Education

CDFA offers a variety of educational opportunities, including training courses, seminars, workshops, webcasts, and publications. Through the CDFA Training Institute’s vast course offerings and professional development opportunities, participants from both the public and private sectors can learn how to utilize the development finance toolbox. Click on the options below to learn more about how to build your development finance knowledge and expertise.

-CDFA Training Institute

The CDFA Training Institute offers the nation’s most comprehensive education dedicated to the economic development finance industry. Courses are offered in both in-person and online settings using a variety of teaching methods. Development finance professionals are encouraged to further their industry knowledge by completing CDFA's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program.

The CDFA Training Institute offers courses in two broad categories: Tool Specific and Topic Specific. Click on a course name below to learn more about that course’s objectives and agenda.

Tool Specific Courses

-Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program

CDFA’s Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program is an intense training course learning experience and is the industry's only comprehensive development finance professional certification program. The DFCP Program is designed to produce graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of development finance concepts, tools and applicability as well as a deep understanding of the entire development finance spectrum. Participants in the DFCP Program are required to complete six courses in the CDFA Training Institute and then pass a comprehensive exam to receive the professional DFCP designation.

Learn More about the DFCP Program

Collapse

-Seminars & Workshops

CDFA offers customized seminars and workshops on a variety of development finance topics. Seminars and workshops can be conducted onsite at the CDFA offices, online in a web-based format, or at a specific location. These events are tailored to the specific needs of the client and audience, and can range from very basic to advanced development finance topics. CDFA has provided targeted seminars or workshops to the following clients in the past:

Business Oregon
California State University at Fresno
Georgia Institute of Technology: Economic Development and Technology Ventures
International Economic Development Council
LISC Milwaukee
Mid-America Economic Development Council
National Association of Home Builders
National League of Cities
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
New York State Economic Development Council
North Carolina Economic Developers Association
Ohio Department of Development
Ohio Economic Development Association
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Pennsylvania Economic Development Association
Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
Texas Economic Development Council
Southern Economic Development Council
University of Tennessee
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Energy

To learn more about customized seminars and workshops and to receive a specific quote, contact CDFA.
Collapse

-Webcasts

CDFA offers webcasts on timely and pressing topics in the development finance industry. Most webcasts are available for free to the general public and feature panel discussions from industry experts. All webcasts are archived in the CDFA Online Resource Database for long term viewing.

View CDFA Webcasts

Collapse

-Publications

The CDFA Bookstore offers several publications on development finance topics, including bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, revolving loan funds, and more. These publications form the primary curriculum for courses offered through the CDFA Training Institute. Publications are available for purchase with special discounts available to CDFA members.

View CDFA Bookstore

Collapse