Capital Magnet Fund, 75376-75389 [2010-30303]
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Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 303, 7301; 5
U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act); 5
U.S.C. App. (Inspector General Act of 1978);
E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp.,
p. 215, as modified by E.O. 12731, 55 FR
42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306; 5 CFR
2635.105; 18 U.S.C. 207, 208.
2. The heading to Part 1010 is revised
as set forth above.
■ 3. Sections 1010.101 through
1010.104 are designated as Subpart A
and the heading is added to read as set
forth below:
■
Subpart A—Conduct of Employees
*
*
*
§ 1010.101
*
*
[Amended]
4. Section 1010.101 is amended by
removing the word ‘‘part,’’ and adding
the word ‘‘subpart’’ in its place.
■ 5. A new Subpart B is added to Part
1010 to read as follows:
■
Subpart B—Procedures for Exemption
of Scientific and Technological
Information Communications From
Post-Employment Restrictions
Sec.
1010.201 Purpose and scope.
1010.202 Definitions.
1010.203 Procedures for review and
approval of requests.
§ 1010.201
Purpose and scope.
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(a) This subpart sets forth criteria for
the types of communications on
scientific or technological matters
permitted under 18 U.S.C. 207(j)(5) by
defining the term ‘‘scientific or
technological information.’’ This subpart
also establishes the procedures for
receiving and approving requests from
former employees of the executive
branch to make such communications to
DOE.
(b) This subpart applies to any former
employee of the executive branch
subject to the post-employment conflict
of interest restrictions in 18 U.S.C.
207(a), (c), and (d), who wishes to
communicate with DOE under the
exemption in 18 U.S.C. 207(j)(5) for the
purpose of furnishing scientific or
technological information to DOE
offices or officials.
(c) This subpart does not apply to a
former DOE employee’s testimony as an
expert in an adversarial proceeding in
which the United States is a party or has
a direct and substantial interest.
§ 1010.202
Definitions.
For purposes of this subpart:
(a) Agency designee means an
individual serving in a position in DOE
requiring appointment by the President
of the United States with the advice and
consent of the Senate.
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(b) Authorized communication means
any transmission of scientific or
technological information to any DOE
office or official that is approved by
DOE under § 1010.203 of this subpart.
(c) DOE means the U.S. Department of
Energy.
(d) Scientific or technological
information means: Information of a
scientific or technological character,
such as technical or engineering
information relating to the natural
sciences. The exception does not extend
to information associated with a
nontechnical discipline such as law,
economics, or political science.
(e) Incidental references or remarks.
Provided the former employee’s
communication primarily conveys
information of a scientific or
technological character, the entirety of
the communication will be deemed
made solely for the purpose of
furnishing such information
notwithstanding an incidental reference
or remark:
(1) Unrelated to the matter to which
the post-employment restriction applies;
(2) Concerning feasibility, risk, cost,
speed of implementation, or other
considerations when necessary to
appreciate the practical significance of
the basic scientific or technological
information provided; or
(3) Intended to facilitate the
furnishing of scientific or technological
information, such as those references or
remarks necessary to determine the kind
and form of information required or the
adequacy of information already
supplied.
§ 1010.203 Procedures for review and
approval of requests.
(a) Any former employee of the
executive branch subject to the
constraints of the post-employment
restrictions of 18 U.S.C. 207(a), (c), and
(d) who wishes to communicate
scientific or technological information
to DOE must contact the DOE office
with which the former employee wishes
to communicate and request
authorization to make such
communication. This request must be in
writing and address, in detail,
information regarding each of the factors
set forth in paragraphs (c)(1) through
(c)(6) and (c)(8) of this section.
(b) In consultation with the
Designated Agency Ethics Official
(DAEO), the agency designee in the
office with cognizance over the matter
must advise the former employee in
writing whether the proposed
communication is an authorized
communication. This authority cannot
be delegated, except to another
individual serving in a position in DOE
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requiring appointment by the President
of the United States with the advice and
consent of the Senate.
(c) In deciding whether a proposed
communication is an authorized
communication, the agency designee
receiving the request and the DAEO
must consider the following factors:
(1) Whether the former employee has
relevant scientific or technical
qualifications;
(2) Whether the former employee has
qualifications that are otherwise
unavailable to both the former
employee’s current employer and DOE;
(3) The nature of the scientific or
technological information to be
conveyed;
(4) The former employee’s position
prior to termination;
(5) The extent of the former
employee’s involvement in the matter at
issue during his or her employment,
including:
(i) The former employee’s
involvement in the same particular
matter involving specific parties;
(ii) The time elapsed since the former
employee’s participation in such matter;
and
(iii) The offices within the Federal
department or agency involved in the
matter both during the former
employee’s period of employment in the
executive branch and at the time the
request is being made;
(6) The existence of pending or
anticipated matters before the Federal
government from which the former
employee or his or her current employer
may financially benefit, including
contract modifications, grant
applications, and proposals; and
(7) Whether DOE’s interests would be
served by allowing the proposed
communication; and
(8) Any other relevant information.
[FR Doc. 2010–30398 Filed 12–2–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund
12 CFR Part 1807
RIN 1559–AA00
Capital Magnet Fund
Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund, Department
of the Treasury.
ACTION: Interim rule with request for
public comment.
AGENCY:
The Department of the
Treasury is issuing this interim rule
SUMMARY:
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implementing the Capital Magnet Fund
(CMF), administered by the Community
Development Financial Institutions
Fund (CDFI Fund), U.S. Department of
the Treasury. The mission of the CDFI
Fund is to increase the capacity of
financial institutions to provide capital,
credit and financial services in
underserved markets. Its long-term
vision is an America in which all people
have access to affordable credit, capital
and financial services. The CMF was
established through the Housing and
Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which
added section 1339 to the Federal
Housing Enterprises Financial Safety
and Soundness Act of 1992.
DATES: Interim rule effective December
3, 2010. Comment due date: Comments
on this interim rule must be received in
the offices of the CDFI Fund on or
before February 1, 2011.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning
this interim rule should be addressed to
the Capital Magnet Fund Manager,
Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund, Department of the
Treasury, 601 13th Street, NW., Suite
200 South, Washington, DC 20005; by email to cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov; or by
facsimile at (202) 622–7754. Comments
will be made available for public review
on the CDFI Fund’s Web site at https://
www.cdfifund.gov.
Comments may be also be submitted
and viewed through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeffrey C. Berg, Legal Counsel,
Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund, at (202) 622–8662
(This is not a toll free number).
Information regarding the CDFI Fund
and the CMF may be downloaded from
the CDFI Fund’s Web site at https://
www.cdfifund.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) was
established through the Housing and
Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (the
Act), Public Law 110–289, section 1131,
as a trust fund whose appropriation will
be used to carry out a competitive grant
program administered by the CDFI
Fund. Through the CMF, the CDFI Fund
is authorized to make financial
assistance grants to certified Community
Development Financial Institutions
(CDFIs) and Nonprofit Organizations (if
one of their principal purposes is the
Development or management of
Affordable Housing). CMF grants must
be used to attract financing for and
increase investment in: (i) The
Development, Preservation,
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Rehabilitation, and Purchase of
Affordable Housing for primarily
Extremely Low-, Very Low-, and LowIncome Families; and (ii) Economic
Development Activities or Community
Service Facilities (such as day care
centers, workforce development centers,
and health care clinics) which In
Conjunction With Affordable Housing
Activities will implement a Concerted
Strategy to stabilize or revitalize a LowIncome Area or Underserved Rural
Area. This interim rule creates the
requirements and parameters for CMF
implementation and administration
including, among others, application
eligibility, application review, award
selection, Assistance Agreements,
eligible uses of award dollars and
related funds, Awardee reporting, and
compliance monitoring.
