Colona Serves as Panelist at Novogradac Conference

Discussion centers around community benefits agreements

Jeff Colona, new markets tax credits (NMTC) director at St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership), served as a panelist at the Novogradac 2026 Spring NMTC Conference in Washington, D.C. The panel, which consisted of Colona, Beth Fore, vice president of NMTC investments at SDS Capital Group, and Jason Callahan, discussed community benefits agreements with the audience.

During the discussion, Colona shared how community benefits agreements are different with a local community development entity (CDE) than a national CDE, how to properly monitor a CBA and what community benefits are most difficult to deliver once the project is operational, among other topics. He also shared examples of his work with CBAs through the Heartland Regional Investment Fund, a subsidy of STL Partnership.

The panel discussion took place on June 4 at Fairmont Washington, D.C.

For more information about NMTC from STL Partnership, click here.