Economic Development Finance

"Incredible.  What a major contribution, just to pull together the diverse array of information out there about development finance into one volume.  I consider this book an ′education′ for the lay reader, and a fabulous resource for the practitioner of development finance." –Dr. Rhonda Phillips, AICP, CED, University of Florida

"This is the most comprehensive and best-written economic development text in the market. This would be a good text for a graduate level course and would work well with a one-semester teaching plan. . . The main strength of the book is the author′s ability to summarize concepts, programs, and institutions and then draw from them issues, lessons, and challenges."  –John S. Strong, School of Business, College of William and Mary 

Economic Development Finance is a comprehensive and in-depth presentation of private, public, and community financial institutions, policies and methods for financing local and regional economic development projects. The treatment of policies and program models emphasizes their applications and impact, key design and management issues, and best practices. A separate section addresses critical management issues for development finance programs: program and product design, the lending and investment process, and capital management.  Case studies are included throughout the book to help readers develop their skills and apply policies and tools to real practice issues. A glossary of finance terms is also included.

Economic Development Finance provides a foundation for students and professionals in the technical aspects of business and real estate finance and surveys the full range of policies, program models, and financing tools used in economic development practice within the United States.   

Learn more economic development strategies on Karl F. Seidman′s Web site at www.kfsconsulting.com

Karl F. Seidman is Senior Lecturer at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning and an experienced economic development practitioner.  His MIT courses have completed over forty technical assistance projects for development finance organizations and prepared twelve economic development plans, including an award-winning revitalization plan for Boston’s Hyde Park Commercial District.  His professional experience includes the design, management and evaluation of economic development finance programs, the financing and supervision of complex development projects, and the preparation of economic development plans and strategies. 

Mr. Seidman’s accomplishments include:  

• Authoring laws that established two Massachusetts business finance agencies
• Building a $120 million state real estate finance and development authority
• Preparing over fifteen local and regional economic development plans; and
• Participating in the national evaluations of federal and foundation economic and community programs.  

Mr. Seidman holds a Master′s degree in Public Policy from Harvard′s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor′s degree in political science from Amherst College.  He is the author of over thirty-five consulting reports, articles in professional journals, a guide to urban commercial revitalization practice and the editor of a practitioner’s guide to defense conversion.