Who are Resource Conservation Districts?
Spanning many generations, California’s RCDs have maintained deep connections to farmers and ranchers while evolving to meet the changing needs of the state’s diverse communities. Today, each RCD’s projects and services are as varied as the landscapes they protect. Their work includes habitat restoration, forest health and wildfire resilience, healthy soils initiatives, public education and outreach, landscape-scale conservation planning, climate resilience strategies, water use management, and drought preparation in partnership with municipalities and the state.
Why is a Financing Program necessary?
Despite their critical role, RCDs often face funding gaps between project initiation and grant reimbursement. The RCD Working Capital Financing Program bridges that gap—empowering districts to continue serving their communities without disruption.
CSDA Finance Corporation (CSDAFC), the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD), Ridgeline Municipal Strategies, the participating lenders, and a handful of your peers at RCDs statewide spent months crafting this Program through discussions, surveys, and focus groups. We’re proud of the collaborative effort by all parties and the resulting Program you see today.
What does the Program involve?
RCDs gain access to flexible working capital to finance staffing, equipment, and operational needs. This access to interim financing ensures that projects stay on track while awaiting grant disbursements. The ability to pay for work upfront also immensely increases the competitiveness of bids received on projects.
How does the process work?
- Apply online with a quick, streamlined application.
- Our team collaborates with you and a CSDAFC approved lender to design a financing plan suited to your projects and funding timelines.
- Once approved, receive the capital you need when you need it.
Who should apply?
All California RCDs are seeking to strengthen cash flow, maintain project continuity, and expand their community impact.
Who are the banks involved, and what do they get from this relationship?
Currently, the Program has one participating bank – Tri Counties Bank, which has a strong history of supporting special districts and CSDAFC. There are a few key features of the Program that were negotiated using collaborative feedback from both the lenders and RCDs:
- Financing transactions will be subject to a 1.5% fee.
- Credit notes are issued at a variable rate reflecting current market conditions.
- Districts will be required to maintain a banking relationship with the referred Program Lender.
Is this Program solely for RCDs? What about other types of special districts?
This Program was specifically tailored to meet the unique challenges RCDs face in obtaining financing. However, we hope to potentially expand this Program to future special district subtypes in the future.
Additionally, as other districts are not subject to the same financing collateral restrictions as RCDs, CSDAFC already has other interim financing solutions available for non-RCD districts. For more information, reach out to Michael Meyer at michaelm@csda.net or get a free, no-obligation quote on your project. https://www.csdafinance.net/getquote