Ice Miller lawyers Kip Wahlers and Jarrod Loadholt will be presenting at two separate breakout sessions at the Council of Development Finance Agencies' 2023 National Development Finance Summit. The CDFA National Development Finance Summit is designed for both public and private sector participants from across the country and brings together leaders from the development finance industry to discuss best practices, trends, and financing solutions. Click here to view the full agenda.

Ice Miller Presentations

Best Practices for Equitable Lending (Thursday, October 9, 3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

Join the 2023 Caren S. Franzini Fellows as they share their recent research exploring challenges that small businesses face when accessing capital. The Fellows will be presenting their white paper with findings on best practices, strategies, and initiatives to remove barriers and improve the availability of financing options for small businesses.

Moderator:

• Kristopher Wahlers, Partner, Ice Miller LLP

Speakers:

• Olivia Barone, Senior Project Officer, Clean Energy Program / Economic Transformation, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Neyli Castillo Suarez, Interim Lead Program Administrator, Recovery Programs, New Mexico Finance Authority
• Tonita McKnight, Business Development Officer, ACT! Albany Community Together, Inc.
• Zaba Rashan, Community Development Specialist, City of San Diego

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Federal Grant Writing Workshop (Friday, October 10, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

Applying for federal grants is a competitive process that requires a significant amount of time and planning prior to submission. It is essential for applicants to know how to navigate the available funding sources and prepare the necessary information to apply well in advance. This session will provide guidance and best practices on the various components of a federal grant application. This includes project planning and timeline development, budgeting, establishing partnerships, and conducting the background research and assessments necessary to justify the investment.

Join CDFA for a federal grant writing session focused on best practices for applying for federal grants. Speakers in this session will cover strategies, themes, and trends to write successful grant proposals for funding opportunities across federal agencies. During this workshop, attendees will have a chance to share their challenges and ask questions.

Moderator:

• Mitchell Smith, Director, Government & External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies

Speakers:

• Alma Fargason, Lead Planner, WSP USA
• Joan Kato, Colaborative Campaign Director, GreenLatinos
• Emil Liszniansky, Principal, Envision Group LLC
• Jarrod Loadholt, Partner, Ice Miller LLP
• Collin Willard, Grants Specialist/Grant Assistance Program, Biden School of Public Policy at the University of Delaware