On May 27, in Jackson, Ohio, my staff and I ventured to picturesque Jackson, Ohio, located in the Appalachian foothills, to celebrate the economic development success of another fruitful partnership—Ohio Basic Minerals.

Patrick McDonald, Ohio Basic Minerals CEO, and Jeff Schrader, founder of the original Schrader and Sons Sand and Gravel, spoke to the crowd of local and state dignitaries, Ohio Basic Minerals employees and business partners. Mr. Schrader cut the ribbon to symbolize the grand opening of the newly revitalized and renovated facility, funded by more than $2.45 million from our Finance Fund Capital Corporation (FCAP) and New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC). The event made a splash in the media—read more about Ohio Basic Minerals’ success and exciting new developments

Columbus Dispatch
May 24, 2010
Minerals plant expansion to lead to 30 new jobs

Jackson County Times-Journal
May 25, 2010
Ohio Basic Minerals celebrates expansion

Columbus Business First
May 28, 2010
Finance Fund helps sand, gravel maker expand in southeast Ohio

Jackson County Times-Journal
May 28, 2010
OBM celebrates plant expansion

Finance Fund was able to provide more than $2.45 million from our Finance Fund Capital Corporation (FCAP) and the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) resources for expansion and new equipment for the sand and gravel facility. This will not only help OBM compete in new markets and increase revenue, but will enable the company to hire new employees and stimulate Jackson’s economy.

This Thursday we’ll proudly join OBM in celebrating the new facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the facility and special before and after displays. Several local and state dignitaries will be in attendance, in addition to company CEO, president, employees and business partners.

Here’s to Ohio Basic Minerals—another Ohio economic development success story!

On Wed., April 21, we proudly hosted several state legislators, community leaders and Finance Fund project partners at the Capital Club in downtown Columbus. It was an excellent opportunity to share how Finance Fund has positively impacted some of the state’s most distressed communities.

We highlighted four partnership “success stories,” including Ohio Basic Minerals in Jackson; Save-a-Lot grocery store in Columbus; Noble Learning Center in Caldwell; and Miami Valley Child Development Centers (MVCDC) in Dayton. Each project touted key Finance Fund goals – job creation, safe childcare access and neighborhood revitalization.

We shared important information about the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) program. Last October, we were awarded $50 million in NMTC funding, with $30 million designated specifically for non-metropolitan, rural areas in Ohio. Funding is still available for qualifying projects – we strongly urge those interested to contact us for more information on a possible partnership with us.

We thank our distinguished guests for their presence, and look forward to new partnerships that will lead to more jobs, revitalized communities and safer access to care.

The NMTC program is an important community revitalization tool that has generated significant support from the Obama Administration, which recently proposed authorizing NMTC at $5 billion in 2010 and 2011 (see my recent post for more). Through this program, emerging markets receive the benefit of access to more capital investment, lowered interest rates, lowered risk to lenders, and investment in the community. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Are you part of a distressed community that is in need of development funding? We are now accepting proposals from developers, community lenders and businesses interested in applying for part of $30 million in NMTC loans for rural and non-metropolitan areas. We’d love to hear from you and how we might partner together. Learn more about a few of our NMTC success stories – Save-a-Lot grocery store in Columbus, and Ohio Basic Minerals in Jackson, Ohio. Both utilized NMTC funding to create jobs, expand offerings and revitalize distressed parts of their respective communities. We look forward to seeing how we can assist you in these ways with New Markets Tax Credit funding.

1. Funding authority to catalyze high levels of private investment in distressed communities. The Administration proposes to authorize NMTC at $5 billion in 2010 and 2011.
2. Improving overall competitiveness, attractiveness and effectiveness of the NMTC.
   1. Allowing Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) taxpayers to claim NMTC.
   2. Review passive activity rules, which is a rule that limits the use of losses and credits for business in which a taxpayer does not materially participate.
   3. Qualification of certain types of investments for the credit, which seeks to clarify what types of loans constitute a qualified investment.
   4. Improvement of NMTC rules to spur additional investment in small business.
      1. Re-examining “substantially all” requirements, which requires an awardee (CDE) to have a specific portion of their funds invested at all times.
      2. Supporting greater investment in institutions that invest in small businesses by supporting new rules to promote more investment in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

In addition to the “formal” proclamation of the press release, on the conference call Treasury officials made concerted effort to point out that NMTC has Secretary Geithner’s support and is a high priority for the Administration. Bob Rapoza, representing the NMTC Coalition, expressed the industries appreciation that Treasury is moving aggressively on these issues that will strengthen the program.

It’s good to hear good news once in a while.

PRESS RELEASE and FACT SHEET:

http://treas.gov/press/releases/reports/nmtc%20fact%20sheet.pdf

Tuesday was spent on Capitol Hill visiting with thirteen members of the Ohio Congressional delegation about extension of the New Markets Tax Credit program. NMTC is included in the tax extender package that, on Tuesday, had not yet moved to the floor of the House of Representatives. Our encouragement to members was to increase the amount of tax credit allocation from $3.5 billion to $5 billion as it has been funded in the 2008 and 2009 rounds and to exempt NMTC from the Alternative Minimum Tax as all other community tax credits are thus incenting more investor participation.

