The CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series is a free online series demonstrating how businesses and projects within the food system can be connected to development finance tools, such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and revolving loan funds, to create equitable local and regional food systems. This series will showcase how development finance agencies from across the country are investing in local food systems. Speakers will present case studies on a range of food systems projects – including production, processing, distribution, retail, storage, and more – to explain why various financing tools were chosen for the specific project and how those financing tools work. Each installment of this series will explore how the development finance toolbox can be used to drive investment across the food supply chain.

With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, CDFA is researching how development finance agencies can become more engaged in developing localized food systems through traditional finance approaches. The premise of this project is to suggest and then prove that, if organized and defined properly, the food system can become a defined asset class worthy of traditional investment. Through this work, CDFA aims to advance opportunities and leverage existing capital financing streams that scale local and regional food systems and increase access to better food while creating new living wage jobs in communities across the country.

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CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series

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Tuesday, February 28, 2023 Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Tuesday, June 27, 2023 Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Tue 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Bonds & Food Systems Food system businesses need access to capital at an affordable price, while investors expect a return on their investments. Few financing tools meet both of these needs as well as bonds, a longstanding staple of public development finance that offers flexible, low-cost capital for the borrower and tax-free returns for the investor. During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we take a deeper look at a method of financing that has been building infrastructure, industry, and agriculture for over a century and explore its applications within the food system. Moderator(s) Angela Blatt, Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies Speaker(s) Tammy Nebola, Loan Program Specialist, Iowa Finance Authority Rodney Wendt, Executive Director, Washington Economic Development Finance Authority

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Tue 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Access to Capital Tools & Food Systems Regardless of size or industry, businesses require reliable capital to finance startup costs, day-to-day operations, and future growth opportunities. Access to capital tools - such as revolving loan funds, microlending, and loan guarantees - provide ways for food and agriculture-related businesses to begin, maintain, and expand operations. During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we will explore how these tools can be used in strengthening local and regional food systems and address some of the challenges that come with financing this sector. Moderator(s) Anneliese McClurg, In Transition Speaker(s) Brett Doney, President & Chief Executive Officer, Great Falls Development Authority Cole Mannix, Founder & President, Old Salt Meat Company Dan Miller, Founder & CEO, Steward

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Tue 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Targeted Tools & Food Systems Restoring and developing local and regional food systems requires that the unique needs of individual communities be taken into account. Targeted tools - such as tax increment financing (TIF), property assessed clean energy (PACE), and special assessment districts - address specific geographic areas and difficult-to-finance sectors within a community. In this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we will highlight unique financing structures that drive food systems investment within a geographic footprint. Moderator(s) Anneliese McClurg, In Transition Speaker(s) Joe Canfield, CEO Yellow Banana/Co-Founder of 127 Wall, Yellow Banana Tracy Phillips, Director, Colorado C-PACE Jaime Silverstein, Associate, Croatan Institute Dan Streit, Senior Researcher, Slipstream Robin Weis, Deputy Director/ Rural MN Energy Board PACE Administrator, Southwest Regional Development Commission

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Tue 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Investment Tools & Food Systems Investment tools encourage private sector engagement in food-related projects and businesses by attracting investors. Programs at the state and federal levels reduce financial barriers and provide incentives for funding new machinery, technology, and construction. In this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explore how these programs can offer unique financing solutions and catalyze investment in local and regional food systems. Moderator(s) Angela Blatt, Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies Speaker(s) Dan Miller, Founder & CEO, Steward Kevin Morse, Co-founder and CEO, Cairnspring Mills Sara Pietka, Director of Community Investments, Ecotrust Henry Zhang, Chief Executive Officer, Everstar Capital

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Tue 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Restoring Local Food Systems Through Finance Restoring local and regional food systems is a complex undertaking that resists a one-size-fits-all approach when the unique needs of individual communities are considered. However, cohesive principles and philosophies are essential for the continued development of this sector. In this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we will illustrate the Reframe, Build, Plan framework of critical success factors that are needed to expand financing and drive capital into local food systems. Speakers will also discuss how this strategy can be used to focus resources toward socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and small business owners in the food system. Moderator(s) Angela Blatt, Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies Fawn Zimmerman, Director, Research & Technical Assistance, Council of Development Finance Agencies Speaker(s) Tom Bliss, Executive Director, Southeast Nebraska Development District Michael Graff, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP Michael Pehur, Development Finance Consulting Director, Duane Morris Government Strategies Charles Spies, President and Managing Director, CEI Boulos Capital Management

The CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series will take place on Zoom.

Webinars will be recorded and placed online for participants to access afterwards. Attendees who miss a webinar will have access to the online recordings as well.