Jeff Colona Serves as Panelist at Novogradac Conference

NMTC director discusses best practices for community development entities

In January, Jeff Colona, director of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) at St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership), attended the Novogradac 2026 NMTC Conference at Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, Calif. While in attendance, Colona joined other NMTC industry professionals to speak on a panel at the conference. The other panelists were Beth Fore, vice president of NMTC investments at SDS Capital Group, and Laurel Tinsley, tax partner at Cherry Bekaert.

During the panel discussion, Colona shared practical implementation approaches that are effective as a community development entity that focuses on specific geographical footprint. Fore and Tinsley provided proven ways to improve outcomes through the community benefits agreements.

NMTC support investments that create jobs and provide services in economically disadvantaged areas. NMTC can subsidize up to 20% of a project’s capital needs. The tax credits can be used to fund commercial, industrial, community and mixed-use projects within qualifying census tracts, which are determined by income and poverty data from the U.S. Census.

For more information on STL Partnership’s NMTC program, click here.