Wednesday began with an early breakfast with Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) who is one of the principle sponsors of the NMTC five year extension bill (HR 2628), a NMTC Coalition board meeting, and the beginning of the NMTC Coalition annual conference. The conference opened with a luncheon at which Michael Barr, Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the Treasury Department, spoke about his involvement in NMTC. He was one of the original individuals that developed the NMTC concept in the Clinton administration and has now come back into public service in the Obama administration to find NMTC a developed program with a robust and successful process of moving capital into distressed communities.

(NMTC Coalition, 2009) The Credit contributes to the economy of underserved and distressed communities and is an engine for job creation. Thus far, some $15 billion in NMTC financing has found its way to eligible low income communities. Our research indicates that this financing is usually paired with other sources of capital on a dollar for dollar basis — meaning some $30 billion in capital has been invested in low income communities for financing businesses, community facilities and mixed use projects. Using the Recovery Act standard of 1 job for every $92,000 in financing, that $30 billion converts to 326,086 jobs having been created in low income communities. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Factoring in the 39% tax credit this means the cost of these jobs to the federal government was $6 billion, which if directly appropriated would have been $30 billion)

It was my pleasure to introduce Congressman Tiberi to the attendees as a principal speaker at the Thursday session. The Congressman spoke of his work with Finance Fund in moving NMTC funding into his district and all of Ohio and of the need to extend the program as evidenced by his sponsorship of the five year extender bill. He emphasized the bi-partisan nature of the program and suggested that it may be time to talk about making it permanent. It was also a pleasure to have a board member accompany us on this visit. Reggie Johnson, Huntington National Bank, was asked to present on the Thursday investor panel. This was a great opportunity for exposure and to get board members engaged in the “larger world” of the NMTC industry.

Thanks to the amazing work of Finance Fund staff and board (Jennifer Deuber, Communication Manager; Moniqua Spencer, Chief Program Officer; Reggie Johnson, Board Director)  it was a good week with more relationship building than time and space permit me to report. But the frosting on the cake was that, on Wednesday, the House of Representative took up and passed the tax extender package with an increase of $1.5 billion to the $5 billion level we were asking for. The bill now moves to the Senate which may not deal with it until after the holidays.

The capital is targeted to either metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties or more specifically census tracts in those counties. For the NMTC program, a non-metro county is any county that DOES NOT have a contiguous border with a metropolitan service area. Finance Fund will invest $30 million in non-metro census tracts and $40 million in metro tracts.

Finance Fund has established a NMTC Strategic Investment Group (NSIG) that meets weekly to strategize, assess, and move the investment process forward. NSIG is comprised of staff from program, finance, and internal auditing divisions and is actively examining projects ready for investment. The expectation is that the metro capital will be deployed by the middle of the second quarter of 2010 and the non-metro by the end of the year.

To do this NSIG is resorting to one of Finance Fund’s core competencies, talking to people we know and making sure as many as possible are aware of the potential for investment in their communities. If you have an interest in this funding or want to talk to us, contact Chief Program Officer Moniqua Spencer at mspencer@financefund.org.

This round of New Markets Tax Credit funding enables us to continue to invest in projects that support Ohio’s distressed communities. These projects help stimulate local economies through capital investment, job creation, and community development. You can read more about some of those projects here and here.

Join me in congratulating our team that has spent endless days and nights working on our NMTC application. Kudos to all of them in this successful effort that will benefit all Ohioans.

We recently funded a renovation of the Kings Highway Head Start project, a part of the Miami Valley Child Development Centers Inc. This is one of many projects that Finance Fund has been privileged to work with. Those that know me, know I’m a passionate advocate for Head Start and this one was no exception.

Miami Valley Child Development Centers, Inc. serves Clark, Madison and Montgomery Counties in Ohio. Their overall goal is to prepare children, ages zero to five years, to be successful students when they enter kindergarten. Programs work holistically with families and children, balancing parent involvement, health and nutrition, social skills, literacy, and numeracy development. More than just a childcare center, Miami Valley Child Development Centers empower families by teaching parenting and life skills.

When our program team met with Miami Valley Child Development Centers, Inc., we saw their need to repair and renovate their Kings Highway facility. Using New Markets Tax Credit funding, the repairs and overhaul at Kings Highway MVCDC are underway and should be completed in October. As you can see in these pictures, the improved facility will soon provide a safe, clean and happy learning environment for the children of Montgomery County.

The Kings Highway MVCDC Entrance

Renovated Bathroom at MVCDC

Hallway at MVCDC

Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming celebration for the improved facility. And in the meantime, if you are Head Start seeking assistance in enhancing your facility, contact us. Call at 614.221.1114 or send me an e-mail at jrklein@financefund.org.

The most prevalent is the recently release GAO report “Minority Entities Are Less Successful in Obtaining Awards Than Non-Minority Entities” that attempts to identify reasons for the lack of success. I have some opinions but will do more on that later.

Then it’s lunch with Rapoza Associates Friday, getting ready for the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition Board meeting on Monday, and preparing for the NMTC Coalition Policy Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Coalition is working on a five-year extension of NMTC, a House version of which has been introduced by Rep. Neil and Rep. Tiberi (HR 2628).

Sprinkled into the mix are a number of Hill visits in the House and Senate talking about the Child Care Facilities Finance Act (HR 1685) introduced by Rep. McCarthy and the Senate companion (S 1002) dropped by Senator Casey. It all comes to a conclusion with my testimony (thanks to an invite by Rep. Tiberi) to the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology of the Financial Services Committee. I’ll be talking about the GAO report. Busy trip!