On March 15, 2010, the CDFI Fund
published in the Federal Register a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 75 FR
12408, seeking responses to specific
questions regarding CMF design,
implementation, and administration.
The CDFI Fund seeks public comment
on this entire interim rule. All
capitalized terms are defined in the
definition section of the interim rule, as
set forth in 12 CFR 1807.104.
II. Comments on the Proposed Rule and
Summary of Changes
The interim rule contained in this
document is based on the Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (the proposed
rule) published on March 15, 2010. The
comment period for the proposed rule
ended on May 14, 2010. The CDFI Fund
received a total of 5 written
submissions. The submissions were
from three community development
financial institutions (CDFIs), an
affordable housing trade association and
a lender. All comments received by the
end of the comment period were posted
on the CDFI Fund’s Web site for public
view.
Below are the CDFI Fund’s responses
to the public comments on the proposed
rule and answers to the specific five
italicized questions asked in the
proposed rule. The following includes a
discussion of the significant issues, as
well as clarifying information.
A. Eligibility
The eligibility requirements for
Applicants are set forth in 12 CFR
1807.200. The CDFI Fund asked
whether an eligibility requirement that
33 percent of the Applicant’s resources
(measured by staff time and/or budget)
be dedicated to Affordable Housing is
appropriate (12 CFR 1807.200(a)(2)(iii)).
If not, what is the appropriate
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percentage of activities, and how should
this be measured?
Commentators supported the 33
percent of resources eligibility
requirement. Two commentators
recommended that the CDFI Fund allow
consortiums to apply as a single
Applicant, suggesting that a consortium
consisting of smaller CDFIs could
collaborate to serve a number of
adjacent or related markets more
effectively. One commentator suggested
that permitting consortiums to apply
would allow an established nonprofit
organization, with a track record of
success, to partner with a new entity in
order to address a particular and
immediate affordable housing need.
Thus, the three year existence
requirement should apply only to nonconsortium applicants, thus allowing
new entities to apply, as long as they
can demonstrate they have raised
sufficient money to operate for a
specific amount of time and have
applied for their 501(c)(3) status.
Another commentator suggested the
CDFI Fund divide CMF awards into two
applicant pools delineated by applicant
size, similar to the practice under the
CDFI Program. The commentator
suggested that national organizations
typically cannot serve smaller more
remote markets and that two applicant
pools would ensure that the CMF
awards are distributed to urban,
suburban and rural areas fairly. The
commentator also suggested reducing
the maximum award amount to ensure
the distribution of awards to more areas
throughout the country.
The CDFI Fund’s response: The
eligibility requirement that 33 percent of
an applicant’s resources must be
dedicated to Affordable Housing
remains as set forth in 12 CFR
1807.200(a)(2)(iii). In response to
comments advocating for two CMF
applicant pools, consortium applicants,
and a variation on the time in existence
requirement for consortium applicants,
at this time the CDFI Fund will
maintain the requirements as stated in
the proposed rule. As the CMF is a new
program, the CDFI Fund will evaluate
the program implementation and
impacts before making additional
modifications in these areas. If in the
future, the CDFI Fund determines that it
is appropriate to develop more than one
applicant pool, permit consortium
applicants or otherwise modify the time
in existence requirements, the CDFI
Fund will do so in the Notice of
Funding Availability (NOFA) for the
applicable funding round as permitted
in the interim rule.
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B. Eligible Uses
The proposed rule in 12 CFR 1807.302
sets forth a number of restrictions on
use of CMF award funds. Are there
suggested restrictions that will prevent
the CMF from financing predatory
lending practices that should be
included in this section? Is the use
restriction that no more than 30 percent
of an Awardee’s CMF award can be
used for Economic Development
Activities and Community Service
Facilities appropriate (12 CFR
1807.302(d))? If not, what is the
appropriate percentage?
One commentator remarked that the
new industry rules emerging for
mortgage finance will provide
additional protections for low-income
purchasers and thus, suggested that
there is no need for the addition of antipredatory lending provisions to the
proposed rule.
Another commentator suggested that
the CDFI Fund lower the statutorily
imposed maximum award percentage
that an Awardee can receive in any
given funding round and also remove
the 30 percent restriction on use of CMF
awards for Economic Development
Activities or Community Service
Facilities. To allow for maximum
flexibility, a commentator also
suggested that no cap be placed on the
amount of a CMF award that can be
used for Operations. One commentator
suggested that the CDFI Fund make
clear that Awardees can utilize an
Affordable Housing Fund at the
enterprise level and be able to aggregate
a CMF award with an existing fund
maintained by the Awardee. The
commentator also suggested that the
definition of Affordable Housing Fund
mirror that of the FY 2010 NOFA
published on March 15, 2010, which
allows the Awardee to use the fund to
make grants and investments.
The CDFI Fund’s response: The CDFI
Fund considers the restrictions on
eligible uses in 12 CFR 1807.302 of the
Proposed Rule appropriate and therefore
these restrictions are maintained in the
interim rule. As there are other Federal
programs and mechanisms better suited
to deal with predatory lending, the
interim rule will not explicitly address
this issue. The six eligible uses of CMF
awards are set forth in 12 CFR 1807.301.
One of those eligible uses is to capitalize
an Affordable Housing Fund. As
suggested by Commentators, the
definition of Affordable Housing Fund
in 12 CFR 1807.104(e) is revised in this
interim rule to include grants and
investments to be consistent with the
definition published in the FY 2010
CMF NOFA. Any previous
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inconsistency between the Proposed
Rule and the NOFA was inadvertent.
The statutory purpose of the CMF is
to attract private capital for and increase
investment in Affordable Housing
Activities and related Economic
Development Activities and Community
Service Facilities. The CDFI Fund wants
to ensure that the awards are used
primarily for those specific purposes.
Therefore, the CDFI Fund thinks the 5
percent cap on Operations uses and the
30 percent cap on use of CMF awards
for Economic Development Activities or
Community Service Facilities is in line
with the spirit of the authorizing statute.
As this is a new program, the CDFI
Fund may at a future point determine
that the Operations use restriction
should be modified. In such a case, the
interim rule, as set forth in 12 CFR
1807.302(b), allows the CDFI Fund to
establish the restrictions on Operations
uses in the applicable NOFA.
Finally, an Awardee is not required to
create a separate legal entity or
investment vehicle in which it will
undertake the eligible activities listed in
12 CFR 1807.301. However, as set forth
in 12 CFR 1807.600, the Awardee must
be able to account for every dollar of its
CMF award and track its uses.
C. Affordable Housing Activities,
Economic Development Activities and
Community Service Facilities
This proposed rule currently defines
Economic Development Activities as
‘‘the Development, Preservation,
Rehabilitation, or Purchase of
Community Service Facilities and/or
other physical structures in which
neighborhood-based businesses operate
which, In Conjunction With Affordable
Housing Activities, implements a
Concerted Strategy to stabilize or
revitalize a Low-Income Area or
Underserved Rural Area.’’ Is this an
appropriate definition? Should it be
expanded to include working capital
loans to businesses? Should refinancing
of existing loans be a permissible
activity?
