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...

Food and agriculture-related businesses are often perceived as too risky for traditional lending approaches, yet CDFA research tells a different story. This report, with loan-level data from over a thousand funds nationwide, demonstrates that food...

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...

Recognizing the urgency of the pandemic and related crises, on June 7, 2021, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York approached the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance to write a report about the current landscape of capital sources for community investment...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explored how investing in food-centered redevelopment can restore local food systems infrastructure, catalyze additional neighborhood development, and protect healthy,...

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...

This is the sixth and final white paper in a series examining the potential creation of a food systems asset class that supports the market growth of local and regional food systems. This paper presents three replicable strategies for restoring...

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...

U.S. farmers are currently facing the most difficult agricultural economy since the 1980s. At the same time, many states are wrestling with the necessity of addressing environmental challenges. This report expounds upon the excellent work states are...

A revolving loan fund is a self-replenishing pool of money, utilizing interest and principle payments on old loans to issue new ones. They come in many shapes and sizes and support a variety of economic development activities. This webinar will...

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...

As part of the CDFA Brownfields Technical Assistance Program, the fifth installment of the Brownfields Financing Webinar Series highlights the key features of a successful Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund and the commonalities and challenges...

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 presentation from Perry Hiott of Georgia Cities Foundation examines how to use revolving loan funds to revitalize downtown properties in Georgia.

The CDFA Brownfields Financing Toolkit provides communities with an easy-to-use, best practices resource on brownfields redevelopment. The toolkit brings together the best financing concepts and techniques to provide a comprehensive response to...

This case study from Partnership for Sustainable Communities highlights a brownfield redevelopment project on the West Side of Greenville, SC that relied heavily on Brownfield Site Assessment Grants to identify reuse opportunities within the project...

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...

EPA Revolving Loan Success Story in Austin, TX

The Northeast Midwest Institute surveys innovative local initiatives to help revitalize brownfields. This presentation provides case studies from across the country and an array of financing strategies.

Sherod Halliburton with Manatee Community Federal Credit Union discusses the Credit Union's Revolving Loan Fund and the assessment factors involved.

The Oregon Business Development Fund (OBDF) is a revolving loan fund administered by Business Oregon. The fund has received capitalization from the federal Economic Development Administration, the state General Fund, and the Oregon State Lottery....

John Kingery describes access to capital tools utilized by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. These tools include the Jobs Tax Credits Program, Downtown Development RLF, Opportunity Zones, and the State's SSBCI-supported programs.

Jason Rittenberg and Erin Tehan present the CDFA Excellence in Development Finance Awards that recognize outstanding development finance programs, agencies, leaders, projects, and success stories.

Municipalities in New Mexico share project highlights and financing solutions to pressing issues, specifically access to clean drinking water, in their respective communities.

Two partnering hospitals received state and federal assistance to convert a brownfield to a new cancer-treatment center, as presented in this case study from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The paper provides a detailed review of the...

The Revolving Loan Fund Reference Guide offers an in-depth look at RLF program development, implementation and management. This guide demonstrates how a RLF program can complement economic development strategies, encourage investment and assist...

This report by the National Association of State Energy Officials examines the use of revolving loan funds by states to finance energy projects and highlights the RLF programs of six states.

The Greenworks Loan Fund seeks to make energy efficiency financing an ordinary part of the lending process for either the rehabilitation of existing commercial buildings or the construction of new ones. This new revolving loan fund, which is...

This document contains the guidelines and application for the Goodhue County, MN Revolving Loan Fund.

This site contains the requirements and guidelines for the City of San Francisco Revolving Loan Fund. This RLF offers microloan financing up to $25,000 for startups and $50,000 for established businesses. The city has contracted with a third party...

Paul Cooney covers the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation's Enterprise Zone Revolving Loan Fund in this presentation.

Tom Link gives an overview of the Urban Renewal Authority of Pittsburgh's revolving loan fund programs in this presentation.

Tom Link of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh gave this presentation describing URA's business and real estate RLFs.

This presentation given by Sam Bozzolla highlights Allegheny County Economic Development's Working Capital Loan Program. The program targets minority and woman-owned businesses that need help accessing capital.

The town of Carrboro, North Carolina created their revolving loan fund in 1986 using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. This document briefly describes the RLF, the application process, and its eligible uses, which are consistent with...

This case study, published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, documents how Macalester College established a revolving loan fund to promote energy efficiency and green improvements. It includes a look at...

The Allegheny County Department of Economic Development uses the following set of guidelines to administer the county's revolving loan fund. The guidelines describe the fund, funding sources and project eligibility as well as its application...

The Missouri Action Fund Loan Program lends to certain types of for-profit companies for start-up or expansion purposes. The manual provides a description of the program, requirements and process. The manual also contains a glossary of lending...

The Summit County Port Authority used the Ohio Department of Development's Revolving Loan Fund to remediate the former Goodyear Airdock for Lockheed Martin's use. This short case study explains the projects funding structure and use of the state's...

The state of Arkansas Construction Assistance Revolving Loan Fund Program released this analysis of the state's RLF program. The report looks at the assets, liabilities and financial statements of the program from 2001-2002.

The city of Rio Grande uses the following document to describe the city's RLF program, the lending process and a formal application.

The Rotary International uses the following guide to explain how to establish an RLF, obtain funding, evaluate applications, train staff and much more. The guide provides case study examples and well as additional resources.

This article examines four programs that serve as excellent models of the role a RLF can play in economic development as part of a larger development finance toolkit. They also represent four different approaches, ranging from a regional fund to a...

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs' Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund's mission is to assist cities and counties in their efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by serving as a partner and facilitator in funding capital...

Michelle Stuckey, Manager, Business Finance with the St. Louis Business Development Corporation discusses the agency's revolving loan fund financing program.

John Wahrgren presents about the Oregon revolving loan fund model. His presentation addresses two of the state's programs the Oregon Business Development Fund and the Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund, including the how the programs were...

The city of Vineland, NJ operates the "The Fund for Economic Development" revolving loan fund. The city was a finalist in the 2008 CDFA Practitioner's Showcase: Best Revolving Loan Fund. This presentation highlights the programs strengths,...

The Downtown Housing Assistance Fund in Louisville, KY operates a revolving loan fund that provides financial assistance to encourage and support downtown housing. The fund was a finalist in the 2008 CDFA Annual Development Finance Summit's...

Revolving loan funds (RLFs) have become a widely used financing tool, but they are sometimes misunderstood or underutilized. This article examines three different programs that demonstrate the versatility of RLFs. One case study demonstrates how...