Based on the input of our 500+ members, CDFA has developed a set of policy proposals that would allow state and local governments, through development finance agencies, to be immediate problem solvers that can help alleviate the extreme economic...

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...

The Broadband ReConnect Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. This fact sheet was...

During this webinar, experts from across the country discussed creative solutions for responding to the second round of funding for the ReConnect Program, and attendees learned from the successes of the program thus far.

The Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan Program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities. This is an Applicant Guidance Book for the USDA's Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.

This report uses information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS, 2013 to 2017) to describe the structural and economic characteristics of beginning farms and illustrate how they differ from more...

The Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan Program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the...

Established in the 1980s, the ‘‘Aggie Bond’’ program provides beginning and low-equity farmers with access to capital. The bonds, which pay tax-exempt interest, may be used by qualifying famers for purchases of farm real estate and equipment. The...

The White House Opportunity & Revitalization Council released a list of over 160 federal financing programs that give preference to projects located in Opportunity Zones.

Can women and minorities get the loans they need to buy and operate farms? According to USDA survey data, these "socially disadvantaged" farmers and ranchers get a disproportionately small share of farm loans. More detailed information isn’t...

This toolkit presents USDA programs and resources that support broadband e-Connectivity. It aims to help customers navigate the agencies within USDA to find the opportunity that best fulfills their connectivity needs. From grants and loans, to...

This overview of the USDA's ReConnect Broadband Pilot Program was authored by the Congressional Research Service in July 2019.

On April 25, 2017, the President of the United States established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity through Executive Order 13790. The purpose and function of the Task Force was to identify legislative, regulatory, and...

This report provides financing strategies for St. Luc's Cultural Immersion Center in Arnaudville, Louisiana. St. Luc's is a proposed hands-on immersive engagement center for Cajun, Creole, and French language and culture.

Cities and towns across the country are undertaking new initiatives and strengthening current programs that support development and growth of local food systems while reinvesting in downtowns and existing neighborhoods. Strong interest from...

During this webinar, Lindsay Miller, Attorney with Ice Miller LLP, Heather Morgan, Executive Director of Project 17, Ryeon Corsi, Management and Program Analyst at USDA-RD, and Jeff Reiman, Vice President of The Broadband Group discussed creative...

Local Food, Local Places helps communities create walkable, healthy, economically thriving downtowns and neighborhoods through the development of local food systems.

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...

Joseph Ben Israel with the U.S. Department of Agriculture presents on the Community Facilities Loan Program.

Charlie Bartsch explains the Federal financing tools available for Brownfield redevelopment in this presentation.

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.

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

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...

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.

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...

A look at rural development and community healthcare projects throughout Ohio and how they came to be.

Lorraine Werner, Rural Development Community Programs Director of USDA, discusses the redevelopment finance of a hospital, the South Big Horn Hospital, in rural Wyoming.

Naomi Lenz (USDA) discusses the USDA's programs related to rural development, housing, community facilities, utilities, energy, and more.

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...

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 month's CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast , our expert speakers unlock financing for 501(c)3s to demonstrate the variety and depth of financial tools available to drive development in your community.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released the Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit, a technical document co-authored by CDFA. This publication is designed for organizations and community leaders to better understand the complex...

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...

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,...

The Rural Financing Best Practices by CDFA explores how rural communities can leverage a wide range of tools and approaches to build on their assets, protect their resources, and make strategic investments that offer long-term benefits for residents...

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

As part of the CDFA & USDA Rural Development Finance Partnership, CDFA is providing a four-part training series for USDA field staff. These four courses are focused on the Fundamentals of Development Finance, Food Systems Finance, Infrastructure...

Reynold Roeder, CEO or Roeder & Company LLC provides an overview of the Federal New Markets Tax Credit Program, the leveraged structure, and utilizing USDA and NMTC financing.

This report from the US Conference of Mayors provides several success stories in brownfield redevelopment from cities that have demonstrated their ability to utilize a variety of private and public resources.

Penny Hexdall of the USDA describes the comprehensive approach taken by the USDA in financing the local food supply chain.

Erica Heller. with Progressive Urban Management Associates talks about programs that have been created at the state government levels to help finance the businesses and stakeholders involved in a food system. She discusses tax credit and loan...

Jim Barham and Elanor Starmer with the USDA discuss several specialized programs available through the federal agencies to help support a local food system. This session present programs available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Gary Larrowe, County Administrator with Carroll County, Virginia talks about programs that have been created at the state and local government levels to help finance the businesses and stakeholders involved in a food system. He discusses tax credit...

As a part of the USDA's commitment to strengthening rural economies, a state-by-state "Made in Rural America" report has been released for each state. Each state factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing,...

As a part of the USDA's commitment to strengthening rural economies, a state-by-state "Made in Rural America" report has been released for each state. Each state's fact sheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing,...

As a part of the USDA's commitment to strengthening rural economies, a state-by-state "Made in Rural America" report has been released for each state. Each state's factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing,...

As a part of the USDA's commitment to strengthening rural economies, a state-by-state "Made in Rural America" report has been released for each state. Each state's factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing,...

As a part of the USDA's commitment to strengthening rural economies, a state-by-state "Made in Rural America" report has been released for each state. Each state's factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing,...