One commentator generally agreed
with the proposed rule’s definition of
Economic Development Activities and
supported limiting the use of CMF
awards for non-housing activities.
However, the same commentator
suggested that the CDFI Fund broaden
the definition of Economic Development
Activity beyond its relation to defined
Affordable Housing Activities and
instead have it apply to housing-related
activities more generally. The same
commentator also suggested changing
the definitions of Development,
Preservation, Rehabilitation and
Purchase to align with that which is
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used in the affordable housing industry,
which would allow for more flexibility.
This commentator suggested that these
terms are used interchangeably and are
not mutually exclusive. The
commentator recommended adding the
term ‘‘resident services’’ to the definition
of Community Service Facility to
acknowledge the presumed eligibility of
physical spaces for resident services in
the use of CMF awards, as well as
expanding the list of the types of
community services provided.
The CDFI Fund’s response: The
interim rule accepts the commentator’s
suggestion and revises the definition of
Economic Development Activity in 12
CFR 1807.104(t) to apply to real estate
development activities generally. The
interim rule revises the definition of
Preservation in 12 CFR 1807.104(tt) to
provide for the purchase or refinance of
single-family or multi-family rental
mortgages or housing that was not
previously subject to affordability
restrictions, with the intent of subjecting
the housing to the CMF affordability
qualifications, as set forth in 12 CFR
1807.400 et seq. The definition of
Purchase is also revised in 12 CFR
1807.104(vv) to clarify the authorization
of mortgage financing of Single-family
housing. The interim rule also adds the
definition of Multi-family housing, as
set forth in 12 CFR 1807.104(nn), and
Family in 12 CFR 1807.104(x).
Under the interim rule, Awardees
may pursue any or all of the strategies
set forth in 12 CFR 1807.300(a). Thus,
it is not necessary to revise the
definitions of Development,
Preservation, Rehabilitation and
Purchase to make them interchangeable,
as the commentator suggested. The
interim rule, however, makes technical
and clarifying corrections to those
definitions, as previously described. It
also revises the definition of
Community Services Facility in 12 CFR
1807.104(o) to expand the types of
services, as suggested by the
commentator.
The interim rule also revises 12 CFR
1807.501 to require the date by which
CMF awards must be Committed for use
and initially disbursed, to the date
designated in the Awardee’s Assistance
Agreement. Similarly, 12 CFR 1807.503
of the interim rule is revised to require
that CMF-funded projects must be
completed and placed into service by
the date designated in the Awardee’s
Assistance Agreement. The proposed
rule required CMF funds to be
Committed for use within two and
disbursed within three years of the
effective date of the Assistance
Agreement. The CDFI Fund anticipates
that the Assistance Agreement will still
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provide an Awardee at least two years
to commit for use and three years to
initially disburse its CMF award, and
five years to complete CMF-funded
projects. The interim rule incorporates
these changes to provide the Awardee
flexibility, should additional time be
needed to complete environmental
reviews and to accommodate unique
circumstances.
Should physical proximity be
necessary to meet the requirement that
Economic Development Activities or
Community Service Facilities financed
In Conjunction with Affordable Housing
Activities implement a Concerted
Strategy to stabilize or revitalize a LowIncome Area or Underserved Rural
Area? If physical proximity is necessary,
what is the best measure of being
‘‘physically proximate’’ with respect to
projects undertaken in urban areas, and
with respect to projects undertaken in
rural areas?
One commentator remarked that
census tract boundaries are sometimes
inconsistent with neighborhood
boundaries, which would limit the
usefulness of census tracts as proxies for
physical proximity. This commentator
suggested that ‘‘physically proximate’’
should allow for strategies that provide
access to the services through readily
available transit options within the
Awardee’s Service Area. Another
commentator suggested that ‘‘or located
within 20 miles’’ be added to the
definition of In Conjunction With to
deal with situations in which a property
is located near a county line but may
rely on services that are just a few miles
away.
The CDFI Fund’s response:
Geographical proximity is the best
measure of being ‘‘physically
proximate.’’ However, the CDFI Fund
recognizes that census tract boundaries
can be limiting in certain instances.
Therefore, the interim rule revises the
definition of In Conjunction With in 12
CFR 1807.104(cc) to include a 2 mile
radius for a Metropolitan Area and a 20
mile radius for a Non-Metropolitan
Area.
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D. Affordability Qualifications
Is the Affordable Housing
qualification that requires a minimum
of 20 percent of units in multi-family
rental housing projects financed with a
CMF award be occupied by Low-Income,
Very Low-Income, or Extremely LowIncome Families appropriate (12 CFR
1807.401)? If not, what is the
appropriate percentage?
One commentator agreed with the
proposed rule’s level of targeting.
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The CDFI Fund’s response: The
percentage threshold in 12 CFR
1807.401 remains unchanged.
As set forth in 12 CFR 1807.400 et
seq., Affordable Housing is subject to a
10-year affordability requirement that
begins at Project Completion. Is this 10year affordability requirement
appropriate? How should this be
measured with respect to funds that are
deployed, returned to the Awardee, and
reinvested during the life of the
Assistance Agreement (e.g., in the case
of CMF awards that are used to establish
a revolving loan fund)?
Two commentators expressed
significant concern with the 10-year
affordability requirement for
homeownership. One commentator
remarked that the 10-year provision
would impose an onerous
administrative burden on nonprofit
program sponsors, as well as the
homeowner, and suggested that the
affordability qualification only be
measured at purchase. That same
commentator also opposed specific
underwriting criteria as the affordability
criteria. A second commentator opposed
the 10-year affordability requirement
because it would impose an
affordability covenant and deter
otherwise qualified homeowners. It
would create a situation where the
homeowner would have to suppress the
sale price if he or she had to sell before
the 10-year period ended. Thus, the
provision serves as a barrier to
homeownership, cited the commentator.
The commentator provided an
alternative to the 10-year affordability
requirement: To remove the 10-year
affordability covenant for each
individual loan and instead require
Awardees to redeploy the CMF dollars,
upon resale, to new borrowers that meet
the affordability requirements. Another
commentator suggested that the
proposed rule adopt the affordability
qualifications of all Federal and state
affordable housing programs.
One commentator suggested that the
front-end and back-end ratios for
homeownership affordability
qualification are too inflexible. The
commentator suggested deleting the
ratios and provide for the ability to
negotiate specific terms with an
Awardee should the CDFI Fund
discover abusive lending.
The CDFI Fund’s response: The CDFI
Fund recognizes the limitation of an
affordability covenant on
homeownership. However, the CDFI
Fund also recognizes the challenges
from a compliance standpoint in
accepting the many definitions of
‘‘affordable housing’’ across all Federal
and state programs. In an effort to
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75379
balance the two interests, the interim
rule removes the required affordability
covenant on homeownership and allows
Awardees to create their own
mechanism of recouping and
redeploying the CMF award in cases
where the original homeowner sells the
property to a buyer that does not meet
the affordability qualifications. Under
those circumstances, the Awardee must
ensure that the portion of the CMF
award spent or designated to finance the
Affordable Housing Activity is recouped
from the homeowner or the Awardee’s
other resources, and redeployed in an
eligible use for a qualified family for the
remaining affordability period. The
interim rule thus places the affordability
restriction on the dollar amount of the
CMF award used for the eligible
activity, instead of the housing itself.
