Food Supply Chain
Finance Forum 2021


Presented by

Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

Rural Opportunity Initiative of Business for Impact,

The United States Department of Agriculture and The White House

The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities and created extreme disruptions in America’s food supply chain. The reduction in meat processing capacity is just one example of the supply chain bottlenecks that affect small and midsize farmers. To shift the balance of power back to the people, USDA is helping to build more, better, and fairer markets for producers and consumers alike. USDA is inviting applications under the new Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program to create more and better market opportunities, to promote competition and to strengthen America’s food supply chain.

The Food Supply Guaranteed Loan Program is the USDA’s new $100 million guaranteed loan authority for the middle of the food supply chain. This substantial program is the initial installment in the federal government's investment in meat, poultry, and other food processing entities through the Build Back Better Plan and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Through this program, USDA will use $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to back approximately $1 billion in guaranteed loans to help finance working capital, facilities, equipment and other investments. Funding may be used:

  • To start-up or expand food supply chain activities such as aggregating, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distributing food.

  • To address supply chain bottlenecks.

  • To increase capacity and help create a more resilient, diverse and secure U.S. food supply chain.

The Department is eager for the private finance community to join it in delivering this critical investment in our nation's food supply chain infrastructure. Please join us for this Food Supply Chain Finance Forum to learn how your organization can take advantage of guaranteed loans through this exciting new program.

Agenda


Opening: 2:00 - 2:30

Welcome: Matt McKenna Executive in Residence of the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business Rural Opportunity Initiative|


Keynote Address: Tom Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture

Regional Food Processing: Sameera Fazili, Deputy Director of the White House National Economic Council

Food Supply Chain Loan Guarantee: Dr. Karama Neal, Administrator of the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Lender Roundtable: 2:30 - 3:20


Jim Matzat Vice President Corporate Agribusiness Banking Group (CoBank)

Dr. Philip Otienoburu Commercial Lending Sector Leader - Food Systems Financing, Self-Help Credit Union

Nick Roach President & Chief Lending Officer, Stone Bank

Jamie BourgeoisHead of Energy and Infrastructure Lending, Live Oak Bank

Larry Lunt Founder & Principal, Armonia Capital



Closing: 3:20 - 3:30