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Rural Development Finance Resource Center

Rural communities often require specialized financing tools and programs to support their unique development needs. Many federal, regional, and state agencies exist to support rural development finance, especially for projects related to agribusiness, broadband development, energy assistance, and value-added business assistance.

CDFA's Rural Development Finance Resource Center provides information about how the development finance toolbox can be structured to support rural communities and help them with strategies to invest in infrastructure, redevelopment, and job creation. Resources showcase successful programs that are working throughout rural America in communities with varying levels of capacity and size.

Additional support is available to rural communities through the CDFA Community Facilities Technical Assistance Program. Funded by the USDA, this program includes resources accessible to every rural community, a Rural Finance Toolkit, and targeted technical assistance support to rural communities.

Want regular updates on Rural Finance? Subscribe to CDFA's Rural Development Finance Update Newsletter.

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-Understanding Rural Finance

Want to learn more about rural financing? CDFA has collected many resources to help you understand the complexities of rural finance.

USDA Programs in the Local Food Supply Chain

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to supporting robust regional food economies across the food chain. This graphic is designed to be a guide for which programs are best suited for different parts of the supply chain.

California Rural Infrastructure Finance Guidebook

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 build capacity in those areas, as well as move economic development projects forward.

Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants Members only

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.

Regional Resilience Toolkit: 5 Steps to Build Large Scale Resilience to Natural Disaster Members only

Cities, regions, and states across the country are facing natural disasters that can have devastating effects on life, property, the economy, and ecosystems. Climate change is already having observable effects on the environment, and past conditions are no longer a reliable indication of the type or extent of disasters communities will face in the future.

Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit

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 major capacity, credit, and logistical challenges that particularly confront America’s small towns and rural areas. The Community Facilities Infrastructure Toolkit contains sections on concept development, planning, designing, environmental compliance, finance, and construction.

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-Resources

View all Rural Finance Resources

-Aggie Bonds

Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic Plan

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Food Systems Finance | Resiliency | (more)

The Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic Plan provides broad recommendations are coupled with specific, actionable strategies. The implementation of this plan is critical to achieving greater agricultural and natural resource resiliency, as well as a secure future for the generations of farmers and ranchers to come.

California Rural Infrastructure Finance Guidebook

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Brownfield Financing | CDFA Original Research | (more)

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 build capacity in those areas, as well as move economic development projects forward.

Tax-Exempt Bond Financing for Beginning and Low-Equity Farmers: The Case of Aggie Bonds Members only

Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Food Systems Finance | Rural Development | Farm Service Agency (FSA) | (more)

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 authors use 25 years of data to examine whether the Aggie Bond program has had an impact on farm entrance, land ownership, and the size of operation.

Maximizing Rural Opportunities for Businesses and Communities in Wisconsin Members only

Bond Finance | Rural Development | Tax Credits

Urban communities like Milwaukee and Madison are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Wisconsin is filled with rural communities and small towns who are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique development financing challenges and needs such as downtown revitalization and talent and business development. Barb LaMue with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation explores the cutting-edge strategies driving development in the state, and how to access them.

Presentation: Rural Financing Strategies Members only

Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Infrastructure Finance | Rural Development | State Finance Program

In this presentation, Gray Smith, President and CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council, examines rural financing strategies. Aggie Bonds are explained in detail, including eligibility and the application process.

View more Aggie Bonds Resources

-Agriculture Finance

Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic Plan

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Food Systems Finance | Resiliency | (more)

The Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic Plan provides broad recommendations are coupled with specific, actionable strategies. The implementation of this plan is critical to achieving greater agricultural and natural resource resiliency, as well as a secure future for the generations of farmers and ranchers to come.

COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | Energy Finance | (more)

USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This resource matrix organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America.

California Rural Infrastructure Finance Guidebook

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Brownfield Financing | CDFA Original Research | (more)

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 build capacity in those areas, as well as move economic development projects forward.

Tax-Exempt Bond Financing for Beginning and Low-Equity Farmers: The Case of Aggie Bonds Members only

Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Food Systems Finance | Rural Development | Farm Service Agency (FSA) | (more)

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 authors use 25 years of data to examine whether the Aggie Bond program has had an impact on farm entrance, land ownership, and the size of operation.

Maximizing Rural Opportunities for Businesses and Communities in Wisconsin Members only

Bond Finance | Rural Development | Tax Credits

Urban communities like Milwaukee and Madison are not the only places looking for help to fund economic development. Wisconsin is filled with rural communities and small towns who are also in need of financing strategies. These areas face unique development financing challenges and needs such as downtown revitalization and talent and business development. Barb LaMue with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation explores the cutting-edge strategies driving development in the state, and how to access them.

