-Overview
The Intro Tax Credit Finance Course examines the variety of tax credit programs and their use in economic development efforts. This course discusses the practical application of tax credits for supporting new markets, low-income housing, historic preservation, and other local goals.
From urban redevelopment and historic preservation to housing and energy infrastructure, tax credit programs exist to help communities create jobs and energize economies - yet these innovative tools are underutilized. This course will reach beyond the facts and figures of each program to help attendees learn how to apply tax credits successfully to development opportunities.
This course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Join us online and start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
Register
Course Objectives
- Learn about the application of state and federal tax credit programs
- Hear from leading tax credit professionals from around the country
- Review best practices and case studies that can be implemented in your community
- Gain a greater understanding of the partnership opportunities in the tax credit industry
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Topics Covered
- New Markets Tax Credit Program
- Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program
- Innovative state tax credit programs
- Federal energy tax credit programs
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Who Should Attend?
- Bond issuers
- Economic development professionals
- Community development professionals
- Elected officials
- Government and nonprofit finance officers
- Corporate trustees
- Legal counsel
- Underwriters
- Commercial bankers
- Accountants
- Financial advisors
- Policymakers
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Course Advisor
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Marlon Roberts
Council of Development Finance Agencies
Coordinator, Knowledge and Networks
Marlon Roberts is a Coordinator in the Knowledge and Networks Division at The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). In this role, Marlon supports research initiatives focused on capital markets and the evolution of development finance ... tools, such as Revolving Loan Funds and Tax Increment Financing (TIF). His work ensures CDFA provides clients with the data and best practices necessary to successfully fund community projects.
Marlon possesses a Bachelors of Arts in Public Policy, Management, and Leadership from The Ohio State University, with a Minor in City and Regional Planning. Prior to joining CDFA Marlon had worked in Workforce Development and led projects at IMPACT Community Action and held various positions in local government. Outside of work Marlon enjoys staying active, playing pickleball, and traveling. (More)
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Toby Rittner
Council of Development Finance Agencies
President & CEO
Toby Rittner is the President & CEO of Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most ... knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing hundreds of public, private and non-profit development finance agencies. Mr. Rittner runs the day-to-day operations of the Council including the organization’s various educational, advocacy, research, resources, and networking initiatives. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the CDFA Foundation.
Rittner is one of the most vocal and recognized leaders of the development finance industry nationwide and has advised local, state, and federal leaders, including Presidents Biden and Obama, on economic development finance policy. Through his leadership and guidance, CDFA was successful in preserving private activity bonds and other critical development finance tools during the 2017 tax reform deliberations and has had numerous pieces of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. In 2021, Rittner successfully led a national effort to reauthorize and fund the $10B State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. He has written and crafted dozens of strategic finance plans for development finance agencies and advised communities throughout the world on development finance approaches.
Rittner focuses on sustainable finance with an emphasis on infrastructure, clean energy, food systems, small business, and innovations in the development finance industry to drive sustainable outcomes. He has written extensively about impact ready initiatives that leverage and engage capital in ways that drive local sustainability in business and industry and the environment and economy.
Rittner is a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences and events focused on economic development finance. He has been featured in The Bond Buyer, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR and other national media publications concerning the advancement of development finance tools. He is the author of CDFA's highly acclaimed Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance and co-author of CDFA's Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency.
Rittner is an adjunct faculty member at The Ohio State University and Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) and has completed the prestigious Oxford University Sustainable Finance Foundation Course.
Mr. Rittner previously served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Community Fund I. Mr. Rittner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's of City and Regional Planning degree from The Ohio State University. Mr. Rittner was awarded the Ohio State University College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016. (More)
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-Agenda
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
| Wed 11:00 AM - 11:10 AM |
Welcome & Overview
Welcome to the course! This session will introduce CDFA, explain how to use the online software, and discuss the framework for the one-day Intro Tax Credit Finance Course.
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| Wed 11:10 AM - 12:05 PM |
Introduction to Tax Credits
During this session, attendees will learn the basics of tax credit finance and how tax credits work as an economic development tool, with an introduction to the main tax credit programs covered in the Intro Tax Credit Finance Course.
Speaker(s)
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| Wed 12:05 PM - 1:15 PM |
New Markets Tax Credit Program
The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) was created to address the lack of capital available to business and economic development ventures in low-income communities. The NMTC provides a federal tax credit to individuals or corporations that invest in Community Development Entities (CDEs) working in targeted low-income communities. Speakers for this session will cover the basics of the NMTC program, how investors, developers, CDCs, and other project sponsors view NMTC, and regulator issues to keep your project in compliance.
Speaker(s)
- Tony Smith, Executive Vice President, SB Friedman Development Advisors
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| Wed 1:15 PM - 1:25 PM |
Break
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| Wed 1:25 PM - 2:35 PM |
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program
Congress created the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) in 1986 to promote the construction and rehabilitation of housing for low-income persons. During this session, attendees will learn the basics of the LIHTC program, how these tax credits can be combined with other types of financing, and how to implement this tool in their community.
Speaker(s)
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| Wed 2:35 PM - 3:05 PM |
Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program
Rehabilitation tax credits were established to discourage unnecessary demolition of older buildings and to slow capital flight from older urban areas. This incentive offers a credit against total federal taxes owed, which is taken for the year in which the renovated building is put into service. During this session, attendees will learn how this valuable program can reinvigorate historic communities in a cost-effective and investment-friendly manner.
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| Wed 3:05 PM - 3:15 PM |
Break
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| Wed 3:15 PM - 4:10 PM |
State Tax Credit Programs for Economic Development
Every state has at least one tax credit program and many use diverse tools to address niche industry financing needs. This session will discuss best practices for quality state tax credit programs and look at examples of the innovative tax credit programs currently being used nationwide.
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| Wed 4:10 PM - 4:55 PM |
Bringing the Deal Together: Case Studies & Innovative Tax Credit Use
Federal tax credit programs were created to advance a national policy objective, though implementation of these programs occurs at the local level. Practitioners must decide how and when these tools can be employed with individual projects to support local goals. In many instances, tax credits are used only after other financing options have failed. This session provides an overview with case studies of financial gap analysis and how tax credits can help fill a project capital stack.
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| Wed 4:55 PM - 5:00 PM |
Closing Discussion / Final Questions
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-Location
The Intro Tax Credit Finance Course will take place on Zoom. The course will meet from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern. Attendees must have access to a computer and the internet to attend the course. Please note that this course will not be recorded. |
-Registration
This training course qualifies for the CDFA Training Institute's
Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) Program. Start down the road to personal and professional advancement today.
Scholarships are available to attend this event. Learn more about the
CDFA Scholarship Program,
and submit your application today.
Please note that the application deadline is two weeks prior to the course start date.
CDFA permits only one person to log in and participate in the course. If multiple people are accessing the course without paying to attend, we will terminate the connection and access. CDFA offers group discounts for organizations that wish to register multiple people.
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CDFA Member: $500
Non-Member: $825
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CDFA Member: $625
Non-Member: $950
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Register