The interim rule sets forth the
parameters of resale, recoupment and
redeployment in 12 CFR 1807.402(a)(5).
Likewise, the CDFI Fund wants to
allow for increases in tenant incomes
while also increasing affordable housing
opportunities. Therefore, in 12 CFR
1807.401(g)(3), the interim rule provides
that in the event a tenant’s income
increases, the Awardee may replace that
unit with another qualifying unit for
purposes of meeting the 10-year
affordability requirement. This
provision encourages increases in
wealth by low-income families, yet
allows Awardees to fulfill the purpose
of the CMF without encountering
noncompliance.
With regard to the homeownership
front-end and back-end ratios, the
interim rule removes those as
affordability standards and simply uses
the ‘‘no greater than 95 percent of
median purchase price’’ as the
qualification.
The interim rule also adds the new
defined term, ‘‘Eligible-Income’’ in 12
CFR 1807.104(u), to describe families
whose annual income does not exceed
120 percent of the area median income,
as determined by HUD.
E. Record Retention
The proposed rule sets forth record
data collection and record retention
requirements in 12 CFR 1807.902. What
documentation should Awardees be
required to retain to demonstrate
compliance with (i) the affordability
qualification requirements in 12 CFR
1807.400 et seq. and (ii) the leveraging,
commitment and Project Completion
requirements in 12 CFR 1807.500 et
seq.?
No commentators offered specific
recommendations regarding the
documentation Awardees should be
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required to retain in order to
demonstrate compliance.
The CDFI Fund’s response: The CDFI
Fund will set forth guidance and
information on the documentation
requirements in the Assistance
Agreements and compliance guidance
documents to be issued at a future date.
F. Income Determination and Rent
Limitations
Although the CDFI Fund did not ask
a specific question about the income
determination and rent limitation
provisions in the proposed rule,
comments were submitted regarding
these issues. One commentator
remarked that the rent-setting
mechanisms and income definitions are
unnecessarily complex and should defer
to the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) program, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
program and the Low Income Housing
Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program, authorized
under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, I.R.C.
section 42, rules for rent-setting and
income determinations. The
commentator also suggested that the
rent limitation of no more than 30
percent of a family’s annual income is
too restrictive, especially if the housing
provider does not have access to rental
assistance subsidies. In addition, the
developer must be able to demonstrate
predictable rental proceeds for the
property, which would be speculative
under the proposed rule, remarked the
commentator. As an alternative, the
commentator suggested that in projects
where CMF funds will represent 10
percent or less of the total capital, the
proposed rule should defer to the
income targeting and rent-setting
requirements of other Federal programs,
thus allowing rents to increase but not
decrease below a floor, based on the
initial rents.
Another commentator suggested in
lieu of the ‘‘30 percent of the family’s
annual income’’ rent limitation is to
adopt the LIHTC standard in which
rents are restricted based on levels that
are affordable to a family making 60
percent of area median income or less.
The CDFI Fund’s response: The
proposed rule largely mirrors the
income determination rules and rent
limits of the HOME Investment
Partnership Program (HOME Program),
authorized under title II of the CranstonGonzalez National Affordable Housing
Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 12701 et
seq., administered by HUD. Thus, in 12
CFR 1807.401(a), the interim rule adopts
the commentator’s suggestion of using
the HOME Program rent limitations and
sets the rent limitations as 30 percent of
the income threshold of Eligible-
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Income, Low-Income, Very Low-Income
and Extremely-Low Income Families.
Similar to the HOME Program, 12 CFR
1807.401(2)(iii) is added to the interim
rule to allow an Awardee to determine
a tenant’s income by using HUD’s
definition of ‘‘annual income’’ in its
Section 8 program, as set forth in the
United States Housing Act of 1937, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.
G. Rural Definitions
The CDFI Fund received comments
on the definition of Underserved Rural
Area. One commentator suggested that
the proposed rule revise the definition
of Underserved Rural Area to include
rural areas that are eligible for USDA
housing. The commentator remarked
that defining only Non-Metropolitan
Areas as ‘‘rural’’ areas excludes many
underserved rural areas from
consideration. In addition, the
commentator advocated that the CDFI
Fund use USDA’s definition of ‘‘housing
stress’’ as one criteria of economic
distress.
The CDFI Fund’s response: The CDFI
Fund has opted to use NonMetropolitan areas as a proxy for rural
areas because it is an objective
classification that wholly comprises
areas that would be deemed ‘‘rural’’
under most, if not all other definitions
of the word ‘‘rural.’’
With regard to the use of ‘‘housing
stress’’ as an additional criteria of
economic distress, the interim rule in 12
CFR 1807.800(c)(5) provides for the
addition of any criteria the CDFI Fund
deems appropriate. Should the CDFI
Fund decide to include additional
criteria of economic distress, it will do
so in the applicable NOFA.
III. Rulemaking Analysis
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866
It has been determined that this
interim rule is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866. Accordingly, a regulatory impact
assessment is not required.
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a valid control
number assigned by OMB. This
document restates the collections of
information without substantive change.
Comments concerning suggestions for
reducing the burden of collections of
information should be directed to the
Capital Magnet Fund Manager,
Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund, 601 13th Street, NW.,
Suite 200 South, Washington, DC 20005.
National Environmental Policy Act
This interim rule has been reviewed
in accordance with 12 CFR part 1815.
The CDFI Fund’s Environmental
Regulations under the National
Environmental Protection Act of 1969
(NEPA) require that the CDFI Fund
adequately consider the cumulative
impact proposed activities have upon
the human environment. It is the
determination of the CDFI Fund that the
interim rule does not constitute a major
Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment and,
in accordance with the NEPA and the
CDFI Fund Environmental Quality
Regulations, 12 CFR part 1815, neither
an Environmental Assessment nor an
Environmental Impact Statement is
required.
Administrative Procedure Act
Because this interim rule relates to
loans and grants, notice and public
procedure and a delayed effective date
are not required pursuant to the
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C.
553(a)(2).
Catalogue of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number
Capital Magnet Fund—21.011.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1807
Community development, Grant
programs—housing and community
development, Reporting and record
keeping requirements.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Because no notice of proposed
rulemaking is required under the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C
553), the Regulatory Flexibility Act does
not apply.
■
Paperwork Reduction Act
The collection of information
contained in this interim rule has been
previously reviewed and approved by
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
assigned OMB Control Number 1559–
0036. An agency may not conduct or
Subpart A—General Provisions
Sec.
1807.100 Purpose.
1807.101 Summary.
1807.102 Relationship to other CDFI Fund
programs.
1807.103 Awardee not instrumentality.
1807.104 Definitions.
1807.105 Waiver authority.
1807.106 OMB control number.
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For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, 12 CFR chapter XVIII is
amended by adding part 1807 to read as
follows:
PART 1807—CAPITAL MAGNET FUND
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Subpart B—Eligibility
1807.200 Applicant eligibility.
Subpart C—Use of Funds/Eligible Activities
1807.300 Purposes of grants.
1807.301 Eligible activities.
1807.302 Restrictions on use of assistance.
Subpart D—Qualification as Affordable
Housing
1807.400 Affordable Housing—General.
1807.401 Affordable Housing—Rental
Housing.
1807.402 Affordable Housing—
Homeownership.