View more Agriculture Finance Resources

-Rural Business Finance

Summary of State and Local Funding Sources in the American Rescue Plan Members only

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Brownfield Financing | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | (more)

This table includes all the federal-to-local funding streams in the American Rescue Plan that reach cities and their residents. It does not include appropriations to Tribal Governments or Agency appropriations focused on program operations at the federal level with no further sub-allocation. It is a dynamic summary to be paired with the Federal Investment Guide produced by Accelerator for America, Drexel University, and the US Conference of Mayors.

American Rescue Plan: Federal Investment Guide Members only

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Brownfield Financing | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | (more)

This report from Drexel University's Nowak Metro Finance Lab provides a guide to federal funding in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The authors place a special emphasis on formula funds received by local anchors, competitive grants, and funds distributed to public authorities that city leadership can leverage to boost their recovery. They clarify which entities are responsible for applying for grant funds, when funding expires, and what role city and county leadership can play even when they will not be the primary applicant for funds.

Leveraging Development Finance Tools to Attract Opportunity Zone Investment

Access to Capital | CDFA Original Research | Community Development | Economic Development | Opportunity Zones | (more)

This guide, authored by CDFA and Skeo, provides an overview of various development finance tools and suggestions for how communities could use these tools to finance projects in Opportunity Zones. Each section includes additional resources to learn more, along with case studies to illustrate how development finance tools have been used to support revitalization goals in several Opportunity Zones.

Recreation Economy at USDA: Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities Members only

Access to Capital | Community Development | Economic Development | Infrastructure Finance | Innovation Finance | (more)

USDA’s Forest Service (FS), Rural Development (RD), and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) have developed this resource guide for rural communities to identify resources that develop the recreation economy.

COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | Energy Finance | (more)

USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This resource matrix organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America.

View more Rural Business Finance Resources

-Rural Energy Program

COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | Energy Finance | (more)

USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This resource matrix organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America.

California Rural Infrastructure Finance Guidebook

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Brownfield Financing | CDFA Original Research | (more)

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 build capacity in those areas, as well as move economic development projects forward.

Financing Programs to Support Rural Development- USDA Members only

Agriculture Finance | Economic Development | Rural Development | U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) | Water Finance | (more)

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 development financing challenges and needs such as downtown revitalization, food systems, infrastructure and energy finance. A number of creative and important financing tools exist to assist rural and small town development, Evette Jones from U.S. Department of Agriculture discusses explores the cutting-edge strategies driving development in the state, as well as important programs that have been cut.

State and Federal Development Finance Programs-USDA Members only

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Community Development | Economic Development | Energy Finance | (more)

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.

CDFA-Stifel Webcast: Paving the Way to Sustainable Rural Infrastructure and Energy Financing Members only

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Economic Development | Energy Finance | Infrastructure Finance | (more)

The various targeted financing solutions to revitalize rural infrastructure and energy systems is explained in this webcast by Gary Bojes, Ph.D. of USDA, Bennett Johnson III of Ocean's Energy, Andrew Jacob with CoBank, and Christopher Sheehan of Stifel.

View more Rural Energy Program Resources

-State Rural Financing Program

California Rural Infrastructure Finance Guidebook

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Brownfield Financing | CDFA Original Research | (more)

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 build capacity in those areas, as well as move economic development projects forward.

NMEDD - Economic Development Innovation Task Force Report Members only

Access to Capital | Economic Development | Energy Finance | Green Finance | Infrastructure Finance | (more)

In 2019, the Governor signed House Memorial 16 directing the Economic Development Department (NMEDD) to bring together stakeholders and convene an Economic Development Innovation Task Force to spur collaboration and innovative discussions on methods to create new economic development concepts and ideas to enhance New Mexico's economy. This report is the result.

Available CFA Resources - New York Regional Economic Development Councils Members only

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Bond Finance | Brownfield Financing | Community Development | (more)

In 2011, Governor Cuomo created ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) and the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) to advance the administration’s efforts to improve New York’s business climate and expand economic growth. This 2019 document outlines information about each agency’s grant programs, including eligibility, scoring criteria, applicant requirements, and agency contact information.

Development in Eastern Kentucky Members only

Infrastructure Finance | Redevelopment | Rural Development | State Finance Program | Water Finance

In August, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet announced three grants worth $5 million to spur economic development and job creation in Eastern Kentucky. How might these grants be used locally and are there opportunities for leveraging this for further financing and capital? Bob Scott from the Division of Abandoned Mine Lands discusses the allocation of these funds as well as their impact on the region.

Access to Capital for Native Communities in Arizona Members only

Access to Capital | Agriculture Finance | Community Development | Economic Development | Energy Finance | (more)

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.

