Rural Development
Displaying 1 - 50 of 619 Previous | Next | New Search
USDA Equity Action Plan - 2023 Update
A groundbreaking report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity Commission features more than 60 recommendations designed to make policies affecting farming and rural America more fair. A few key recommendations include...
CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Toolkit
The CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Toolkit is a set of best practice resources designed to provide practical assistance to communities looking to invest in socially disadvantaged farmers and...
Credit Worth and Soil Wealth: An Environmental, Social, and Governance Analysis of the Farm Credit SystemMembers only Login
Croatan Institute and Self-Help announce the release of a major new collaborative report that explores leading challenges faced by the Farm Credit System – the largest lender in the agricultural sector. This new report documents leading...
CDFA Coalition Submits $2B Clean Investment Accelerator for DFAs Proposal Under Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Competition
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...
DevelopOhio Economic Incentives Toolkit - An Effective Economic Development Toolkit for Growth and Job Creation
This guide from Bricker Graydon outlines the array of tools with which Ohio economic development practitioners can intervene to stimulate or induce development to occur — or occur sooner than market forces sometimes allow — in their communities....
2023 Rural Development Finance Toolkit
The purpose of this toolkit is to provide an overview of the tools in the development finance toolbox -- such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and revolving loan funds -- and how they can direct and attract capital to rural businesses...
Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses, Eighth EditionMembers only Login
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...
Territorial and Farmers Financing MechanismsMembers only Login
Forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs) from Africa, Asia, and the Americas met with potential donors and allies in Washington D.C. to discuss advantages and opportunities to invest in and strengthen the capacities of indigenous, community,...
Black Farmer Fund
THE MISSION OF BLACK FARMER FUND IS TO NURTURE BLACK COMMUNITY WEALTH & HEALTH BY INVESTING IN BLACK AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE NORTHEAST.
A Community Guide to Organizing Small FarmsMembers only Login
Since 1976, the American Friends Service Committee’s New Mexico program has identified with the struggles of local people to empower themselves, with particular attention to water and land use, and the need to support traditional ways of life.
Mad CapitalMembers only Login
The most flexible, transparent, and customized financing built exclusively for organic, regenerative, and transitioning farmers.
Comptroller’s Handbook Agricultural Lending Members only Login
The booklet discusses the general risks inherent in agricultural (Ag) lending and describes supervisory expectations and regulatory requirements for prudent risk management of this lending activity. It includes expanded examination procedures to...
Small–Scale Or Diversified Farmers And RanchersMembers only Login
Highlighted Farm Service Agency Programs for Small–Scale or diversified Farmers and Ranchers.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural PlaybookMembers only Login
A roadmap for delivering opportunity and investments in rural America. This playbook is intended to help rural communities understand the available funding for infrastructure provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources –...
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Technical Assistance GuideMembers only Login
This guide provides a list of over 65 technical assistance resources and programs across the federal government to help communities deliver infrastructure projects. The guide is organized by types of infrastructure investments - such as...
Agricultural Lending: A How-To Guide Members only Login
Agriculture is the main source of income and employment for the 70 percent of the world's poor, who live in rural areas. Yet, only 10 percent of gross domestic produce (GDP) in low and middle income countries is generated by the agricultural sector....
The Major Players In Agri-FinanceMembers only Login
Here are some of the big players in the agri-finance universe. The types of players include banks that specialize in agricultural loans, nonbank finance companies that do land and equipment loans, farmer-owned lending co-ops, REITs that own and...
A Guidebook to Assist Agricultural Water Suppliers to Prepare an Agricultural Water Management Plan Members only Login
Agricultural water suppliers in California have a long history of preparing agricultural water management plans (AWMPs) and in implementing efficient water management practices (EWMPs). However, water management planning is not static; changing...
Your Guide to Organic and Organic Related USDA Programs Members only Login
This Organic Resource Guide provides an overview of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services available to the public that either directly or indirectly support organic agriculture. Some programs have the specific...
The Farmer’s Guide to Agricultural Credit Members only Login
This guide is aimed at helping farmers get ready to ask a lender for the financing needed in new and innovative ventures. When used as part of an overall enterprise development strategy, it can help farmers and lenders achieve mutually beneficial...
Finding Land and Capital for Your FarmMembers only Login
As a new farmer or rancher, access to land and access to capital are the biggest challenges. The first step should be developing a farm business plan. This resource will show you the following steps to achieving a farm business plan.
Livestock Production Contracts: Risks For Family Farmers Members only Login
Compensation provisions in production contracts vary widely. They are often complex and difficult to understand. Contracts may have grade and quality premiums that are calculated based on the production of other growers under contract with the...
