Local and Regional Foods are a small but vitally important part of agriculture sales in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local and Regional Food Systems Resource Guide is intended to help stakeholders navigate USDA...

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...

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,...

Many economic development organizations (EDOs) have embraced the mission to support entrepreneurial firms in their communities. EDOs engage in their entrepreneurial ecosystems, in part, by providing resources, sometimes in the form of business...

This report describes how three CDFIs drive economic growth in low-income and historically marginalized communities through a model defined by the EFOD Collaborative as Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD). EFOD is a development approach that...

The USDA Rural Development published a final rule outlining changes to the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) on June 7, 2021. The program provides loans and grants to microenterprise development organizations to help them establish...

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...

CDFA's first publication of the CDFA Charter Schools Financing Initiative series, funded with support from the National Alliance For Public Charter Schools. This paper demonstrates how charter schools can access development finance tools and public...

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, we will showcase various childcare facilities financing programs from across the country and highlight projects that have successfully utilized these tools.

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...

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 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...

Whether it is supporting small businesses, investing in historic buildings, or repairing aging infrastructure, Main Street communities need access to capital in various forms. Small downtowns and commercial districts contain a myriad of uses and...

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...

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series, Lamont Price with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Teela Spiller with the Atlanta Micro Fund, and Eric Clement with the NYCEDC highlighted several...

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...

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...

Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) are finance tools that can be used to help grow small and mid-sized businesses. A RLF is a funding pool that replenishes itself through repayments of principal and grows through the payment of interest. While the majority...

This report, produced by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation and the Development District Association of Appalachia, examines the role of public sector loan funds and includes discussions on best...

This fact sheet, produced by the Ohio State University Extension, discusses how to establish a loan fund to encourage small business development in a community. Included in this fact sheet is a discussion on the role of Revolving Loan Funds and the...

This fact sheet, produced by the Ohio State University Extension, discusses the basics of administering a Revolving Loan Fund. The fact sheet includes advice from application through loan servicing.

This matrix is used by the Lane Council of Governments to market available loan programs, including their EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

This brochure is used to market the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

This application is for the Panhandle Area Council EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

This presentation by Charlie Bartsch provides a detailed discussion of many EPA programs, including assessment grants, tax incentives, and revolving loan fund grants.

Durango and Alamosa are two model success stories for using targeted revolving loan funds to promote, create, and assist businesses in their communities. Patrick Waggoner, Justin Fazzari, and Kevin Wilkins showcase how some selected business...

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

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

This report from the US Conference of Mayors provides several success stories in brownfield redevelopment from cities that have demonstrated their ability to utilize a variety of private and public resources.

This report, produced by CDFA for the World Bank, is intended to provide information to communities and countries interested in identifying potential financing tools for the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated industrial sites. Specific...

Edwin Lesley of the Business Development Corporation discusses the basics behind the SSBCI program and other financing mechanisms that can be used in the state.

Greg Montgomery of Abundant Power provides an overview of several programs involving energy efficiency financing. This includes PACE and SC Saves.

Cliff Kellogg, Director of SSBCI, gave an update on the program during an installment if the CDFA SSBCI Webinar Series.

Jon Atkinson at South Coast Angel Fund explains the complexities of creating an angel fund.

The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona is an independent agency that administers Arizona's water and wastewater Revolving Loan Fund. This presentation outlines the program and application process.

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 Mid-Columbia Economic Development District offers loans for the financing needs of businesses with favorable rates, terms and requirements to support businesses and create jobs. This factsheet gives an overview of the business assistance...

Elmo Dowd, Assistant Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, presents highlights of the Governor's Clean Water Initiative, a $1B low-interest loan fund for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects.

This application for Business Oregon's Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund is for small businesses that are enrolled in or have completed a certified counseling entity program, are owned by a disabled person, and have revenues of less than $500K.

This guide covers CDBG Revolving Loan Fund program requirements, administration and implementation of the CDBG loan funds as distributed by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).

The State of California – Business Investment Guide serves as a reference document to highlight California’s strategic business advantages, new state-sponsored initiatives, incentives as well as existing technical and financial assistance programs.

The Pennsylvania First Program was established as a comprehensive funding tool to facilitate increased investment and job creation in the Commonwealth and to enable the Commonwealth to compete more effectively in the global economy. Through this...

This advocacy guide explores how governments have financed water infrastructure, risks associated with financing water infrastructure, issues with water conservation, water systems rate structuring and balancing conservation and affordability.

The Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA) retained Cardno to provide an analysis of public incentives available for economic development within the State of Oregon. In this document, Cardno provides a review of the rationale, philosophy,...