Bill > S3344

Introduced Session

This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) to establish and maintain the New Jersey Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Pilot Program (program) and the New Jersey Non-Profit Loan Guarantee Fund (fund). Under the bill, the authority is required, within six months of the effective date of the bill, to provide financial assistance in the form of loan guarantees to non-profit organizations to support the construction of new physical spaces that are capable of generating income sufficient to repay the loans. Application Criteria The bill requires the authority to establish an application process. A non-profit organization that seeks a loan guarantee agreement under the program is required to submit an application to the authority in a form and manner prescribed by the authority. In addition to any other information that the authority may deem appropriate, the application is required to request the non-profit organization to submit proof that the non-profit organization has: 1) been determined by the federal Internal Revenue Service to be a tax-exempt organization pursuant to federal law; 2) been in existence for 10 years prior to the effective date of the bill; and 3) received financial assistance from the State, including grants, loans, or any other form of assistance prior to the effective date of the bill. The authority may only approve the application if the authority determines: 1) that the loan for which the application for a loan guarantee has been submitted is expected to result in the creation of 10 or more full-time jobs upon completion of construction of a new physical space financed under the provisions of the bill; and 2) based on the projections by the non-profit organization, including the data and assumptions forming the basis thereof, of the profitability and financial stability over the term of the loan guarantee, the loan for which the application for a loan guarantee has been submitted will support the construction of new physical space that is capable of generating income sufficient to repay the loan through box office sales, private donations, sponsorships, or other sources of revenue; and 3) the non-profit organization has a record of financial stability, good reputation, and credit worthiness. Loan Guarantee Agreements Under the bill, the authority would enter into an agreement with a participating bank and a non-profit organization qualified pursuant to the bill to use the moneys from the fund to guarantee a direct loan or revolving line of credit provided by the participating bank to finance the construction of a new physical space by the qualified non-profit organization. Each loan guarantee agreement that the authority enters into with a participating bank and non-profit organization will not exceed $15 million per qualified applicant or a period of more than 20 years. The agreements are also required to provide for any other terms or conditions that the authority and the participating banks determine as being necessary or desirable to effectuate the purpose of the program. The authority is also required to establish sufficient reserves and liquid reserves to provide a sufficient and actuarially sound basis for its pledges contained in any loan guarantee agreement entered into pursuant to the bill. Loan Fund The bill requires the fund to be credited with: 1) an amount from the Economic Recovery Fund that the authority determines is necessary to effectively implement the program, within the limits of funding available from the Economic Recovery Fund; 2) any moneys received by the authority from the repayment of the moneys in the guarantee fund used to provide loan guarantees pursuant to the bill and interest thereon; and 3) any other moneys of the authority, including but not limited to, any moneys available from other business assistance programs administered by the authority that are authorized and determined by the authority to be deposited in the fund. Report Requirements Finally, within 24 months following the effective date of the bill, and on or before February 15 of each year thereafter in which a loan guarantee agreement entered into under the bill is in effect, the authority is required to prepare a report on the program. The report may be issued separately, or in combination with any reports required by any law concerning financial assistance to non-profit organizations in New Jersey. The report is required to include, but need not be limited to, a description of the demand for the program from qualified non-profits and participating banks, the efforts made by the authority to promote the program, the total amount of loan guarantees approved by the authority under the program and an assessment of the effectiveness of the program in meeting the goals of the bill. The authority is required to submit its report to the Governor and the Legislature, including any recommendations for legislation to improve the effectiveness of the program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Patrick Diegnan (D)*,  Nick Scutari (D)*,  Nellie Pou (D),  Teresa Ruiz (D),  Shirley Turner (D), 

Substituted by A4790 (1R) (on 12/19/2022)

Official Document