§ 1807.102 Relationship to other CDFI
Fund programs.
Subpart E—Leveraging and Commitment
Requirement.
1807.500 Leveraged costs—general.
1807.501 Commitment for use.
1807.502 Assistance limits.
1807.503 Projection completion.
A Certified CDFI will automatically be
deemed to meet the eligible entity
requirements, provided that it has been
in business as an operating entity for a
period of at least three years prior to the
application deadline.
§ 1807.103 Awardee not
instrumentality.
No Awardee shall be deemed to be an
agency, department, or instrumentality
of the United States.
Subpart F—Tracking Requirements
1807.600 Tracking funds—general.
1807.601 Nature of funds.
Subpart G—Applications for Assistance
1807.700 Notice of Funds Availability.
Subpart H—Evaluation and Selection of
Applications
1807.800 Evaluation and selection—
general.
1807.801 Evaluation of Applications.
§ 1807.104
Subpart I—Terms and Conditions of
Assistance
1807.900 Assistance Agreement.
1807.901 Disbursement of funds.
1807.902 Data collection and reporting.
1807.903 Compliance with government
requirements.
1807.904 Lobbying restrictions.
1807.905 Criminal provisions.
1807.906 CDFI Fund deemed not to control.
1807.907 Limitation on liability.
1807.908 Fraud, waste and abuse.
Authority: Housing and Economic
Recovery Act of 2008, Pub. L. No.110–289,
section 1131
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 1807.100
Purpose.
The purpose of the Capital Magnet
Fund (CMF) is to attract private capital
for and increase investment in
Affordable Housing Activities and
related Economic Development
Activities and Community Service
Facilities.
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§ 1807.101
Summary.
(a) Through the CMF, the CDFI Fund
will competitively award grants to
CDFIs and qualified Nonprofit
Organizations to leverage dollars for:
(1) The Development, Preservation,
Rehabilitation or Purchase of Affordable
Housing primarily for Low-Income
Families; and
(2) Financing Economic Development
Activities or Community Service
Facilities.
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(b) The CDFI Fund will select
Awardees to receive financial assistance
grants through a merit-based,
competitive application process.
Financial assistance grants that are
awarded through the CMF may only be
used for eligible uses set forth in subpart
C of this part. Each Awardee will enter
into an Assistance Agreement which
will require it to leverage the CMF grant
amount and abide by other terms and
conditions pertinent to any assistance
received under this part.
Definitions.
For the purpose of this part:
(a) Act means the Housing and
Economic Recovery Act of 2008, as
amended, Public Law 110–289, section
1131;
(b) Affiliate means any entity that
Controls, is Controlled by, or is under
common Control with, an entity;
(c) Affordable Housing means rental
or for-sale single-family or multi-family
housing that meets the requirements set
forth in subpart D of this part;
(d) Affordable Housing Activities
means the Development, Preservation,
Rehabilitation, or Purchase of
Affordable Housing;
(e) Affordable Housing Fund means a
loan, grant or investment fund, managed
by the Awardee, whose capital is used
to finance Affordable Housing
Activities;
(f) Appropriate Federal Banking
Agency has the same meaning as in
section 3 of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(q), and
includes, with respect to Insured Credit
Unions, the National Credit Union
Administration;
(g) Applicant means any entity
submitting an application for assistance
under this part;
(h) Appropriate State Agency means
an agency or instrumentality of a State
that regulates and/or insures the
member accounts of a State-Insured
Credit Union;
(i) Assistance Agreement means a
formal, written agreement between the
CDFI Fund and an Awardee which
specifies the terms and conditions of
assistance under this part;
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(j) Awardee means an Applicant
selected by the CDFI Fund to receive
assistance pursuant to this part;
(k) Capital Magnet Fund (or CMF)
means the program authorized by
section 1131 of the Act, Public Law
110–289, and implemented under this
part;
(l) Certified Community Development
Financial Institution (or Certified CDFI)
means an entity that has been
determined by the CDFI Fund to meet
the eligibility requirements set forth in
12 CFR 1805.201;
(m) Committed means that the
Awardee is able to demonstrate, in
written form and substance that is
acceptable to the CDFI Fund, a
commitment for use pursuant to
§ 1807.501;
(n) Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund (or CDFI
Fund) means the Community
Development Financial Institutions
Fund, an office of the U.S. Department
of Treasury, established under the
Community Development Banking and
Financial Institutions Act of 1994, as
amended, 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.;
(o) Community Service Facility means
the physical structure in which service
programs for residents or service
programs for the broader community
(including, but not limited to, health
care, childcare, educational programs
including literacy and after school
programs, job training, food and
nutrition services, cultural, and/or
social services) operate which, In
Conjunction With Affordable Housing
Activities, implements a Concerted
Strategy to stabilize or revitalize a LowIncome Area or Underserved Rural
Area;
(p) Concerted Strategy means a formal
planning document that evidences the
connection between Affordable Housing
Activities and Economic Development
Activities or Community Service
Facilities. Such documents include, but
are not limited to, a comprehensive,
consolidated, or redevelopment plan, or
some other local or regional planning
document adopted or approved by the
jurisdiction;
(q) Control means:
(1) Ownership, control, or power to
vote 25 percent or more of the
outstanding shares of any class of
Voting Securities of any company,
directly or indirectly or acting through
one or more other persons;
(2) Control in any manner over the
election of a majority of the directors,
trustees, or general partners (or
individuals exercising similar functions)
of any company; or
(3) The power to exercise, directly or
indirectly, a controlling influence over
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the management, credit or investment
decisions, or policies of any company;
(r) Depository Institution Holding
Company means a bank holding
company or a savings and loan holding
company as defined in section 3 of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12
U.S.C. 1813(w)(1);
(s) Development means land
acquisition, demolition of existing
facilities, and construction of new
facilities, which may include site
improvement, utilities development and
rehabilitation of utilities, necessary
infrastructure, utility services,
conversion, and other related activities;
(t) Economic Development Activity
means the development, preservation,
rehabilitation, or purchase of
Community Service Facilities and/or
other physical structures in which
neighborhood-based businesses operate
which, In Conjunction With Affordable
Housing Activities, implements a
Concerted Strategy to stabilize or
revitalize a Low-Income Area or
Underserved Rural Area;
(u) Eligible-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied
housing units, income not in excess of
120 percent of the area median income;
and
(2) In the case of rental housing units,
income not in excess of 120 percent of
the area median income, with
adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD;
(v) Eligible Project Costs means
Leverage Costs plus those costs funded
directly by a CMF award, exclusive of
Operations;
(w) Extremely Low-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied
housing units, income not in excess of
30 percent of the area median income;
and
(2) In the case of rental housing units,
income not in excess of 30 percent of
the area median income, with
adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD;
(x) Families means households that
reside within the boundaries of the
United Sates (which shall encompass
any State of the United States, the
District of Columbia or any territory of
the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Virgin Islands,
and the Northern Mariana Islands) and
that meet the criteria set forth in
§ 1807.104(u), (w), (jj) or (fff);
(y) HOME Program means the HOME
