Serving Illinois’ diverse farm and agri-businesses, Illinois Finance Authority provides access to low-cost capital to help seed, grow and sustain your business.

DCEO established the Social Equity Cannabis Loan Program for the purposes of providing financial assistance to social equity licensees to assist with the expenses of starting and operating a cannabis business establishment.

States across the country are starting to gather data and use evidence to systematically evaluate tax incentives. To illustrate what sort of evaluations states are conducting, NCSL created a database of state tax incentive evaluations. Evaluations...

In this publication, the Center for Community Investment uses six case studies of successful climate resilience investments to surface a set of common strategies that take aim at the systems underlying the inequitable distribution of risk. Together,...

This interactive data tool from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows total SSBCI investments, percent of investments in LMI and rural areas, investments by MSA, investments by loan programs, CDFIs, and more.

States saw steep declines in revenues in the second quarter of 2020, though some of this was caused by shifting revenues into the next quarter and next fiscal year. Consequently, most states ended the 2020 fiscal year uncertain about their fiscal...

This map includes states where projects are eligible for Retroactive PACE financing and includes a summary of state-by-state guidelines.

The Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program was created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to address the lack of mortgage lending in Indian Country. This brochure from the FDIC briefly reviews the background, purpose, and...

On September 30, 2019, HUD awarded more than $314 million to 77 state and local government agencies and more than $5 million in six tribal communities to identify and address home health and safety hazards. This document is a description of each...

The market study validates the IMD’s potential to nurture Chicago’s innovation activity and advance economic development on a regional scale. Yet Chicago lags behind smaller cities in life sciences activity. The authors suggest that one impediment...

This RLF plan, produced by the Village of Rantoul, Illinois, was adopted in 2017.

The Hatchery Chicago is a non-profit food business incubator that enables local entrepreneurs to build and grow successful businesses. Accion, the area’s largest microlender, and ICNC, which runs one of the largest business incubators in the...

David Merriman from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy explains how tax increment financing (TIF) districts work, illustrates TIF use with case studies from around the country, discusses the rationales for using TIF, describes TIF’s potential...

The results of TIF have been compelling since its inception as a development finance tool. Lending itself to flexibility and creativity, TIF has perennially supported diverse projects across diverse communities throughout the U.S. During this...

TESKA presents an introduction on Tax Increment Financing in Rochelle, IL

This report was commissioned by the City of Evanston and disuses the use of TIF. This report was prepared by Seth Capron, Nick Federowicz, Eric Nyman, and Brandon Strong.

Richard Dye and David Merriman discuss the basics of TIF

Local governments attempt to influence business location decisions and economic development through use of the property tax. This report by Richard Dye and David Merriman used an extensive data set for the Chicago metropolitan area that includes...

This application is for the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

This brochure is used to market the Henry County, IL EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

This brochure is used to market the Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

This brochure is used to market the Bi-State Regional Commissions EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

This brochure is used to market the Bi-State Regional Commission EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

One of the most popular topics at the Illinois Financing Roundtable is how tax increment financing is used to finance projects across the state. We'll feature that topic again this year, but with a twist. Herb Klein with Jacob & Klein explores the...

Combining multiple incentives successfully requires attention to detail and often some creative structuring. Identifying program requirements and balancing the applicable incentives are steps that must be established early on for any potential...

Combining multiple incentives successfully requires attention to detail and often some creative structuring. Identifying program requirements and balancing the applicable incentives are steps that must be established early on for any potential...

Combining multiple incentives successfully requires attention to detail and often some creative structuring. Identifying program requirements and balancing the applicable incentives are steps that must be established early on for any potential...

The changes and trends in the affordable housing industry have a large impact on Illinois communities. Continuing to provide an adequate number of homes affordable to low and moderate income households is increasingly difficult. Luckily, there are a...

Industry experts from around the state will discuss the latest development finance legislation and their potential effects on the economic development industry. Stan Luboff with Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity discusses...

As budgets are stretched and new rules are created, it can be difficult to pull together funding for necessary infrastructure improvements and community facilities. Fran Rood with SB Friedman Development Advisors presents case students and discusses...

As budgets are stretched and new rules are created, it can be difficult to pull together funding for necessary infrastructure improvements and community facilities. Rob Winner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP presents case students and explores proven...

One of the most popular topics at the Illinois Financing Roundtable is how tax increment financing is used to finance projects across the state. We'll feature that topic again this year, but with a twist. Maureen Barry of Ehlers Inc. explores the...

This month’s CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series featuring John Piemonte from Ehlers, Inc. and Nick Samuels from Moody's includes an outlook for credit ratings and takes a look at the bond market for the upcoming year.

Rich Frampton from Illinois Finance Authority provides insight into the use of US DOT private activity bonds for surface freight transfer facilities.

As part of the Brownfields Technical Assistance Program, this report from CDFA staff and technical advisors provides redevelopment recommendations for the 74th & Ashland brownfield site located in Englewood, Illinois.

Steve Eikenberry (First American Bank), Jamie Rachlin (RBC Capital Markets), and Jimmy Shanahan (Shanahan & Shanahan LLP) explore trends in bond financing throughout the state.

Herb Klein (Jacob & Klein LTD) discusses creative financing strategies at the local level, specifically combining a number of incentives. Peoria Heights, IL is explored as a case study.

Ranadip Bose (SB Friedman Development Advisors) discusses creative financing strategies at the local level, specifically the concept of Value Capture as a tool for transportation finance.

Jennifer Tammen (Ehlers, Inc) and Christina Burns (Village of Oswego) discuss how the level and structure of development impact fees can often determine the feasibility of a project from both financial and market perspectives. A case study involving...

Melanie Shaker (Sycamore Advisors, LLC) discusses creative financing strategies at the local level, specifically exploring diversity in revenue sources, and how to make a strong rating agency case.

John Sassaris (MB Financial) outlines how the Illinois economy is fairing and explores what economic development trends economists, bankers, and other professionals are experiencing throughout the state.

Jim Snyder (Ice Miller LLP), Bob Schillerstrom (Ice Miller LLP), Jim Keene (Keene and Associates, Ltd), and Aaron Fundich (Robinson Engineering, Ltd) explore water infrastructure projects that could be transformational for Illinois and various...

The Urban Land Institute provides a series of case studies that illustrate how communities have used P3s and other financing mechanisms to improve the appearance and functionality of their infrastructure.

Benefit Chicago is a new collaboration that aims to mobilize $100 million in impact investments for nonprofits and social enterprises working throughout the Chicago region

Researchers in coordination with the MacArthur Foundation explain the need for impact capital in the Chicago region, and in what areas the capital would be most useful.

A brief description of each of the loans that have been made by Living Cities' Catalyst Fund.

Arabella Advisors have compiled a brief that describes examples of impact investing in Chicago. The sectors involved include the environment, education and community development.

In order to create a comprehensive picture of the economic development landscape, C2ER reviewed data from a range of state statutes, reports, and websites. The numbers contained in this report are CREC and C2ER’s best estimate of the dollars spent...

State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs) are organizations representing all levels of government, community, regional nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. The SRDCs can implement best practices, obtain technical assistance, determine...

Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office conducted a first-ever analysis of Chicago TIFs expected to expire between 2015 and 2024. The review revealed 71 TIFs would reach their 23-year lifespan in the next decade.