This report by the Springcreek Foundation aims to provide a framework through which investors can play a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of regional sustainable food systems in the United States.

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 report by RSF Social Finance examines the current state of funding for addressing the problems in the food system and promotes the goals and the vision for a healthier food system.

This Crossroads Resource Center report, written by Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg, provides an in depth overview of the Mississippi farm and food economy.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union released this document highlighting four case studies of food and agriculture entrepreneurs. The report focuses on their various successes and failures accessing capital and expanding their businesses.

The Healthy Food Financing Handbook by The Food Trust is intended to be a resource for community and economic development organizations seeking to increase the availability of nutritious foods and revitalize neighborhoods.

The Chester County Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA) provides federal tax-exempt financing for farmers for the purchase of land, buildings, improvements, machinery, and equipment.

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.

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

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund shares their 'Farm to Plate' strategic plan to support food system entrepreneurs by assessing existing programs for applicability and researching emerging models that could bolster growth.

The 2013 USDA Rural Development Progress Report highlights how investments have helped rural communities and entrepreneurs finance homes, business expansions, and economic development over the past year.

The Appalachian Regional Commission commissioned this report to examine innovative projects that demonstrate benefits to rural and underserved communities. The case studies encompass energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and local food systems.

The Appalachian Regional Commission released this report which is an assessment of food system infrastructure, access to capital for entrepreneurs, education, and regional capacity in the Appalachian region.

A Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) is a viable, effective, and economically sustainable solution to the problem of limited access to healthy foods and can achieve multiple goals toward the success of a community. This brochure outlines the...

Maureen Hassett with New Jersey Economic Development Authority presented on Tax Credit programs available for business expansion and development, such as ERGs and Grow NJ.

This report from the Wallace Center at Winrock International focuses on market-based, consumer-driven solutions to overcoming difficult food access, food equity, and access to financing.

Bruce Crain & Alan Hodges discuss the various financing mechanisms available to entrepreneurs looking to establish a commercial biomass facility. The authors outline tools including: USDA loans, tax-increment financing, bonds, tax credits, and more.

The New Jersey Food Access Initiative (NJFAI) is a program of The Reinvestment Fund. The goal of NJFAI is to increase the supply of affordable, fresh food in underserved areas across the state, while improving the diets and health outcomes of the...

If you’re part of a community garden group or civic organization in the U.S. or Canada, simply apply to the grant program by December 31. Your organization could receive $5,000 in cash and garden tools to help you reach your goals of community...

The RSF Social Alliance published this report to identify problems with our current food systems and to present opportunities to increase the flow of capital for the creation and rebuilding of a healthier local food industry.

This Crossroads Resource Center report, written by Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg, provides a plan for infrastructure investments to connect small farms in South Carolina to raise food for in-state markets.

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) published this guide for people who need financial assistance starting, expanding, or maintaining a farm or ranch. FSA provides information on loan programs, requirements, and application process as well as links to...

USDA Rural Development Business and Cooperative Programs can support private rural businesses and farmers who are undertaking either renewable energy or energy efficiency projects. The programs listed here, most notably the Rural Energy for America...

Mark Barbash with Finance Fund provides an overview of the organization and various lending tools Finance Fund utilizes to make an impact in Ohio. Barbash discusses loan programs, grant programs, new markets tax credits, and their healthy food...

This report published by Urban Sustainability Directors Network, is a guidance document for cities to develop investment strategies to increase innovations in their local food systems. The project includes asset inventory, tools and strategies, and...

The City of Chicago along with SB Friedman released this report which explores the economic impact of urban agriculture. The report provides the context of urban agriculture, scale and sources of demand for local food, successful business models,...

Nessa Richman with Brightseed Strategies covers a variety of topics relevant to local food systems financing including defining a food system, consequences of global food system, identifying stakeholders and building partnerships, sources of capital...

Dafina Willams with Opportunity Finance Fund shares insight to the relationship between CDFIs and food systems financing and how CDFIs are leveraging significant investment in low-income, disadvantaged communities across America. Williams highlights...

Sajan Philip with the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) discusses New York's healthy food and healthy communities fund, timeline of policy and programs implemented, fund objectives, project examples, and leveraging other sources.

Carly Chase with New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) presents on financing local food systems. Chase provides a background on NYCEDC, the NYCEDC incubators initiative, culinary incubators, and economic impact analysis of NYC...

Mark Brodziski with the U.S. Department of Agriculture presents various USDA Rural Development programs and financing mechanisms that can support local food sourcing, vending, and aggregation.

The most prevalent and pressing trends in development finance are presented in this article by Catherine Feerick of CDFA. Feerick provides an update on the SSBCI program as well as emerging approaches to local food systems finance. This article...

The CDFI Fund‘s Capacity Building Initiative for Financing Healthy Food Options track was created to prepare community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to effectively deploy financial resources to healthy food projects benefitting...

Molly Hammond with U.S. Department of Agriculture shares financing opportunities offered through various USDA programs. These programs invested more than $590M in Illinois in 2012 and have made a tremendously positive impact on rural businesses and...

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Farm Service Agency created this fact sheet to help beginning, niche and family farm operations understand the Microloan (ML) program. The fact sheet provides information on program overview, eligible uses, application...

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.

Program summary released by Bank of North Dakota describes the NDFTFFP aimed at helping first time farmers acquire agricultural property via tax-exempt bonds.

Deborah DeMasi at Nixon Peabody covers sources of debt, specifically DOE and USDA loans, loan guarantees, and grants.

The Louisville Local Food Demand Analysis is a comprehensive, qualitative and quantitative analysis of demand for local food in Louisville Metro/Jefferson County, Kentucky. Seed Capital Kentucky, a non-profit with the mission to catalyze the success...

This report prepared by the Food Trust for the Illinois Food Marketing Task Force addresses state access to food problems and makes a number of recommendations that would have a tremendously positive impact on people, communities, and the economy.

Oklahoma State Bond Advisor released their 2011 annual report with detailed information about bond rating, performance, and projects.

This brochure from the Illinois Finance Authority provides information on all of the bond and lending tools the state provides to support farmers and agribusinesses.

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Community & Economic Development produced this year-end report covering private activity bonds subject to volume cap in the state. Issuance and carryforward are reported for industrial development, exempt facilities,...

This Crossroads Resource Center report, written by Ken Meter, provides an overview of the Indiana food system and suggests what the future of that food system should look like.

This article featuring four federal innovation finance programs was written by Erin Tehan for the third issue of CDFA's magazine, Development Finance Perspectives.

This is report 4 of 5 of the Michigan Good Food Work Group Report Series and was developed with leadership from the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University, the Food Bank Council of Michigan and the Michigan Food...

This document from Mark J. Riedy covers a host of biomass-related financing tools, including federal tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, and DOE and USDA loan programs.

These case studies of projects financed through multiple Ohio Port Authorities were presented at the Bricker and Eckler LLP and The Ohio Manufacturers' Association meeting on Port Authority Finance Options for Manufacturers and Developers. The...