Investment Partnership Program set
forth in the HOME Investment
Partnerships Act under title II of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable
Housing Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
12701 et seq.;
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(z) Homeownership means ownership
in fee simple title or a 99-year leasehold
interest in a one- to four-unit dwelling
or in a condominium unit, or equivalent
form of ownership (which shall include
cooperative housing and mutual
housing project). For purposes of
housing located on trust or restricted
Indian lands, homeownership includes
leases of 50 years. The ownership
interest may be subject only to the
following:
(1) Restrictions on resale permitted
under the Assistance Agreement;
(2) Mortgages, deeds of trust, or other
liens or instruments securing debt on
the property; or
(3) Any other restrictions or
encumbrances that do not impair the
good and marketable nature of title to
the ownership interest;
(aa) Housing means single- and multifamily residential units, including, but
not limited to, manufactured housing
and manufactured housing lots,
permanent housing for disabled and/or
homeless persons, transitional housing,
single-room occupancy housing, and
group homes. Housing also includes
elder cottage housing opportunity
(ECHO), as described in 24 CFR 92.258;
(bb) HUD means the Department of
Housing and Urban Development
established under the Department of
Housing and Urban Development Act of
1965, 42 U.S.C. 3532–3537;
(cc) In Conjunction With means
physically proximate to Affordable
Housing and reasonably available to
residents of Affordable Housing. For a
Metropolitan Area, In Conjunction With
means located within the same census
tract or within 2 miles of the Affordable
Housing. For a Non-Metropolitan Area,
In Conjunction With means located
within the same county, township, or
village, or within 20 miles of the
Affordable Housing;
(dd) Insured CDFI means a Certified
CDFI that is an Insured Depository
Institution or an Insured Credit Union;
(ee) Insured Credit Union means any
credit union, the member accounts of
which are insured by the National
Credit Union Share Insurance Fund by
the National Credit Union
Administration pursuant to authority
granted in 12 U.S.C. 1783 et seq.;
(ff) Insured Depository Institution
means any bank or thrift, the deposits of
which are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation as
determined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2);
(gg) Leveraged Costs means those
costs as described in 12 CFR 1807.500;
(hh) Loan Guarantee means an
agreement to indemnify the holder of a
loan all or a portion of the unpaid
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principal balance in case of default by
the borrower;
(ii) Loan Loss Reserves means funds
that the Applicant or Awardee will set
aside in the form of cash reserves, or
through accounting-based accrual
reserves, to cover losses on loans,
accounts, and notes receivable, or for
related purposes that the CDFI Fund
deems appropriate;
(jj) Low-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied
housing units, income not in excess of
80 percent of area median income; and
(2) In the case of rental housing units,
income not in excess of 80 percent of
area median income, with adjustments
for smaller and larger families, as
determined by HUD;
(kk) Low-Income Area (LIA) means a
census tract or block numbering area in
which the median income does not
exceed 80 percent of the median income
for the area in which such census tract
or block numbering area is located. With
respect to a census tract or block
numbering area located within a
Metropolitan Area, the median family
income shall be at or below 80 percent
of the Metropolitan Area median family
income or the national Metropolitan
Area median family income, whichever
is greater. In the case of a census tract
or block numbering area located outside
of a Metropolitan Area, the median
family income shall be at or below 80
percent of the statewide NonMetropolitan Area median family
income or the national NonMetropolitan Area median family
income, whichever is greater;
(ll) Low Income Housing Tax Credit
Program or LIHTC Program means the
program as set forth under Title I of the
U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended,
42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.;
(mm) Metropolitan Area means an
area designated as such by the Office of
Management and Budget pursuant to 44
U.S.C. 3504(e) and 31 U.S.C. 1104(d)
and Executive Order 10253 (3 CFR,
1949–1953 Comp., p. 758), as amended;
(nn) Multi-family housing means
residential properties consisting of five
or more dwelling units, such as a
condominium unit, cooperative unit,
apartment or townhouse;
(oo) Non-Metropolitan Area means an
area set forth in the Assistance
Agreement;
(pp) Nonprofit Organization means
any corporation, trust, association,
cooperative, or other organization that
is:
(1) Designated as a nonprofit or notfor-profit entity under the laws of the
organization’s State of formation; and
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(2) Exempt from Federal income
taxation pursuant to the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986;
(qq) Non-Regulated CDFI means any
entity meeting the eligibility
requirements described in 12 CFR
1805.200 which is not a Depository
Institution Holding Company, Insured
Depository Institution, or Insured Credit
Union;
(rr) Operations means all allowable
expenses as defined by Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
Circular A–122, ‘‘Cost Principles For
Non-Profit Organizations,’’ and OMB
Circular A–87, ‘‘Cost Principles for
State, Local, and Indian Tribal
Governments,’’ incurred by the Awardee
in the administration, operation, and
implementation of a CMF award;
(ss) Participating Jurisdiction means a
jurisdiction designated by HUD, as a
participating jurisdiction under the
HOME Program in accordance with the
requirements of 24 CFR 92.105;
(tt) Preservation means:
(1) Activities to refinance, with or
without Rehabilitation, single-family or
multi-family rental property mortgages
that, at the time of refinancing, are
subject to affordability and use
restrictions under State or Federal
affordable housing programs, including
but not limited to, the HOME Program,
the LIHTC Program, the Section 8
Tenant-Based Assistance and the
Section 8 Rental Voucher programs (24
CFR part 982), or the Section 515 Rural
Rental Housing program (7 CFR part
3560), hereinafter referred to as ‘‘similar
State or Federal affordable housing
programs,’’ where such refinancing has
the effect of extending the term of any
affordability and use restrictions on the
properties;
(2) Activities to refinance and acquire
single-family or multi-family properties
that, at the time of refinancing or
acquisition, were subject to affordability
and use restrictions under similar State
or Federal affordable housing programs,
by the former tenants of such properties,
where such refinancing has the effect of
extending the term of any affordability
and use restrictions on the properties;
(3) Activities to refinance the
mortgages of single-family, owneroccupied housing that at the time of
refinancing are subject to affordability
and use restrictions under similar State
or Federal affordable housing programs,
where such refinancing has the effect of
extending the term of any affordability
and use restrictions on the properties;
(4) Activities to acquire Single-family
or Multi-family housing, with or
without rehabilitation, with the
commitment to subject the properties to
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the affordability qualifications set forth
in subpart D of this part; or
(5) Activities to refinance, with or
without Rehabilitation, single-family or
multi-family rental property mortgages,
with the commitment to subject the
properties to the affordability
qualifications set forth in subpart D of
this part;
(uu) Project Completion means that all
of the requirements set forth at
§ 1807.503 for a project supported by a
CMF award have been met;
(vv) Purchase means to provide direct
financing to a homeowner to acquire
Homeownership through an exchange of
money;
(ww) Rehabilitation means any
repairs and/or capital improvements
that contribute to the long-term
preservation, current building code
compliance, habitability, sustainability,
or energy efficiency of Affordable
Housing.