View more State Rural Financing Program Resources

-Case Studies

Success Factors, Challenges, and Early Impacts of the POWER Initiative: An Implementation Evaluation Members only

This evaluation was designed to help ARC and its stakeholders learn from the POWER Program's implementation successes and challenges; identify technical assistance needs; and report on the qualitative impact of investments made, to date, with POWER funds.

POWER Initiative Evaluation: Factors and Results of Project Implementation Members only

This report by Chamberlin/Dunn offers an evaluation of two consecutive years (FY19-FY20) of the Appalachian Regional Commission's POWER Initiative. The report aims to understand successes, challenges, and lessons learned through implementation, and it also examines early results of POWER projects.

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-Headlines

Illinois Lawmakers Consider Tax Credit to Spur Construction of Affordable Housing
KPVI | May. 9 | Housing Finance | Rural Development | State Finance Program | Tax Credits

Alabama Legislature Endorses Extension of Incentive to Restore Older Buildings
AL.com | May. 6 | Historic Preservation | Incentives | Rural Development | State Finance Program | Tax Credits

U.S. Senate Adopts Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act
Perkins Cole | May. 5 | Access to Capital | Federal | Infrastructure Finance | Legislative | Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) | (more)

North Dakota and South Dakota Legislatures Make Funding Ag Infrastructure a Priority
Ag Week | May. 3 | Agriculture Finance | Infrastructure Finance | Rural Development | State Finance Program

West Virginia University Brownfields Team Earns $1M from EPA to Revamp Blighted Sites
EurekAlert! | Apr. 29 | Brownfield Financing | Education | Redevelopment | Rural Development | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | (more)

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-Publications

	Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance 2nd Edition The Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance is the only comprehensive resource dedicated to building and utilizing the development finance toolbox.
	Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency (Handbook) serves as a companion to the Practitioner’s Guide to help illuminate the structures of development finance agencies (DFAs), essential conduits to access development finance tools.

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-Training Courses

Intro Rural Finance Course

The Intro Rural Finance Course focuses on how the development finance toolbox can be structured to support rural communities and help them with strategies to invest in infrastructure, redevelopment, and job creation. This course differs from other curriculums in that it focuses on designing programs targeted to serve rural communities.

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-Upcoming Events

CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series: Investing in Critical Community Facilities
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern

During this installment of the CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series, several federal agencies will discuss their financing solutions for local community facilities and how to coordinate with partners.

CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series: Best Practices for Rural Development Finance Agencies
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern

During the third installment of the CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series, discover best practices of development finance agencies to help you identify the right partner for your projects.

CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series: The Federal Role in Financing Broadband
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern

During this installment of the CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series, experts will discuss how federal financing tools can be used to fund 5G broadband networks.

CDFA-Bricker PACE Webinar Series: Best Practices for Marketing & Selling PACE Across All Market Sectors
Tuesday, September 29, 2021
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern

Now that the PACE marketplace has been “built”, how does it become mainstream so that all property owners know about PACE? This workshop will explore proven methods for marketing and selling PACE to contractors, economic development agencies, commercial real estate professionals, and ultimately the property owner.

CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series: Preserving Local Food Systems with Federal Financing
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern

During this installment of the CDFA Federal Financing Webinar Series, hear from experts at the USDA about their various programs available for rural food systems and agricultural producers to recover from the pandemic.

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-Webcasts

CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series: Financing Disaster Resiliency in Rural Communities

Access to Capital | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | Infrastructure Finance | Rural Development | (more)

During the first installment of the CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series, hear about a new technical assistance program from CDFA designed to support rural communities that have recently experienced a natural disaster. Experts discussed the variety of financing tools available from federal, state, and local sources to encourage investment resilient infrastructure.

CDFA - Ice Miller Broadband Financing Series: Financing Tools for Broadband Projects

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for broadband and the gaps in broadband access. As part of our collaboration with Ice Miller, this video is designed to provide a review of the various approaches to expanding broadband access and how to assess which approach best accommodates community needs and capabilities.

CDFA - Ice Miller Broadband Financing Series: Case Studies & Best Practices of Broadband in P3s

Infrastructure Finance | Public-Private Partnership (P3) Financing | Rural Development | Urban Development | Webcasts

Public-Private Partnerships, or P3s, have been used across the country to finance broadband. As part of our collaboration with Ice Miller LLP, this video will cover best practices of the P3 model and provide case studies that explore the various avenues of broadband projects in both rural and urban areas.

CDFA - ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series: Access to Captial and Community Facilities

Disaster Recovery & Relief | Rural Development | Webcasts

During the fourth installment of the CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series, we discussed resources for community facilities and other accessible capital for rural community development.

CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series: Financing Rural Healthcare Members only

Access to Capital | Community Development | Disaster Recovery & Relief | Economic Development | Healthcare | (more)

During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, we explored financing programs that support healthcare development and showcase successful projects that have increased access to healthcare for rural communities.

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