Start Farming! Resources for the Beginning FarmerMembers only Login
As more and more people demand local and or ganic food, there are increasing opportunities for new farmers. The growing organic market can provide the opportunity, but it is challenging to start your own farm without proper planning.
Minnesota Beginning Farmer Loan ProgramMembers only Login
The Beginning Farmer Loan Program was established to help people who want to farm in Minnesota. The program offers affordable financing, a reasonable down payment and built-in safeguards, such as farm management training and financial planning to...
Systems Research For Agriculture Innovative Solutions to Complex ChallengesMembers only Login
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) is a grant-making and outreach program. Its mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in...
Farm Service Agency Microloan Program
This guide will introduce you to the new Microloan program offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 1 Under this new program, FSA will make loans of up to $35,000 to farmers for farm operating...
Loans for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Building a successful farm is a significant financial investment and can be especially challenging for beginning farmers who are not financially ready to access credit from commercial lenders. While FSA is fully committed to all farmers and...
Black Farmer Fund Annual Report 2021Members only Login
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...
Local Policy to Promote Healthy Food Access: A Food Systems FrameworkMembers only Login
To help local policymakers, leaders, advocates, researchers, and others understand policy options for communities seeking to increase access to healthy food, the Healthy Food Policy Project (HFPP) developed a framework to show how local...
CDFA Community Facilities Technical Assistance for Tribal Communities Press Release
The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is pleased to announce the CDFA Community Facilities Technical Assistance Program for Tribal Communities, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This program aims to to increase...
Strategies To Address Climate Risks and Capture OpportunitiesMembers only Login
This guide provides agricultural finance institutions with strategies to address climate risks and capture climate opportunities. This guide aims to provide mid-level and senior-level agricultural finance professionals with an introductory...
Building a Clean Energy Economy Members only Login
The Inflation Reduction Act makes a historic commitment to build a new clean energy economy, powered by American innovators, American workers, and American manufacturers, that will create good-paying union jobs and cut the pollution that is fueling...
Investing in Regenerative Agriculture Infrastructure Across Value ChainsMembers only Login
Regenerative farms rely on small-to-mid scale, aligned infrastructure to process, transport, and market their products. These middle infrastructure businesses help to improve farm income and bolster regional food economies while providing...
Stronger Together - Federal Funding and Planning Strategies for Rural AmericaMembers only Login
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...
Defining Distress: Lessons from the Federally Chartered Regional CommissionsMembers only Login
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...
Debunking Risk in Food System Lending
Food and agriculture-related businesses are often perceived as too risky for traditional lending approaches, yet CDFA research tells a different story. This report, with loan-level data from over a thousand funds nationwide, demonstrates that food...
SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program Guidelines
This document provides guidance on the application, award requirements, and administration of the TA Grant Program. Section II describes the available TA Grant Program funding. Section III defines eligible recipients, eligible beneficiaries, and...
Growing Opportunity: A Guide to USDA Sustainable Farming ProgramsMembers only Login
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with farmer-serving organizations, such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and its members to better reach and serve an increasingly diverse farmer and rancher constituency for...
USDA Resources for Rural EntrepreneursMembers only Login
This is a USDA resource guide to help people in rural America start and grow businesses, create good-paying jobs in their communities and strengthen America’s economy. The guide features information on how rural entrepreneurs can use USDA and other...
USDA Advancing Equity in Distressed Rural CommunitiesMembers only Login
U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Department is increasing the maximum loan amount to $400,000 under the Intermediary Relending Program. This change is in accordance with provisions in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018...
CDFA - Frost Brown Todd LLC Infrastructure Finance Series: Unlocking Capital for Infrastructure Projects
Across the nation a growing variety of infrastructure projects are utilizing complex and layered capital stacks. Speakers will discuss how utilities, housing, transportation, renewable energy, community facilities, and other community infrastructure...
Displaying 1 - 50 of 619 Previous | Next | New Search

CDFA National Sponsors

  • BNY Mellon
  • Bricker Graydon LLP
  • Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
  • Business Oregon
  • CohnReznick
  • Frost Brown Todd LLP
  • Grow America | Formerly NDC
  • Hawes Hill and Associates LLP
  • Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
  • Ice Miller LLP
  • KeyBanc Capital Markets
  • Kutak Rock LLP
  • McGuireWoods
  • MuniCap, Inc.
  • NW Financial Group, LLC
  • PGAV Planners, LLC
  • Raza Development Fund
  • SB Friedman Development Advisors
  • Stifel Nicolaus
  • U.S. Bank
  • Wells Fargo Securities
  • Z. The Bond Buyer
Become a Sponsor