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 2019, the Governor signed House Memorial 16 directing the Economic Development Department (NMEDD) to bring together stakeholders and convene an Economic Development Innovation Task Force to spur collaboration and innovative discussions on methods...

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...

In August, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet announced three grants worth $5 million to spur economic development and job creation in Eastern Kentucky. How might these grants be used locally and are there opportunities for leveraging this...

Clint Kaasa discusses how the USDA provides financing programs and strategies for Native communities in Arizona and considers how to leverage the available capital for even greater investment.

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...

Urban communities like Cleveland and Cincinnati are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Ohio is filled with rural communities and small towns that are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique...

Urban communities like Atlanta and Savannah are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Georgia is filled with rural communities and small towns that are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique...

Urban communities like Austin and Dallas are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Texas is filled with rural communities and small towns who are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique development...

Urban communities like Minneapolis and St. Paul are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Minnesota is filled with rural communities and small towns who are also in need of financing strategies. A number of creative and...

Rural Development (RD) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report outlining the costs to maintain and upgrade the Rural Housing Services’ (RHS’s) inventory of 14,650 multifamily housing properties. The Comprehensive Property Assessment...

Lisa Carhuff of the The Georgia Department of Community Health describes the organization's various development finance programs for rural hospitals in the state.

The Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit can be used as a guide to help organizations and community leaders better understand the complex process that is required to successfully develop and construct a new facility. The Toolkit outlines the...

This report by Ernst and Young explains how administrations can make rural projects effective and leverage what public funds they do have available for investment growth through financial innovation, competition, and appropriate private sector...

Hunter Hook, Vice President of CoBank, dissects general challenges and broad solutions to financing rural infrastructure projects, such as waste water and community facilities.

Joe Mueller from the USDA gives an overview of growing rural businesses and the local economies with the use of USDA Rural Development's programs.

Many rural areas have underdeveloped assets that compound their economic challenges and hinder potential expansion. States can employ economic development strategies that build on a region’s strengths. This study indicates three strategies for...

Many nonprofit housing developers have begun to form their own community lending institutions. This resource provides case study analyses of four different revolving loan funds in varied contexts.

This article provides various guiding principles to small cities for developing rural downtowns. Principles covered include developing a vision and plan for the downtown, identifying and building upon local assets, building a strong public-private...

This guide explains important principles to develop a strong rural downtown. Topics include developing a vision and plan for the downtown, identify and build upon local assets, build a strong public-private partnership, enhance the downtown's sense...

A case study from Fort Kent, ME describes using TIF in rural communities. This resource explains tax increment financing including its traditional uses, downtown revitalization, its implications for local tax burden, and regional funding effort.

Ryan Barrow, Executive Director at the Office of Financial Management presents on the KentuckyWired Program. He explains the conceptual network design, commonwealth debt framework, and the comparison of tax-exempt structures.

Steve Gilbert, Vice President for The HWH Group, and Rick Rhodes of the Texas Department of Agriculture explain a variety of tools and entities responsible for rural finance in the state of Texas.

Oregon State Director, Vicki Walker, presentation on the programs from USDA Rural Development.

In this presentation, Gray Smith, President and CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council, examines rural financing strategies. Aggie Bonds are explained in detail, including eligibility and the application process.

This annual report summarizes many factors that play a role in growing Kentucky's agriculture economy and how KADF investments continue to be crucial to that growth. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund's programs have been in action for a...

Chuck Clendenin from California's USDA, gives a thorough overview on opportunities for finance though the USDA. Areas covered include community programs, business & cooperatives, single family housing, and multi-family housing.

James Hamill with Bridge Strategic Partners provides information on development finance opportunities for small towns and rural communities.

Slides from Rob Lane and Jeff Stouffer's presentation of the USDA Pennsylvania State Office business and community lending programs for rural areas and small towns.

Rob Lane and Jeff Stouffer of the USDA Pennsylvania State Office share information on the lending programs available for rural areas and small towns in this state focused webcast.

This guide was developed by USDA Rural Development for existing and prospective rural business owners to identify and explain the many government programs and resources available in Oregon to help plan, develop and finance a business.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition begins this guide with a general overview of the USDA’s structure, followed by descriptions and details of 15 grants and programs that are relevant to local and regional food systems development. Each...

This progress report from the USDA takes a look over the 2013 performance of rural development programs in the state.

This progress report from the USDA takes a look over the 2013 performance of rural development programs in the state.

This progress report from the USDA takes a look over the 2013 performance of rural development programs in the state.

Enterprise Florida and Boyette Strategic Advisors developed an Economic Development Strategic Plan for Rural Florida. The study was developed with involvement of nearly 500 participants including economic professionals and elected officials in rural...

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) assists public water systems to finance the costs of infrastructure needed to achieve or maintain compliance with state requirements and to protect public health objectives. The DWSRF program will help...

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund, authorized by the Clean Water Act, provides low-interest financial assistance for planning, design, and construction of wastewater infrastructure. Eligible applicants for the CWSRF include cities, counties,...

Brian Williamson of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs explains the vital role that Public-Private Partnerships have played in the state's community and development finance initiatives.

Steve Kline with Illinois Rural Partners shares how Rural Partners brings public and private organizations together to provide education and research, public policy knowledge, and networking to maximize rural development. Kline also provides real...

Colorado Lending Source, the state's small business financing expert, created the Colorado Main Street Loans fact sheet to market the loan program. This fact sheet covers loan structure, use of funds, eligibility, loan size, interest rate, terms,...

The Ohio Development Services Agency has created this list of economic development programs available for a range of public and private sector clients. This document contains information on programs such as the State Energy Program, the Ohio Job...

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs presented in Macon, Georgia to educate parties on how the state SSBCI programs can be utilized to strengthen rural businesses. The presentation explains each access to capital tool, program requirements,...

The OneGeorgia Authority released a performance overview of their programs spanning over a decade. The document explains the variety of access to capital tools in place to "Bridge the Economic Divide" between the urban and rural areas of the state....

The California Financial Opportunities Roundtable (CalFOR) created this document encompassing all the access to capital financing tools available in California. CalFOR identified opportunities and developed recommendations for leveraging existing...

The Illinois Finance Authority administers the Beginning Farmer Bond program increasing access to agricultural business for entrepreneurs and new farmers. The program summary provides essential program details.

This brochure provides a comprehensive overview of Ohio Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund which provides loans to all eligible applicants statewide to assist with the creation or expansion of agriculture ventures.

The California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development released this guide to detail the many investment opportunities that exist in California. The guide covers a wide range of programs from federal to local.