CDFA - Rural Development Finance Resource Center

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

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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

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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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-Aggie Bonds

Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic Plan Members only

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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

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

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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

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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

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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.

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-Agriculture Finance

Resilience in New Mexico Agriculture Strategic Plan Members only

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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

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

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

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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

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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.

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-Rural Business Finance

USDA Advancing Equity in Distressed Rural Communities Members only

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U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Department is increasing the maximum loan amount to $400,000 under the Intermediary Relending Program. This change is in accordance with provisions in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, advance equity and combat climate change.

Enhancing Local Workforce Development and Building for the Future

Automation, shifting demographics, COVID-19 and increased telework opportunities are reshaping the workforce landscape amid shifting industry needs. Counties, through local and regional partnerships and workforce development boards, are working with public, private, and nonprofit partners to help train job seekers and connect them with local employers.

Key Factors and Strategies for Urban and Rural Communities Members only

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Through data analysis supported by stakeholder interviews and case studies, this research from the National League of Cities identifies factors that support local engagement in regional economies, how these factors vary for urban and rural places, and whether the benefits of economic connectivity are equitably distributed among places and people in regions.

USDA Resource Guide for Rural Workforce Development Members only

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This guide was created by the USDA in 2021 for community leaders and other local entities. The guide highlights four key assistance types necessary to building a stronger rural workforce: 1) Workforce development planning; 2) Infrastructure and equipment financing; 3) Industry and employer engagement, entrepreneurship, and local business development; and 4) Education, training, and apprenticeship.

Economic Adjustment Assistance: Experts’ Proposed Reform Options to Better Serve Workers Experiencing Economic Disruption Members only

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Federal economic adjustment assistance (EAA) programs were established, in part, to help workers adjust to these economic disruptions. Experts in the GAO's roundtable identified a range of challenges to using EAA programs to effectively respond to economic disruptions workers might experience. In this report, experts identify six reform actions that could better serve workers.

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-Rural Energy Program

COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide

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

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

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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

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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

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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.

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-State Rural Financing Program

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.

NMEDD - Economic Development Innovation Task Force Report Members only

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Community Investment Explorer Tool 2.0 Members only

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Developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the newly enhanced Community Investment Explorer (CIE) 2.0 includes over 73 million transactions totaling over $3.2 trillion in community and economic development capital from 2012 to 2020. This interactive tool allows users to find out where capital is going, how equitably is it being distributed, and for what purpose is it serving.

From Wealthy Enclaves to Asset Deserts: What the Geography of Asset Income Signals About Wealth Distribution in the U.S.Members only

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This EIG report, interactive map, and case studies illustrate increasing wealth concentration in the U.S. and the urgency of forging new pathways that allow more Americans to have a substantial ownership stake in the wealth created by the U.S. economy. The report finds that income from assets has skyrocketed in centers of finance, technology, mining, or recreation while stagnating in many distressed communities.

USDA Resource Guide for Rural Workforce Development Members only

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This guide was created by the USDA in 2021 for community leaders and other local entities. The guide highlights four key assistance types necessary to building a stronger rural workforce: 1) Workforce development planning; 2) Infrastructure and equipment financing; 3) Industry and employer engagement, entrepreneurship, and local business development; and 4) Education, training, and apprenticeship.

CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series: Assembling Capital for Rural Development

During this installment of the CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series, learn about essential financing sources employed by rural communities to complete projects in today’s economy.

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

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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.

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Farmworkers Bear the Brunt of California’s Housing Crisis
Civil Eats | Jan. 18 | Agriculture Finance | Housing Finance | Rural Development

Retired Orleans County Legislator Pushes for More Rural Housing
Spectrum News 1 | Jan. 13 | Housing Finance | Rural Development

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	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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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.

Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Course

CDFA's Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Course is the foundation for all of CDFA’s educational offerings. This course helps attendees understand the variety of development finance tools available, from bonds, tax credits and TIF, to federal financing programs, RLFs, and access to capital lending resources.

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Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Course
January 26-27, 2022
Daily: 12:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern

CDFA's Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Course is the foundation for all of CDFA’s educational offerings. This course helps attendees understand the variety of development finance tools available, from bonds, tax credits and TIF, to federal financing programs, RLFs, and access to capital lending resources.

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SSBCI Coalition Meeting - February 18 (Virtual)
February 18, 2022
1:00 PM Easter

SSBCI Coalition meetings will be held once a month to provide an interactive forum for CDFA members during the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) application period. CDFA will facilitate discussions that allow for networking, peer knowledge sharing, and problem solving.

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CDFA-ARC Webinar Series: Capital Program Strategies and Guidance Members only

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury discussed and fielded questions pertaining to the recently-released Capital Program Policy Guidelines as well as SSBCI application timelines and requirements. Speakers also shared insights on program design and implementation, stakeholder outreach and alignment, and approaches for delivering SSBCI capital in Appalchian communities.

CDFA-TEDC Webinar: Driving Investment into Texas' Rural Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones | Rural Development | Webcasts

During this webinar, expert panelists provided best practices and tips for economic development practitioners on driving investments into rural Opportunity Zones in Texas.

CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series: Best Practices for Rural Development Finance Agencies

Rural Development | Webcasts

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

CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series: Unlocking Capital for BIPOC-owned Businesses Members only

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During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, we will be discussing creative financing approaches to minimize barriers and increase access to capital for minority-owned businesses across the country.

Enhancing Local Workforce Development and Building for the Future

Automation, shifting demographics, COVID-19 and increased telework opportunities are reshaping the workforce landscape amid shifting industry needs. Counties, through local and regional partnerships and workforce development boards, are working with public, private, and nonprofit partners to help train job seekers and connect them with local employers.

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