Schedule of Events

Tuesday, April 24

Small Business Loan Funds and Small Manufacturers: Potential for Partnerships

Across the nation, RLFs are working to help small manufacturers continue to make goods, provide jobs, and contribute to local and regional economies. A study by the Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) found that small manufacturers seek capital for facility expansion, equipment purchase, refinancing and general working capital.

Welcome: Misty Casto, Executive Director, Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District (OH)

Speaker: Doug O’Brien, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, USDA

Speaker: Sean Esten, Financial Portfolio Manager, Rhode Island EDC

Speaker: Alan Singer, Lending Director, Franklin County CDC (MA)

Moderator: Erik Pages, President, EntreWorks Consulting (VA)

Innovations in Small Business Lending Programs: Noteworthy Practices

A hallmark of the Economic Development Finance Service (EDFS) is cultivation of a practitioner network that provides an environment for learning – during conferences and events, but also through electronic information sharing and exchange.

Rapid round robin presentations from small business lending programs that are using creative strategies to meet the needs of clients, resulting in job retention and creation, business growth and contributing to regional economic vitality. Group discussion will follow the round robin presentations, with a focus on ways to build programs that streamline operations while also meeting client needs. Participants will be encouraged to participate in a facilitated discussion about ways to overcome barriers and challenges to meeting the needs of small businesses in their regions.

Facilitator: Erik Pages, President, EntreWorks Consulting (VA)

Wednesday, April 25

Access to Capital in Rural Regions and Small Communities/White House Rural Council Study

A research team assembled by RUPRI is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better understand issues related to capital access in rural America. The project is designed to achieve the following three objectives:

1. To provide USDA with a more detailed understanding of the capital market system in rural America and how it supports business development, job and wealth creation
2. To provide insights into effective models that support innovation within the system to improve rural business outcomes, including job and wealth creation
3. To provide evidence-based policy recommendations that support the creation or scaling of innovations that improve rural business outcomes

Speaker: Erik Pages, President, EntreWorks Consulting (VA)

First Things First: Evaluating Financial Statements and Business Plans

Learn successful tips for evaluating business plans and financial statements, and get an understanding of the red flags that signal potential trouble that can be avoided. This session will benefit those new to the small business lending world and will be a great refresher for those more “seasoned” loan fund managers.

Speaker: Pat Brennen, North Central PA RP&DC

Moderator: Mike Burress, Lincoln Trail ADD (KY)

Working Lunch: Rural Wealth Creation

This session will illustrate how the seven forms of wealth tool is being used to assist business development in rural communities and regions. Yellow Wood Associates has been working with The Ford Foundation on a national initiative to share the concepts with a broad audience; NADO has also been working with The Ford Foundation in targeted areas of the country to test the approaches that regional development organizations are employing with regard to rural wealth creation.

Speaker: Melissa Levy, Senior Associate, Yellow Wood Associates

Moderator: Holly Quinn, Business Loan Specialist, Northeast Nebraska EDD

Going the Distance: Making Sure the Loan Fits the Business

Learn how businesses benefit from strategic and practical loan servicing (before, during, and after the lending decision is made), and the importance of a solid technical assistance plan aimed at meeting their needs.

Speaker: Sean Esten, Financial Portfolio Manager, Rhode Island EDC

Moderator: Jeff Christensen, Business Loan Specialist, Northeast Nebraska EDD

Preparing for a Smooth Audit

This session will offer insights into what auditors are looking for, and how you can prepare your organization to sail through the process. Topics to be covered include considerations for audits while calculating loan loss reserves, making loan confirmations, engaging in management discussions and analysis write-ups, and accrued interest receivables.

Speaker: Carol Jackson, Comptroller, Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council

Moderator: Adam Quinlan, Financial Portfolio Manager, Rhode Island EDC

Tuesday, April 24

Legislative Update: State of Small Business Programs in the Federal Budget

The current battle over deficit reduction continues to dominate the federal decision making process, and encompasses all programs including those that fund your lending programs. The funding decisions being made right now will impact our nation for decades to come. Conference participants will learn about the latest federal legislative and policy developments and the budget and appropriations outlook for the year ahead, with an emphasis on the various small business loan fund programs that you all manage.

Speaker: Deborah Cox, Director of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs, NADO

Moderator: Russ Cowley, President, NADO, and Executive Director, Six County AOG

Helping Businesses Succeed: Technical Assistance Strategies and Programs That Work

This session will provide examples of technical assistance programs and strategies that are being implemented to help businesses not only re-pay their loans, but succeed in their communities.

Speaker: Linda Rossi, Associate State Director, VT Small Business Development Center

Moderator: Paulette Potter, Loan Program Manager, Northern Tier RP&DC (NY)

Federal Program Update

This session is an outstanding opportunity to hear the latest program updates from the funding agencies and to get answers to your program questions.

Speaker: Darcy Carter, District Director, SBA VT

Speaker: Michael DeVillo, Program Analyst, EDA

Speaker: Joshua Hanford, Director, State of Vermont, HUD

Speaker: David Robinson, Business Program Director, USDA Rural Development VT/NH

Speaker: Kyle Wilber, ARC Program Manager, NY State

This event was sponsored, in part, by the U.S. Small Business Administration under a cooperative agreement (# SBAHQ-10-I-0317) with the NADO Research Foundation. SBA’s funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Additional support was provided by NADO and the NADO Research Foundation, The Ford Foundation, Bank of America and the Development District Association of Appalachia.

View the NADO power point presentation.

• In Wisconsin, the Northwest Regional Planning Commission and the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission have worked with the state to consolidate HUD CDBG loan programs into more productive regional lending pools, resulting in reduced administrative barriers, increased capacity, and streamlined processes to achieve efficiencies.  More importantly, they have increased business lending activity for technology companies, manufacturing firms and other area businesses.
• The Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc . (SOREDI), based in Oregon, helps small businesses and entrepreneurs through the Jefferson Grapevine innovation network that provides technical assistance and resources to businesses, and  connects them to potential investors. SOREDI also assists businesses through the Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network, a group of accredited investors seeking equity investments in early-stage companies.
• In Colorado, the Region 9 Economic Development District promotes business growth through a partnership program called the Growth Company Initiative.
• In Texas, the Southern Plains Association of Governments manages a number of federal small business loan funds to have a big impact on the 15-county region.

The report includes information about each programs financing, successes and challenges, impact, and more.

Download the report.

The report is a product of the NADO Research Foundation’s work with the Small Business Administration (SBAHQ-10-I-0317) and should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions or services.  All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

Click here to download report (PDF).

Click Here to view a New Market Tax Credit fact sheet from the Community Reinvestment Fund