(xx) Revolving Loan Fund means a
pool of funds managed by the Applicant
or Awardee wherein repayments on
Affordable Housing Activities loans,
Economic Development Activities loans
and/or Community Services Facilities
loans are used to finance additional
loans;
(yy) Risk-Sharing Loan means loans
for Affordable Housing Activities and/or
Economic Development Activities in
which the risk of borrower default is
shared by the Applicant or Awardee
with other lenders (e.g., participation
loans);
(zz) Service Area means the
geographic area in which the Applicant
proposes to use CMF funding, and the
geographic area approved by the CDFI
Fund in which the Awardee shall use
CMF funding as set forth in its
Assistance Agreement;
(aaa) Single-family housing means a
one- to four-family residence,
condominium unit, cooperative unit,
combination of manufactured housing
and lot, or manufactured housing lot;
(bbb) State means the States of the
United States, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Island, Guam, the Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands, and any other
territory of the United States;
(ccc) State-Insured Credit Union
means any credit union that is regulated
by, and/or the member accounts of
which are insured by, a State agency or
instrumentality;
(ddd) Subsidiary means any company
which is owned or Controlled directly
or indirectly by another company;
(eee) Underserved Rural Area means
a Non-Metropolitan Area that:
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(1) Qualifies as a Low-Income Area;
(2) Is experiencing housing stress
evidenced by 30 percent or more of
resident households with one or more of
these four housing conditions in the last
decennial census:
(i) Lacked complete plumbing,
(ii) Lacked complete kitchen,
(iii) Paid 30 percent or more of
income for owner costs or rent, or
(iv) Had more than 1 person per room;
or
(3) Is remote-rural county consisting
of a Non-Metropolitan Area that is also
not adjacent to a Metropolitan Area;
(fff) Very Low-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied
housing units, income not greater than
50 percent of the area median income;
and
(2) In the case of rental housing units,
income not greater than 50 percent of
the area median income, with
adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD.
§ 1807.105
Waiver authority.
The CDFI Fund may waive any
requirement of this part that is not
required by law upon a determination of
good cause. Each such waiver shall be
in writing and supported by a statement
of the facts and the grounds forming the
basis of the waiver. For a waiver in an
individual case, the CDFI Fund must
determine that application of the
requirement to be waived would
adversely affect the achievement of the
purposes of the Act. For waivers of
general applicability, the CDFI Fund
will publish notification of granted
waivers in the Federal Register.
§ 1807.106
OMB control number.
The collection of information
requirements in this part have been
approved by the Office of Management
and Budget and assigned OMB control
number 1559–0036.
Subpart B—Eligibility
§ 1807.200
Applicant eligibility.
(a) General requirements. An
Applicant will be deemed eligible for a
CMF award if it is:
(1) A Certified or certifiable CDFI. An
entity may meet the requirements
described in this paragraph (a)(1) if it is:
(i) A Certified CDFI, as set forth in 12
CFR 1805.201, that has been in
existence as a legally formed entity as
set forth in the Notice of Funds
Availability (NOFA) for the applicable
funding round; or
(ii) A certifiable CDFI that has been in
existence as a legally formed entity as
set forth in the NOFA for the applicable
round and, although not yet certified as
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a CDFI, has submitted a complete CDFI
certification application as of the date
set forth in the applicable NOFA; or
(2) A Nonprofit Organization having
as one of its principal purposes the
development or management of
affordable housing. An entity may meet
the requirements described in this
paragraph (a)(2) if it:
(i) Has been in existence as a legally
formed entity as set forth in the
applicable NOFA;
(ii) Demonstrates, through articles of
incorporation, by-laws, or other boardapproved documents, that the
development or management of
affordable housing are among its
principal purposes; and
(iii) Can demonstrate that at least onethird of the Applicant’s resources (either
as a portion of total staffing or as a
portion of total assets) are dedicated to
the development or management of
affordable housing.
(b) Eligibility verification. An
Applicant shall demonstrate that it
meets the eligibility requirements
described in § 1807.200(a)(2) of this
section by providing information
described in the application, NOFA,
and/or supplemental information, as
may be requested by the CDFI Fund. For
an Applicant seeking eligibility under
§ 1807.200(a)(1), the CDFI Fund will
verify that the Applicant is a Certified
CDFI during the application eligibility
review. For an Applicant seeking
eligibility under § 1807.200(a)(2), the
CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, shall
determine whether the Applicant has
satisfied said requirements.
Subpart C—Use of Funds/Eligible
Activities
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§ 1807.300
Purposes of grants.
The CDFI Fund may provide financial
assistance grants to organizations
described under subpart B of this part
for the purpose of attracting private
capital for and increase investment in:
(a) The Development, Preservation,
Rehabilitation, or Purchase of
Affordable Housing for primarily
Extremely Low-Income, Very LowIncome, and Low-Income families; and
(b) Economic Development Activities
or Community Services Facilities. With
respect to an Economic Development
Activity or Community Service Facility
funded with a CMF grant, the
Affordable Housing that it is In
Conjunction With may be financed by
sources other than the CMF grant.
§ 1807.301
Eligible activities.
Grants awarded under this part shall
be used by an Awardee to support
Affordable Housing Activities,
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Economic Development Activities or
Community Service Facilities, including
the following eligible uses:
(a) To provide Loan Loss Reserves;
(b) To capitalize a Revolving Loan
Fund;
(c) To capitalize an Affordable
Housing Fund;
(d) To capitalize a fund to support
Economic Development Activities or
Community Service Facilities;
(e) For Risk-Sharing Loans;
(f) For Loan Guarantees; and
(g) For the Awardee’s Operations.
§ 1807.302 Restrictions on use of
assistance.
(a) An Awardee’s activities under
§ 1807.301 shall not include the use of
CMF for the following:
(1) Political activities;
(2) Advocacy;
(3) Lobbying, whether directly or
through other parties;
(4) Counseling services (including
homebuyer or financial counseling);
(5) Travel expenses;
(6) Preparing or providing advice on
tax returns;
(7) Emergency shelters (including
shelters for disaster victims);
(8) Nursing homes;
(9) Convalescent homes;
(10) Residential treatment facilities;
(11) Correctional facilities; or
(12) Student dormitories.
(b) An Awardee may use up to a
percentage of CMF award for Operations
as specified in the applicable NOFA.
(c) An Awardee shall not use CMF
award to support projects that:
(1) Consist of the operation of any
private or commercial golf course,
country club, massage parlor, hot tub
facility, suntan facility, racetrack or
other facility used for gambling, or any
store the principal business of which is
the sale of alcoholic beverages for
consumption off premises;
(2) Consist of farming (within the
meaning of I.R.C. section 2032A(e)(5)(A)
or (B)) if, as of the close of the taxable
year of the taxpayer conducting such
trade or business, the sum of the
aggregate unadjusted bases (or, if
greater, the fair market value) of the
assets owned by the taxpayer that are
used in such a trade or business, and the
aggregate value of the assets leased by
the taxpayer that are used in such a
trade or business, exceeds $500,000.
(d) In any given funding round, no
more than 30 percent of an Awardee’s
CMF award may be used for purposes
described in § 1807.300(b).
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Subpart D—Qualification as Affordable
Housing
§ 1807.400
Affordable housing—general.
Each Awardee that uses CMF funding
to support Affordable Housing
Activities shall ensure that 100 percent
of Eligible Project Costs are attributable
to housing units that meet the
affordability qualifications set forth
below for Eligible-Income Families. In
addition, greater than 50 percent of the
Eligible Project Costs must be
attributable to housing units that meet
the affordability qualifications set forth
below for either Low-Income, Very LowIncome, or Extremely Low-Income
Families.
§ 1807.401
housing.
Affordable housing—rental
To qualify as Affordable Housing, a
rental Multi-family housing project
financed with a CMF award must have
at least 20 percent of the housing units
occupied by Low-Income, Very LowIncome, or Extremely Low-Income
Families and must comply with the rent
limits set forth herein.
