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...

In 2019, the Governor signed House Memorial 16 directing the Economic Development Department (NMEDD) to bring together stakeholders and convene an Economic Development Innovation Task Force to spur collaboration and innovative discussions on methods...

In 2011, Governor Cuomo created ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) and the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) to advance the administration’s efforts to improve New York’s business climate and expand economic growth. This 2019...

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.

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...

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...

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

Urban communities like Minneapolis and St. Paul are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Minnesota is filled with rural communities and small towns who are also in need of financing strategies. A number of creative and...

Rural Development (RD) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report outlining the costs to maintain and upgrade the Rural Housing Services’ (RHS’s) inventory of 14,650 multifamily housing properties. The Comprehensive Property Assessment...

The Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit can be used as a guide to help organizations and community leaders better understand the complex process that is required to successfully develop and construct a new facility. The Toolkit outlines the...

This report by Ernst and Young explains how administrations can make rural projects effective and leverage what public funds they do have available for investment growth through financial innovation, competition, and appropriate private sector...

Joe Mueller from the USDA gives an overview of growing rural businesses and the local economies with the use of USDA Rural Development's programs.

Many rural areas have underdeveloped assets that compound their economic challenges and hinder potential expansion. States can employ economic development strategies that build on a region’s strengths. This study indicates three strategies for...

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 article provides various guiding principles to small cities for developing rural downtowns. Principles covered include developing a vision and plan for the downtown, identifying and building upon local assets, building a strong public-private...

This guide explains important principles to develop a strong rural downtown. Topics include developing a vision and plan for the downtown, identify and build upon local assets, build a strong public-private partnership, enhance the downtown's sense...

A case study from Fort Kent, ME describes using TIF in rural communities. This resource explains tax increment financing including its traditional uses, downtown revitalization, its implications for local tax burden, and regional funding effort.

In this presentation, Gray Smith, President and CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council, examines rural financing strategies. Aggie Bonds are explained in detail, including eligibility and the application process.

This annual report summarizes many factors that play a role in growing Kentucky's agriculture economy and how KADF investments continue to be crucial to that growth. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund's programs have been in action for a...

Slides from Rob Lane and Jeff Stouffer's presentation of the USDA Pennsylvania State Office business and community lending programs for rural areas and small towns.

Rob Lane and Jeff Stouffer of the USDA Pennsylvania State Office share information on the lending programs available for rural areas and small towns in this state focused webcast.

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 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 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.

Enterprise Florida and Boyette Strategic Advisors developed an Economic Development Strategic Plan for Rural Florida. The study was developed with involvement of nearly 500 participants including economic professionals and elected officials in rural...

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) assists public water systems to finance the costs of infrastructure needed to achieve or maintain compliance with state requirements and to protect public health objectives. The DWSRF program will help...

Brian Williamson of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs explains the vital role that Public-Private Partnerships have played in the state's community and development finance initiatives.

Steve Kline with Illinois Rural Partners shares how Rural Partners brings public and private organizations together to provide education and research, public policy knowledge, and networking to maximize rural development. Kline also provides real...

Colorado Lending Source, the state's small business financing expert, created the Colorado Main Street Loans fact sheet to market the loan program. This fact sheet covers loan structure, use of funds, eligibility, loan size, interest rate, terms,...

The Ohio Development Services Agency has created this list of economic development programs available for a range of public and private sector clients. This document contains information on programs such as the State Energy Program, the Ohio Job...

The OneGeorgia Authority released a performance overview of their programs spanning over a decade. The document explains the variety of access to capital tools in place to "Bridge the Economic Divide" between the urban and rural areas of the state....

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs presented in Macon, Georgia to educate parties on how the state SSBCI programs can be utilized to strengthen rural businesses. The presentation explains each access to capital tool, program requirements,...

The California Financial Opportunities Roundtable (CalFOR) created this document encompassing all the access to capital financing tools available in California. CalFOR identified opportunities and developed recommendations for leveraging existing...

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.

This brochure provides a comprehensive overview of Ohio Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund which provides loans to all eligible applicants statewide to assist with the creation or expansion of agriculture ventures.

The California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development released this guide to detail the many investment opportunities that exist in California. The guide covers a wide range of programs from federal to local.

Tremendously useful document from Wisconsin's Office of Energy Independence. This document provides comprehensive, detailed information of all state and federal grants, loans, bonds, credits, and programs that can be utilized for clean energy...

Tennessee's Department of Economic & Community Development describe the massive overhaul the department experienced under new Governor Bill Haslem. The document also explains their approach and focus for economic and community development moving...

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.

This handbook from the California Financial Opportunities Roundtable covers a wide range of access to capital-related programs and services available throughout the state, including loan programs, bonds, innovation finance.

This four-page guide from the Ohio Department of Development and JobsOhio provides a description of every economic development finance tool available at the state level.

This addendum from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority updates the terms and information requirements of the entity's loan guarantee programs.

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority created this manual to provide procedural, servicing, eligibility, and additional information on the entity's four business loan guarantee programs.

This chart from the Maryland Dept. of Business & Economic Development provides basic information for every loan-related program offered in the state.

This Excel sheet is a calculator that businesses can use to calculate the potential tax credits and refunds they may receive by creating a certain number of jobs or making a specific level of investment. The file has separate tabs for different...

This chart summarizes the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority's loan guarantee program for small business and agribusiness.