Take Our Survey
We've created a survey to get a sense of the regional Economic Development Finance capacity. Click on the button below to take the survey. Thank you!
Go to the Survey
View EDF Working Group Meeting Recordings
EDF Working Group Meetings occur bi-monthly on the third Wednesday of each month. View previous meeting recordings below.
Rural Oriented Venture Capital
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Regional Collaboration for Funding (Grants & Debt Finance)
Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
The EDF Working Group held an Expert Session on "Regional Collaboration for Funding: Grants & Debt Finance," featuring Mark Northcross, Principal at NHA Advisors LLC. With over 40 years of municipal advisory expertise, Mark has been advising the SF Bay Area on climate change adaptation funding. During the session, he highlighted the stark contrast in federal funding for climate resilience—Texas receiving $30B, Florida $20B, and California only $200M—and emphasized the need for regional collaboration and unified strategies to secure funding. Mark shared success stories of collaborative efforts that have effectively attracted funding, providing valuable guidance from an expert in the field.
New Market Tax Credits (NMTC)
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
This Expert Session was led by Jon Penkower, Principal, Bridge Strategic Partners and was focused on New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) and their potential to stimulate investment in economically distressed communities. The session included an Overview of New Market Tax Credit 101 followed by a Q&A session and a deep dive into a local North Coast project that utilized NMTC. The session highlighted the importance of NMTC as a strategic financing option for driving economic growth and revitalization in underserved areas.
Slide Deck New Market Tax Credits (NMTC)
Opportunity Zones in California
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
This month, the EDFWG hosted an expert session on Opportunity Zones in California, featuring insights from Mark Northcross, Principal at NHA Advisors LLC, and Brian Coleman, Project Financing Manager at GO-Biz. This impactful session delved into the potential and practicalities of Opportunity Zones (OZs) within the state. Participants gained valuable lessons from the experiences shared and explored how OZs align with local projects and priorities. The session provided actionable insights, leaving attendees better equipped to navigate and leverage Opportunity Zones for meaningful impact.
Climate Financing
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2024
The Expert Session on Climate Financing featured key insights from organizations advancing ecological restoration and energy projects through innovative finance models. Blue Forest discussed the Forest Resilience Bond, a tool blending public and private funds to accelerate forest restoration and promote long-term resilience. They highlighted the CA Wildfire Innovation Fund and workforce development challenges for restoring millions of acres. Blue Lake Rancheria shared strategies for leveraging tax credits and state programs to finance energy projects, while IBank outlined its role in climate infrastructure financing through loans, credit enhancements, and greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
Download the Climate Financing Slide Decks (Combined)
Tribal Funding Considerations
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
The Redwood Region RISE's EDF Working Group hosted an Expert Session focused on Tribal Funding Considerations. Each of the panelists shared impactful stories about successes and challenges they experienced while pursuing funding/financing for projects on Tribal Lands. You can watch the session recording below.
IRS's Tribal Business Structure Handbook
Choosing Tribal Business Structure
Guidebook to the Inflation Reduction Acts's Clean Energy and Climate Investment in Indian Country
Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program
Community Development Block Grants
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
The EDF Working Group held an informative Expert Session on Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) with presentations from Jeff Lucas of Community Development Services and Kelly Hansen from Mendocino County. Attendees gained a foundational understanding of CDBG, learning about the key objectives, eligibility requirements, and application processes. Jeff Lucas provided insights into how CDBG funds support local projects aimed at economic development, infrastructure improvement, and public services. Kelly Hansen shared firsthand experiences from Mendocino County, discussing best practices in managing CDBG-funded initiatives and strategies for maximizing community impact. Participants left with practical tips on how to navigate grant requirements and leverage CDBG funding to benefit their communities.
Community Development Block Grants 101 Slides
Community Development Block Grants Matrix Code
Philanthropy
Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
The RRRISE EDF Working Group's Expert Session on philanthropy explored the role of foundations in supporting community development, with insights from Humboldt Area Foundation and the Community Foundation of Mendocino County. The discussion emphasized the balance between aligning with community priorities and broader mission-driven goals. Case studies, such as the Tahoe Forest and Monterey Bay DART’s partnership with the Irvine Foundation, demonstrated how philanthropy can drive inclusive economic development and support sustainable job growth.
Slide Deck: Philanthropy's Role in Economic Development Finance
Slide Deck: Community Foundation of Mendocino County
Tax Increment Financing
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Are you interested to learn how Tax Increment Financing can advance economic development goals? Watch our Economic Development Funding "Expert Session" on Tax Increment Financing/Enhanced Infrastructure Finance Districts to receive insights and guidance around the value and process for establishing TIF to advance economic development goals and hear about the local Samoa Peninsula Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) project. This Expert Session features presentations from Scott Adair, Humboldt County Economic Development Director, and Joseph Dieguez, Vice President at Kosmont Companies, who supported the County in establishing the Samoa Peninsula EIFD.
Financing District Overview Slide Deck
Samoa Peninsula EIFD Slide Deck
Samoa Peninsula Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Plan