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...

Linking development finance and food systems can be a daunting undertaking for any community. Research on the current ecosystem of food systems finance has positioned CDFA to identify key strategies for the path ahead in this work. The Food Systems...

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...

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...

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food and Transformational Investing in Food Systems Initiative (TIFS) released a comprehensive new report that gives investors a roadmap of creative finance strategies that support entrepreneurs, farmers,...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explored how investing in food-centered redevelopment can restore local food systems infrastructure, catalyze additional neighborhood development, and protect healthy,...

CDFA released the final publication of the CDFA Food Finance White Paper Series, Advancing Local Food Systems Through Development Finance. This webinar provides an overview of this publication as we review CDFA's framework for expanding traditional...

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;...

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...

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...

In 2011, Governor Cuomo created ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) and the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) to advance the administration’s efforts to improve New York’s business climate and expand economic growth. This 2019...

Price Finley, Lance Gilliam, Heather Lepeska, and Jenny Osman present Emerging Urban Food Financing Programs.

This paper continues a white paper series demonstrating the ways in which traditional development financing is already supporting food systems, with a focus on finance tools that help to stimulate investment. An overview of investment tools, such as...

This report uses information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS, 2013 to 2017) to describe the structural and economic characteristics of beginning farms and illustrate how they differ from more...

Established in the 1980s, the ‘‘Aggie Bond’’ program provides beginning and low-equity farmers with access to capital. The bonds, which pay tax-exempt interest, may be used by qualifying famers for purchases of farm real estate and equipment. The...

U.S. farmers are currently facing the most difficult agricultural economy since the 1980s. At the same time, many states are wrestling with the necessity of addressing environmental challenges. This report expounds upon the excellent work states are...

This white paper is part of a series examining the potential creation of a food systems asset class which supports the market growth of local and regional food systems. This paper focuses specifically on targeted financing tools that can be used to...

This information summarizes Farm Credit System 2018 lending activity to young, beginning, and small (YBS) farmers, ranchers, and producers or harvesters of aquatic products. For total System loans, the number of new loans made in 2018 declined by...

The Fair Food Fund was designed to meet these entrepreneurs where they are and take them where they want to go. Since 2013, we have invested more than $3 million in 13 food businesses. Just as important is supporting these businesses on the road to...

Can women and minorities get the loans they need to buy and operate farms? According to USDA survey data, these "socially disadvantaged" farmers and ranchers get a disproportionately small share of farm loans. More detailed information isn’t...

Researched and written by CDFA, this is the third 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 focuses specifically on bond...

The State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2018 is a tool for those working to advance the farm to school movement, whose core elements include local food procurement, school gardens, and food and agriculture education. The Handbook summarizes...

Research and written by CDFA, this white paper is part of a series examining the potential creation of a food systems asset class which supports the market growth of local and regional food systems which meet the economic, social, environmental, and...

Louisiana’s Healthy Food Retail Program (HFRP) was established by the Louisiana Legislature to provide flexible financing for healthy food retailers operating or expanding in underserved communities in Louisiana affected by Hurricanes Gustav and...

Public and private partners are finding ways to serve more healthy food options to economically distressed communities with a few helpings of new markets tax credits (NMTCs).

Ohio State aims to increase the amount of local and sustainable food options it provides across its dining facilities to equal at least 40% of its food offerings by 2025. A panel comprised of Ohio State faculty, students, staff and external...

Traditionally, Development Finance and the Food System have not collaborated in any significant fashion. However, food systems can be brought into coordination with public finance in order to bring capital to the system as a whole. Brian Estabrook...

Traditionally, Development Finance and the Food System have not collaborated in any significant fashion. However, food systems can be brought into coordination with public finance in order to bring capital to the system as a whole. Toby Rittner with...

Tim Crosby explores the most innovative and effective access to capital tools used for agriculture-based business, including loan funds and federal and state programs.

Mike Lufkin and Bea Covington discuss the local food systems in WA and how it's become a growing challenge. Mike and Bea discuss changes to the way food is reaching consumers and addressing social issues.

Barry Ryan discusses what The Rural Center is doing to support rural economic development in North Carolina.

Gary Smith covers the importance of connecting farmers to business resources, training and financing in order to grow business and promote smart agricultural economic development.

Debra Tropp from the USDA introduces a new publication from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and USDA entitled Harvesting Opportunities: The Power of Regional Food Systems Investments to...

Maximilian Merrill covers the core elements of farm to school collaborations.

Stephen McHenry with MARBIDCO covers programs and opportunities for beginning farmers in Maryland.

New state agriculture programs in Minnesota support first time farmers around the state. Ryan Roles with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rural Finance Authority gives an overview of new programs and changes to the state's agriculture...

Andy Wood gives an overview of what the Vermont Agricultural Credit Corporation is doing to support farmers struggling to obtain financing in Vermont.

The intention of this NWC NextGen Agribusiness Economic Development Strategy is to expand the NWC conversation beyond entertainment, competition, and education and into research and innovation.

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan looks back at the start of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative and discusses building local food systems into the USDA culture. David Deloach, owner of Freshfields, talks about operating locally grown...

In 2011-2012, the Los Angeles Food Policy Council developed the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), an innovative local food procurement policy aimed at building markets for good food to create an equitable food system for all of Los Angeles.

HFFI provides one-time grants and loans to projects like grocery stores, farmers markets, food hubs, co-ops and other food access businesses in urban or rural areas of need, many of whom face barriers in accessing traditional loans and resources....

This profile highlights the Farm to Plate (F2P) Investment Program, which was designed to strategically strengthen the state’s food and farm sector and encourage the purchasing of local foods.

The Food Trust provides a list of healthy food financing programs across the country. This list includes all of the program's partners, funding sources, and types of financing.

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, listen to Joe Bute of Hollymead Capital, Larry Yee of the Food Commons, and David Safer of The Bank of New York Mellon discuss food systems finance. From food hubs...

During this CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast, hear from food systems experts as they share financing options available for development in the local and sustainable food industry.

Business Facilities provides a list of some of the incentives available for companies in New York.

Access to nutritious, affordable food is a key factor in improving health outcomes, combating diet-related diseases and creating healthy communities. However, for small stores—including corner stores, bodegas, convenience stores, fuel-based retail...

Karen Rich, Program Director for the USDA, gives a comprehensive look at local food system investment practices.

The presenter discussed the definition of food system and finance tools and resources available for food business.

Tony Logan and Vince Paumier of the USDA discuss a range of financing programs available to rural communities.