This directory provides an overview of various sources of financing that may be available to food hubs and other food-related businesses. This directory is a partial listing of what may be available across the United States; some examples may not be...

The United States’ deteriorating infrastructure is woefully underprepared to address the challenge of adapting to climate change. The funding gap has presented an opportunity for global capital markets to create investment vehicles that provide...

Many food-related initiatives, projects, and businesses have lacked sufficient resources and financing for economic and community development, largely because the food system as a whole has not been formally defined as an asset class. As the first...

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series, Barry Kukovich with Peoples Gas, Glenn Ford with InCity Farms and Rick Terrien with Artisan Food Networks, thought outside the silo and recognized the food system as an economic...

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...

Wendy West Hickey with Peoples Energy, Glenn Ford with Praxis Foods/InCity Farms and Joe Bute with Hollymead Capital present on the Food 21 Controlled Environment Agriculture project. This highly replicable project represents an innovative approach...

This report, by Bob Heuer and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, details how Kansans are leveraging the growing demand for local/regional food produce to revitalize rural communities and strengthen family farms.

This report, produced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discusses the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program and provides best practices for funding agriculture projects.

NCOSAFP & CDFA are proud to release the 2017 State by State Agricultural Loan Programs Directory. The CDFA and NCOSAFP partnership aims to raise awareness within the development finance and agricultural industries of the agricultural finance...

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.

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.

In Dr. Barbara Glenn's presentation she discusses NASDA's policy priorities, farm bill priorities, opportunities and challenging areas.

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

Bill McCloskey from the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy discusses growing investment opportunities around Kentucky.

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.

Tammy Nebola from the Iowa Agricultural Development Division of the Iowa Finance Authority discusses farming in Iowa and what it takes to finance first time farmers around the state.

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...

Dr. Linden Thayer and Dr. Beth Hopping, Co-Founders of Food Insight Group, share their perspective on Food to Institution in North Carolina.

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.

This new publication, entitled "Harvesting Opportunity: The Power of Regional Food System Investments to Transform Communities", from the Federal Reserve is designed to highlight the prospects available in the regional food systems sector, advance...

Industry experts from around the state and from various federal agencies will discuss development finance programs and their potential to spur job creation and growth in the economic development industry.

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...

This directory, produced by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, provides an overview of various sources of financing that may be available to food hubs and other food-related businesses. This directory is a partial...

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 that are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique development...

This is a Farm to Institution New England report that highlights the data collected from college dining operators in the region. This is the second report in their new series designed to help food system stakeholders understand the impact of...

Delivering needed assistance to Minnesota's 74,000 farmers, Governor Mark Dayton today signed the bipartisan $35 million Rural Finance Authority Legislation (H.F. 14) into law. The new funding will allow the Authority to continue offering eligible...

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...

With the 2016 Presidential election finalized, the development finance industry is excited to move forward with recommendations and innovative strategies for unlocking access to capital. The ideas offered in this transition paper provide a roadmap...

We all eat, and therefore we are all important participants in the food system. The choices we make about the food we buy and where we buy it drive production, influence markets, support economies close to Introduction 18 || Massachusetts Local Food...

The significant and transformative investments USDA has made in rural America since 2009 have strengthened our nation’s economy, our small towns and our rural communities. Today, two-thirds of rural counties have demonstrated job growth and...

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 Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) report documents some of the innovative ways that local leaders are combating a broken food system. UCS highlights five urban communities that demonstrate the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of policy...

Energy development is the fastest growing area of development finance nationwide. Caleb Bell (Bricker & Eckler LLP) discuss the financing mechanisms behind energy efficiency loans and bonds in Ohio.

Vince Paumier presents at NCSAFP Annual Conference on USDA Rural Development Toolkit

Paul Dorrance presents on the Pastured Providence Farmstead at the 2016 NCOSAFP Annual Conference.

Brandon Kern from the Ohio Farm Bureau presents on Finance Challenges for First-Time Farmers,

Ryan Roles (Rural Finance Authority) discusses the Rural Finance Authority Loan Programs that are available.

Richard Gruenes (Minnesota Department of Agriculture) discusses the AgBMP Loan Program.

This Toolkit reflects the intention of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to expand its current role as a technical assistance provider to food system practitioners, economic developers, and community stakeholders. This Toolkit is designed to...

This assessment from RI Food Policy Council describes the then-current capacity of RI’s food system, identified priorities for the RI FPC and other stakeholders working to increase community food security, described the gaps in the state’s food...

The USDA Rural Development 2015 Progress Report details the tangible results across rural America that stemmed from investments by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development team in local businesses, community infrastructure,...

Presentation slides from the CDFA Brownfields Financing Webinar Series on January 14, 2016

The USDA's State Director of California, Janice Waddell, examines various best practices used in financing rural development throughout the state.

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

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

Brian Buch, Western Regional Coordinator from Rural Business-Cooperative Service of USDA, presented background, eligibility of REAP program, and success stories.