On March 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury held an informational webinar on the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP). The webinar also had guest speakers from the...

During the January 2024 State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) quarterly all-jurisdiction call, the National Institute of Standards and Technology provided an overview of the CHIPS for America program and its small business opportunities.

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.

The TBCP is a federal program that provides grants to eligible tribal entities to expand access to and adoption of broadband service on tribal land and to promote the use of broadband to access remote learning, telework, or telehealth resources.

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...

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 –...

MBDA is seeking proposals for its $93.5 million Capital Readiness Program grant competition to help minority and other underserved entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses. This Program will provide funding to incubators, accelerators, and...

The urgency and importance of congressional attention cannot be overstated. America’s global economic standing is under threat as digital disruption, the race for talent, and widening inequality both within and across regions challenge the nation’s...

The Federal Reserve has created this book to bring together community and economic development researchers, practitioners, philanthropists, and others to showcase the great work happening across this country and to outline a framework for conducting...

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...

USDA Rural Development (RD) developed this guide as a resource for rural communities seeking disaster resiliency and recovery assistance. The recent National Climate Assessment (NCA) identifies that more frequent and extreme weather and...

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...

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...

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) provides local governments with an unprecedented opportunity to access federal funding to support community priorities. The ARP includes direct funding (known as Fiscal Recovery Funds) to state and local...

Federal economic adjustment assistance (EAA) programs were established, in part, to help workers adjust to these economic disruptions. Experts in the GAO's roundtable identified a range of challenges to using EAA programs to effectively respond to...

This table includes all the federal-to-local funding streams in the American Rescue Plan that reach cities and their residents. It does not include appropriations to Tribal Governments or Agency appropriations focused on program operations at the...

This report from Drexel University's Nowak Metro Finance Lab provides a guide to federal funding in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The authors place a special emphasis on formula funds received by local anchors, competitive grants, and funds...

This presentation from the EDA discusses Revolving Loan Fund de-federalization and implementation of the RLF Act passed in late 2020.

Throughout the CDFA EDA RLF Best Practices Program, several common characteristics emerged from high performing RLFs. The best practices outlined in this guide synthesize these exceptional traits and address the strategies employed by successful EDA...

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for broadband and the gaps in broadband access. As part of our collaboration with Ice Miller, this video is designed to provide a review of the various approaches to expanding broadband access and how to assess...

This 2019 report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) examines the the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which is operated by the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

On February 13, 2019, the American Broadband Initiative was launched with the release of the Milestones Report, detailing the Administration’s strategy to drive changes across Federal Agencies to identify and remove barriers to broadband access and...

During the second installment of the CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series, we continued to explore what responses and resources are available to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on rural America.

During the first installment of the CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series, we explored the immediate response and resources at the state, local, and national levels that local leaders can use to reduce the impact of this crisis.

This is a Summary of the Supplemental Appropriations included in the Senate's third COVID-19 Stimulus package, the CARES Act. More than 80% of the total $339.855 billion provided in the emergency supplemental appropriations goes to state and local...

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...

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...

This report provides financing strategies for the redevelopment of the Former Alaska Native Service Hospital in Anchorage, AK

"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 study by Summit Consulting and the W.E. Upjohn Institute finds that the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) Program generates a substantial economic and financial return of...

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

Jim Hamilton presents U.S. EDA Data, Tools, and Technical Assistance for Economic Development

Fund recapitalization can come from many sources, including local, state, and federal governments or financial and philanthropic institutions. Depending on the source, there may be certain requirements that need to be satisfied when moving through...

Susan Brehm from U.S. Department of Commerce presents on Opportunity Zones in Conjunction with Federal Parners in Ohio during the Ohio Roundtable

This webinar, hosted by the EDA, provided info about the content of the 2019 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It helped attendees increase understanding of eligibility and EDA’s application submission and review process,...

Designing the Revolving Loan Fund is one of the most critical aspects of the program process. The design process should be thorough and clearly defined to address the goals and objectives of the RLF while also clearly outlining the expectations of...

The White House Opportunity & Revitalization Council released a list of over 160 federal financing programs that give preference to projects located in Opportunity Zones.

The varying size of Revolving Loan Funds leaves many organizations without the financial and staff capacity to effectively support all aspects of a lending program and building partnerships can enhance its effectiveness and impact. Key partnerships...

This RLF plan, produced by the Village of Rantoul, Illinois, was adopted in 2017.

Hundreds of Revolving Loan Fund programs exist nationwide that are underutilized and in many cases unknown to the business and development industry. Marketing the RLF is a critical component in operating a successful program. A RLF agency should...

Mitchell Harrison from the U.S. Economic Development Administration provides an overview of the capital access tools offered by the EDA at the 2019 CDFA Federal Policy Conference.

Hundreds of development finance programs exist at the federal, state, and local level. These programs have been created to address the financing needs of business, industry, real estate, housing, environmental and community development entities....

Staffing a Revolving Loan Fund requires a team of financial specialists and dedicated sources of revenue. In one approach – best for funds issuing a higher volume of loans – each team member is responsible for a different stage of the lending...

Revolving Loan Fund committees are essential to a program’s success. If properly leveraged, the RLF Committee can be a key resource in finding borrowers for your RLF program and making good decisions for sustainability of the fund. Many successful...

The Idaho Commerce, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, hosted an Opportunity Zones Forum.The forum discussed the Opportunity Zones Program and the Opportunity Zones located throughout Idaho. Additionally, participants...

Awarding the loan is just the beginning of a longer process. In order to be successful, RLF staff must maintain regular communication with the borrower and provide ongoing loan servicing. Many RLFs have found success in building partnerships with...

Successful RLF programs always make every attempt to craft a good loan. Some businesses, though, will inevitably struggle to repay. How your fund handles loans and borrowers during this difficult period can help minimize losses and maximize...

The EDA Revolving Loan Fund Program helps small businesses access capital, especially when traditional lending institutions are not a good fit. The program allows for innovation, and many communities have designed their programs to meet the unique...

Managing a RLF is multi-faceted. Mike O'Donnell covers the skills that fund managers and support staff need, developing a policy manual, and identifying the role of the RLF Committee.