-Overview
CDFA has launched the 2024 SSBCI Learning Series to help you stay informed and navigate the implementation and operations of State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) capital and technical assistance programs.
This is the fourth SSBCI Learning Series hosted by CDFA since the second iteration of the SSBCI program was enacted in 2021. The 2024 sessions are focused on providing strategies to help reach hard-to-serve businesses, fill capital and technical assistance gaps, and maximize program impacts across other federal programs and in various regions of the United States.
The SSBCI Learning Series comprises five sessions spanning from March - October 2024. Sessions will include expert and practitioner insights on the following topics:
- State and Territory Capital Program Implementation
- Tribal Government Capital Program Implementation
- National Best Practices
- Strategies for Marketing and Outreach
- Leveraging SSBCI for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
- Maximizing Technical Assistance Funding Streams
- Increasing SSBCI Impact in Rural America
- Regional Collaborations
Attendees have the option to register for one session or the full series. Significant discounts are available for CDFA member organizations, and those who register for the full series.
Register for the SSBCI Learning Series today, and learn more about
joining CDFA.
Register
Course Objectives
- Learn to support small businesses
- Inform implementation of SSBCI 2.0
- Hear best practices from experts
- Help develop resources and tools that states need
- Get insight into successful strategies
- Participate in networking
|
Topics Covered
- Accessing Other Federal Funding with SSBCI
- SSBCI Technical Assistance Programs
- Boosting Rural Small Businesses
- Marketing Programs and Highlighting Success
- Expanding Tribal Small Business Capital Access
|
Who Should Attend?
- State Small Business Program Managers
- Economic Development Professionals
- Community Development Practitioners
- Government and Nonprofit Finance Officers
- Development Finance Agencies
- Banks and CDFIs
- Tribal Governments
|
Course Advisor
|
Mitchell Smith
Council of Development Finance Agencies
Senior Director, Government & External Affairs
Mitchell Smith is the Senior Director of Government and External Affairs at the Council of Development Finance Agencies. Previously, Mitchell worked for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission on the education research team and served as the ... committee staffer for the House of Representatives Primary and Secondary Education Committee. There, Mitchell drafted legislation and completed legal research on behalf of the Ohio General Assembly.
A native of Bentonville, Arkansas, Mitchell attended the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, where he received his B.A. in American Studies and Political Science in 2009 and was a punter for the Razorbacks. He went on to complete his M.A. in American History and then relocated to Ohio University to complete a Ph.D. in American History. His specialization is in American diplomatic history, politics, and culture. (More)
|
-Agenda
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
| Tue 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Promoting Success: Best Practices for Highlighting SSBCI Programs
In 2023, a total of 54 states and 25 Tribal governments or joint Tribal applications deployed nearly $1 billion in SSBCI Capital Program funds. Despite this success, SSBCI is routinely heralded as the “most important small business program you’ve never heard of.” With the 2024 General Election coming into focus, SSBCI success stories may be in high demand.
In this session, speakers will discuss the importance of highlighting successes and provide best practices for demonstrating the economic benefits of SSBCI programs. This will include conversation about how each transaction is beneficial to the small business and its community, as well as to the program manager’s ability to deploy additional capital under the SSBCI banner.
Moderator(s)
- Mitchell Smith, Senior Director, Government & External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies
Speaker(s)
- Samantha Asker, Outreach Manager, U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Monika Athwal, Manager of Innovation Programs, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
- Marta Cabral, Senior Project Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
- Kaelan Richards, Communications Consultant, U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO
|
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
| Tue 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Leveraging SSBCI for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is a $27 billion investment in clean technologies that will rely on small businesses for successful implementation. However, many of the businesses vital to this success either do not exist yet or will need to drastically expand to deliver the range of services necessary for a shift to clean infrastructure.
During this event, panelists will present an overview of the GGRF and how its three subprograms function. Speakers then will provide insights on what types of small businesses are needed to achieve GGRF goals and how local practitioners can fully leverage SSBCI to bring GGRF dollars to their communities.
Moderator(s)
- Mitchell Smith, Senior Director, Government & External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies
Speaker(s)
- Anne Bovaird Nevins, Director, Accelerator for America
- Bryan Fike, Research Officer, Drexel University
- Bert Hunter, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Connecticut Green Bank
- Krystal Langholz, Director, Strategy, Calvert Impact Capital
- Tyler Matthew Vogel, Policy & Advocacy Manager, Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc.
|
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
| Tue 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Enhancing SSBCI Impacts in Indian Country
The second iteration of SSBCI provided over $500 million to Tribal governments for programs that catalyze investment in small businesses and fund technical assistance for eligible businesses applying for SSBCI, as well as other governmental programs that support small businesses.
In this session, speakers will provide guidance on how to maximize SSBCI investment in Tribal communities. Attendees will also learn about Tribal and state government collaborations that can further enhance investments in native-owned small businesses.
Moderator(s)
- Mitchell Smith, Senior Director, Government & External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies
|
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
| Tue 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Filling the Gaps with the Suite of SSBCI Technical Assistance Programs
SSBCI 2.0 has provided three different sources of funding for a range of technical assistance: the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program, the Capital Readiness Program administered by the Minority Business Development Agency, and the Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program. How can SSBCI practitioners and small businesses draw upon these funding streams to ensure that all gaps in the ecosystem have been filled?
In this session, presenters will discuss the differences between each technical assistance funding program and how SSBCI practitioners are using them in tandem to fill gaps. Speakers will also provide best practices on how to maximize the impacts of each program.
Moderator(s)
- Mitchell Smith, Senior Director, Government & External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies
|
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
| Tue 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Maximizing SSBCI's Impact in Rural America
Small businesses are a vital component of all American communities, especially those in rural or remote areas, where small businesses operate nearly 85% of establishments and employ almost 55% of workers. Unfortunately, employment in rural small businesses has not seen the levels of growth that urban and suburban areas have during the last decade. SSBCI aims to improve that growth through $1 billion of incentives designed to drive investment in socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI) owned businesses - which includes individuals in rural communities.
In this session, practitioners will address the challenges and opportunities they face when investing in rural small businesses. The discussion will include best practices for marketing programs to rural communities and improving economic outcomes in even the most remote communities.
Speaker(s)
- Mitchell Smith, Senior Director, Government & External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies
|
-Location
The SSBCI Learning Series will be held online via Zoom from 2:00-4:00 PM Eastern.
Attendees who have registered for the SSBCI Learning Series will receive login information prior to each event. You must have access to a computer or phone to attend the sessions.
Sessions will be recorded and placed online for registered participants to access afterward. Attendees who miss a session will still receive the online recording. Participants who purchase access to the series will also get access to recordings of past sessions.
-Registration
CDFA has provided two options to register for the SSBCI Learning Series.
Individual Sessions
CDFA Members: $300
Non-Members: $375
Full Series
Participants can register for the full series and receive a significant discount:
CDFA Members: $1000
Non-Members: $1400
These events will be recorded and archived for future access. Only attendees who purchase either an individual session or the full series will have access to the online recordings.
Register