Kutak Rock partner Seth Kirshenberg will moderate a panel during the Council of Development Finance Agencies’ (CDFA) 2020 Virtual National Summit on Thursday, November 12 at 3:30 p.m. 

Hundreds of programs have sprung up this year at the federal, state, and local levels to combat the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these efforts, many minority- and women-owned businesses have been left behind due to trouble with applications, lack of banking relationships, and other barriers that arise with traditional lending. 

The session, “Investing in Equity (the Social Kind),” will take a look at how the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated pre-existing social and racial inequality in the lending community and how communities can work to improve access to capital for women- and minority-owned businesses using tools like Opportunity Zones, New Markets Tax Credits, SBA-backed loans, and more. 

Panelists include:

• James Carras, Principal, Carras Community Investment, Inc.
• Anisha Murphy, Director of Community Advancement - Twin Cities, Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc.
• Ladell Robbins, Chief Financial Officer / Chief Investment Officer, Invest Newark
• Jennifer Wilhelm, Assistant Director, Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh

Register for CDFA’s 2020 Virtual National Summit here.

Mr. Kirshenberg is the lead attorney for billions of dollars of P3, energy and real estate structured finance and development projects.  He advises governments, developers, financiers, investors and rating agencies in structuring, developing, operating and leasing private and governmental projects.