How can CDFIs serve farmers?

CDFIs offer financial services such as loan products and business support.

CDFIs may offer favorable financing terms to farmers because they are mission-based lenders who have a defined target population which they serve. For example, the U.S. Treasury's eligible target populations for CDFIs include low income communities or historically underserved audiences such as African American, Hispanic, Native American, Persons with Disabilities and other groups. 

To check if there is a CDFI which might provide services to farmers in your community, browse this list of CDFIs based in Minnesota.

No

A CDFI is a community development financial institution, which 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.

You can browse this list of CDFIs based in Minnesota to learn more about these institutions.

CDFIs offer financial services such as loan products and business support.

CDFIs may offer favorable financing terms to farmers because they are mission-based lenders who have a defined target population which they serve. For example, the U.S. Treasury's eligible target populations for CDFIs include low income communities or historically underserved audiences such as African American, Hispanic, Native American, Persons with Disabilities and other groups. 

To check if there is a CDFI which might provide services to farmers in your community, browse this list of CDFIs based in Minnesota.

No. Only certified community development finance institutions are eligible to apply.

11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, September 5, 2024

Apply for the CDFI Technical Assistance Grant using our online application system.

  • If you're a new user, you need to create an account first.
  • Once you're logged in, select "CDFI Technical Assistance Grant."
  • Contact us if you need this information in a different format.

If you are interested to apply but do not yet meet the USDA-related eligibility criteria, we encourage you to look at registering your CDFI as a guaranteed micro lender through the Farm Service Agency. They have a program specifically to enable CDFIs to become guaranteed micro lenders.

Find contact information for an FSA office.

11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, September 5, 2024

What is the deadline for applying to this grant?

11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, September 5, 2024

No

Apply for the CDFI Technical Assistance Grant using our online application system.

  • If you're a new user, you need to create an account first.
  • Once you're logged in, select "CDFI Technical Assistance Grant."
  • Contact us if you need this information in a different format.
How do I access the application?

Apply for the CDFI Technical Assistance Grant using our online application system.

  • If you're a new user, you need to create an account first.
  • Once you're logged in, select "CDFI Technical Assistance Grant."
  • Contact us if you need this information in a different format.
No

Current access to roller crimpers is limited and greater access may improve or expand the use of rye cover crops, but this is a competitive grant and priority will be given to those applicants that address a direct market limitation. The use of a roller crimper to terminate rye is a soil health practice. The purchase of a roller crimper is eligible for the MDA’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Program Grants or the Ag BMP Loan Program.

I would like to purchase a roller crimper and provide custom crimping services to terminate rye cover crops. Would this purchase qualify for funding under the Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover grant?

Current access to roller crimpers is limited and greater access may improve or expand the use of rye cover crops, but this is a competitive grant and priority will be given to those applicants that address a direct market limitation. The use of a roller crimper to terminate rye is a soil health practice. The purchase of a roller crimper is eligible for the MDA’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Program Grants or the Ag BMP Loan Program.

No

No, the crops are not required to be for consumption nor support food production. They must however meet the goal of continuous living cover and the project should address a direct market limitation. Funds are to be used to develop enterprises, supply chains, and markets for continuous-living cover crops and cropping systems in the early stages of commercial development. This can include equipment infrastructure and business and market development.

Is the Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover grant limited to crops or cropping systems used for food production?

No, the crops are not required to be for consumption nor support food production. They must however meet the goal of continuous living cover and the project should address a direct market limitation. Funds are to be used to develop enterprises, supply chains, and markets for continuous-living cover crops and cropping systems in the early stages of commercial development. This can include equipment infrastructure and business and market development.

No