Local and Regional Foods are a small but vitally important part of agriculture sales in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local and Regional Food Systems Resource Guide is intended to help stakeholders navigate USDA...

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) launched a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic...

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.

Energy development is the fastest growing area of development finance nationwide. Caleb Bell (Bricker & Eckler LLP) discuss the financing mechanisms behind energy efficiency loans and bonds in Ohio.

The USDA's State Director of California, Janice Waddell, examines various best practices used in financing rural development throughout the state.

Karen Rich, Program Director for the USDA, gives a comprehensive look at local food system investment practices.

Brian Buch, Western Regional Coordinator from Rural Business-Cooperative Service of USDA, presented background, eligibility of REAP program, and success stories.

Kelly Oehler from USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service illustrated background, eligibility and program of REAP and successful stories.

David Thigpen, Business Program Specialist/Energy Coordinator from USDA Rural Development, presented the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) guaranteed loan program.

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

Christine Sorensen, Midwest Regional Community Economic Development Coordinator with the USDA Rural Development discussed an overview, the benefits, and comparisons of the REAP Program.

In this report by the Northeast-Midwest Institute, various forms of federal assistance funds are discussed. These funds cover a wide range of areas that help build a climate-resilient economy.

Alan Stephen explains the variety of USDA programs, including programs geared towards financing rural housing, community facilities, business, energy, utilities, water/wastewater, and telecommunication projects.

The USDA Rural Development New York State Office released this guide, which gives information on USDA Rural Development FY14 Financing Programs for Community & Economic Development.

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.

Howard Henderson from the USDA discusses the many rural development programs the department offers.

James Elliot with USDA Rural Development explains the array of financing tools offered by USDA to support energy efficiency investments in rural communities, as well as trends and outcomes.

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.

This reference is a helpful tool to locate basic information regarding USDA programs in California. Each program is accompanied with such information as who may borrow, terms and limits, prohibited uses and user fees.

Rural funding programs such as loan guarantees and grants for renewable energy development and business startups are summarized here in a presentation by Vicki Walker with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

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...

Dan Beasley discusses the United States Department of Agriculture, through the Office of Rural Development, programs to assist rural businesses. Beasley also discusses a few noteworthy programs that may be of assistance to reshored manufacturers.

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture released this report on rural development programs. The report contains program backgrounds and case studies of projects that have had transcending impacts on rural communities across the nation.

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

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...

Mark Riedy of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glosky and Popeo discusses the current and near-future states of federal finance programs for renewable energy development.

This presentation by Judy Canales of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture overviews a number of access to capital programs offered by the Department.

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

Erin Tehan profiles four distinct federal financing programs supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy in this article from Development Finance Perspectives, Issue 1 | 2012.

Description of programs availible to aid small wind developers published by the Clean Energy States Alliance. Provides an overview of federal programs and programs used by Massachusetts, New York, and Wisconsin.

The USDA published this report, written by Samuel V. Brown, David G. Nderitu, Paul V. Preckel, Douglas J. Gotham, and Benjamin W. Allen, on renewable power for rural communities. The thorough report reviews types of power, business models, and...

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.

The development of clean and renewable energy on formerly used land offers many economic and environmental benefits. This document provides information about Federal incentives that can be leveraged for clean and renewable energy and development of...

This presentation gives a summary of the wide variety of programs USDA Rural Development operates to encourage economic development.

Rural communities require access to capital and financial resources for new infrastructure, investment, growth and sustainability. However, the challenges facing rural communities are often far removed from urban and suburban needs. Rural...

The USDA Rural Information Center provides information services for rural communities, officials, organizations and citizens.