The Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) Technical Assistance Grant is a new program from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Funds are available for technical assistance grants to certified community development financial institutions that participate in United States Department of Agriculture loan or grant programs for small or emerging farmers. This grant provides funding for:
- Technical assistance given by CDFIs to emerging farmers
- Technical assistance to the CDFIs for increasing capacity to serve emerging farmers
Funds available will cover expenses such as supplies and staff time or contractor time.
Amount Available
We expect to award approximately $260,000 using a competitive review process.
Eligible Applicants
Certified community development finance institutions (CDFIs) who serve or intend to serve emerging farmers and have participated in USDA loan or grant programs.
A “certified CDFI” is a bank, credit union, microloan fund, or venture capital provider who completed a certification process with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund. Learn more about CDFIs and how they are certified.
Input Requested
Before the application for this program opens, the MDA requests your feedback on the scope of this program. If this program is relevant to your work, please take this seven-question survey to provide input. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Register to attend an online input session held on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 12 p.m. on the topics covered by the survey questions.
