CDFA Advisory Services provides a wide range of support options. Here are some of the services we offer:

Landscape Analysis & Landscape Maps

Landscape analysis and mapping help organizations and communities better understand and navigate the financing ecosystem in their city, county, region, or state. A landscape analysis identifies the players and programs delivering direct financing to an area, emphasizing state and local sources of funds. A Landscape map reveals the community's capital, resource, and programming gaps. Landscape maps are designed to support communities by fully utilizing the financing tools available for businesses and projects, identifying capital needs or gaps, and encouraging collaborative, sustainable development approaches. Landscape analysis and maps are ideal for clients aiming to become more engaged with development finance entities in their area and/or working to strengthen local economic development networks.

Past examples:

• Rhode Island Commerce
• Kellogg Foundation
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• New Mexico Economic Development Department
• Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade
• Business Oregon
• New Mexico Finance Authority
• LISC Milwaukee
• More…

Strategic Finance Plans & Frameworks

Strategic finance planning guides communities in advancing sustainable, effective, efficient, and equitable development approaches through comprehensive, actionable recommendations. CDFA’s strategic planning process combines research, one-on-one interviews, focus groups, stakeholder surveying, and facilitated strategy sessions to inform recommendations. This hands-on approach is tailored for each client to best fit their unique needs. CDFA has produced a wide variety of strategic finance plans, ranging from high-level frameworks to in-depth how-to guides. Plans can be geared toward organizational-scale strategy, program development, financing options for a specific project, approaches to support a particular industry or sector, and more.

Past examples:

• Arizona Finance Authority
• Louisville Metro Government
• Development Finance Authority of Summit County
• Tucson Industrial Development Authority
• Lorain Port & Finance Authority
• King County, WA
• Southeast Nebraska Economic Development District
• San Bernardino Community College District
• Prosper Portland
• Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority
• More…

Finance Program Development

CDFA creates finance program development plans for agencies looking to launch, revise, or expand their programmatic offerings, and they may include assistance with CDFI and/or CDE Accreditation. These innovative program plans are built to be actionable, with clear goals and objectives, recommended program structures, example policies, operational needs, capitalization strategies, an implementation timeline, and additional resources. CDFA’s approach to program design is based on the client’s mission and local demand, which is to create complementary finance programs for those already available in the service area.

Past examples:

• Arizona Finance Authority
• Rhode Island Commerce
• Alliance for Rural Impact
• Innovate Alabama
• Southern Colorado Economic Development District
• Columbus & Franklin County, OH CDFI Operational Framework
• Tucson Industrial Development Authority
• Hillsborough County, Florida
• More…

Tailored Training & Education

CDFA offers customized training and seminars for development finance agencies seeking education tailored to their organization, staff, and local community. This education can be adjusted in content, length, and format. CDFA brings expertise covering the full spectrum of financing tools and topics - from bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and revolving loan funds to brownfield redevelopment, food system financing, and infrastructure finance. Training can range from one hour to multi-day events or progressive education throughout the year. These can also be held in person and/or virtually and are ideal for new staff training, board and staff retreats, and overall continuing education to maintain current on the development finance tools, topics, and available capital stacks.

Past examples:

• New Jersey Economic Development Authority
  Bond Training & a Revenue Allocation District Financing Seminar
• New York State Economic Development Council
  Basics of Renewable Energy Finance Seminar
• Wellsville Ohio
  Opportunity Zone Technical Assistance
• National League of Cities
  Brownfields Bootcamp
• St. Louis Development Corporation
  Environmental Justice Action Plan
• Business Oregon
  Oregon Private Activity Bond Finance Conference
• Oklahoma Department of Commerce
  Tailored Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Seminar
• Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
  Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Seminars
• Texas Economic Development Council
  Fundamentals of Economic Development Finance Seminar
  Basics of Bond Financing
  Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Seminars
• Southern Economic Development Council
  Introduction to Development Finance Seminar
• Pennsylvania Economic Development Association
  Tax Increment Finance Seminar
• North Carolina Economic Developers Association
  Tax Increment Finance Seminars
• LISC Milwaukee
  Tax Increment Finance Policy and Practice Seminar
• National Association of Home Builders
  Tailored Finance Workshop
• Ohio Economic Development Association & Ohio Department of Development
  Bond Finance Field Seminar
• Georgia Institute of Technology: Economic Development and Technology Ventures
  Tax-Exempt Revenue Bond Financing Seminar
• International Economic Development Council
  Tailored Advanced Bond Finance Training Course
• Pennsylvania Economic Development Association
  Tailored Revenue Bond and Mortgage Finance Seminar
• Fresno State University
  Development Finance Training
• Connecticut Green Bank
  Tailored Bond Finance Webinars
• Mid-America Economic Development Council
  Development Finance & Tax Increment Financing Seminars

Grant Writing Services

CDFA’s grant writing services help organizations secure funding by simplifying the complex grant application process and maximizing success. Services range from identifying grant opportunities and researching funders to drafting tailored applications with narratives, budgets, and supporting documents. CDFA also assists with project alignment, goal setting, program design, and application revision. Additional support includes workshops to train staff on effective grant writing, post-award management to ensure compliance and communication, and evaluation services to improve future applications. By outsourcing these tasks, organizations save time, reduce administrative burdens, and increase their chances of securing essential funding.

Past Examples:

• Arizona Finance Authority
• Rhode Island Commerce
• Innovate Alabama
• Tucson Industrial Development Authority
• Annual Grant Writing Workshop