(a) Rent limitation. The maximum
rent is a rent that does not exceed:
(1) For an Eligible-Income Family, 30
percent of the annual income of a family
whose annual income equals 120
percent of the area median income, with
adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD;
(2) For a Low-Income Family, 30
percent of the annual income of a family
whose annual income equals 80 percent
of the area median income, with
adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD;
(3) For a Very Low-Income Family, 30
percent of the annual income of a family
whose annual income equals 50 percent
of the area median income, with
adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD; or
(4) For an Extremely Low-Income
Family, 30 percent of the annual income
of a family whose annual income equals
30 percent of the area median income,
with adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD.
(b) Nondiscrimination against rental
assistance subsidy holders. The
Awardee shall require that the owner of
a rental unit cannot refuse to lease the
unit to a Section 8 Program certificate or
voucher holder (24 CFR Part 982,
Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance:
Unified Rule for Tenant-Based
Assistance under the Section 8 Rental
Certificate Program and the Section 8
Rental Voucher Program) or to the
holder of a comparable document
evidencing participation in a HOME
tenant-based rental assistance program
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because of the status of the prospective
tenant as a holder of such certificate,
voucher, or comparable HOME tenantbased assistance document.
(c) Initial rent schedule and utility
allowances. The Awardee shall ensure
that the housing adheres to the
applicable Participating Jurisdiction’s
maximum monthly allowances for
utilities and services (excluding
telephone). If the Participating
Jurisdiction’s allowances have not been
determined or are otherwise
unavailable, the Awardee shall rely
upon the utility and services allowances
established by the applicable city,
county or State public housing
authority.
(d) Periods of Affordability. Housing
under § 1807.401 must meet the
affordability requirements for not less
than 10 years, beginning after Project
Completion and at initial occupancy.
The affordability requirements apply
without regard to the term of any loan
or mortgage or the transfer of ownership
and must be imposed by deed
restrictions, covenants running with the
land, or other recordable mechanisms,
except that the affordability restrictions
may terminate upon foreclosure or
transfer in lieu of foreclosure. Other
recordable mechanisms must be
approved in writing and in advance by
the CDFI Fund. The affordability
restrictions shall be revived according to
the original terms if, during the original
affordability period, the owner of record
before the foreclosure, or deed in lieu of
foreclosure, or any entity that includes
the former owner or those with whom
the former owner has or had family or
business ties, obtains an ownership
interest in the project or property.
(e) Subsequent rents during the
affordability period. Any increase in
rent for a CMF-funded unit requires that
tenants of those units be given at least
30 days prior written notice before the
implementation of the rent increase.
(f) Tenant income determination.
(1) Each year during the period of
affordability the tenant’s income shall
be re-examined; tenant income
examination is the responsibility of the
Awardee. Annual income shall include
income from all household members.
(2) One of the following three
definitions of ‘‘annual income’’ must be
used to determine whether a family is
income eligible:
(i) Annual income as reported under
the Census long-form for the most recent
available decennial Census. This
definition includes:
(A) Wages, salaries, tips,
commissions, etc.;
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(B) Self-employment income from
owned non-farm business, including
proprietorships and partnerships;
(C) Farm self-employment income;
(D) Interest, dividends, net rental
income, or income from estates or trusts;
(E) Social Security or railroad
retirement;
(F) Supplemental Security Income,
Aid to Families with Dependent
Children, or other public assistance or
public welfare programs;
(G) Retirement, survivor, or disability
pensions;
(H) Any other sources of income
received regularly, including Veterans’
(VA) payments, unemployment
compensation, and alimony; and
(I) Any other sources of income the
CDFI Fund may deem appropriate;
(ii) Adjusted gross income as defined
for purposes of reporting under Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040 series
for individual Federal annual income
tax purposes; or
(iii) ‘‘Annual Income’’ as defined at 24
CFR 5.609 (except that when
determining the income of a homeowner
for an owner-occupied rehabilitation
project, the value of the homeowner’s
principal residence may be excluded
from the calculation of net family
assets).
(3) Although any of the above three
definitions of ‘‘annual income’’ are
permitted, in order to calculate adjusted
income, exclusions from income set
forth at 24 CFR 5.611 shall be applied.
(4) The CDFI Fund reserves the right
to deem certain government programs,
under which a Low-Income family is a
recipient, as income eligible for
purposes of meeting the tenant income
requirements under this subsection.
(g) Over-income tenants. (1) CMFfunded units continue to qualify as
Affordable Housing despite a temporary
noncompliance caused by increases in
the incomes of existing tenants if
actions satisfactory to the CDFI Fund are
being taken to ensure that all vacancies
are filled in accordance with this
section until the noncompliance is
corrected.
(2) Tenants whose incomes no longer
qualify must pay rent no greater than
the lesser of the amount payable by the
tenant under State or local law or 30
percent of the family’s annual income,
except that tenants of units that have
been allocated low-income housing tax
credits by a housing credit agency
pursuant to section 42 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, I.R.C. section 42,
must pay rent governed by section 42.
Tenants who no longer qualify as
Eligible-Income are not required to pay
as rent an amount that exceeds the
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75385
market rent for comparable, unassisted
units in the neighborhood.
(3) If the income of a tenant of a CMFfunded unit no longer qualifies, the
Awardee may designate another unit, in
the CMF-funded project, as a
replacement unit that meets the
affordability qualifications for EligibleIncome, Low-Income, Very Low-Income,
or Extremely Low-Income Families and
as set forth in the Awardee’s Assistance
Agreement. If there is not an available
replacement unit, the Awardee must fill
the first available vacancy with a tenant
that meets the affordability
qualifications for Eligible-Income, LowIncome, Very Low-Income, or Extremely
Low-Income Families as necessary to
maintain compliance with the CMF
requirements and the Assistance
Agreement.
§ 1807.402 Affordable housing—
homeownership.
(a) Acquisition with or without
rehabilitation. Housing that is for
Homeownership purchase must meet
the affordability requirements of this
subsection.
(1) The housing must be Single-family
housing.
(2) The housing price does not exceed
95 percent of the median purchase price
for the area as used in the HOME
Program and as determined by the
applicable Participating Jurisdiction.
(3) The housing must be purchased by
a qualifying family as set forth in
§ 1807.400. The housing must be the
principal residence of the family
throughout the period described in
paragraph (a)(4) of this section.
(4) Periods of Affordability. Housing
under this subsection must meet the
affordability requirements for at least 10
years at the time of purchase by the
homeowner.
(5) Resale. To ensure that CMF awards
are being used for qualifying families for
the entire 10-year affordability period,
recoupment and redeployment or resale
strategies must be imposed by the
Awardee. A recoupment strategy must
ensure that, in the event the qualifying
homeowner sells the housing before the
end of the 10-year affordability period
and the new homeowner does not meet
the affordability qualifications set forth
in § 1807.400, the portion of the CMF
award used to finance the Affordable
Housing Activity is recouped and
redeployed to a qualifying family for
affordable housing homeownership in
the manner set forth in § 1807.402,
except that the housing must meet the
affordability requirements only for the
remaining affordability period. The
Awardee may design and implement its
own recoupment strategy. Deed
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restrictions, covenants running with the
land, or other similar mechanisms may
be used as the mechanism to impose the
resale strategy. The Awardee shall
report to the CDFI Fund the event of
resale, recoupment and redeployment of
the CMF award in the manner described
in the Assistance Agreement. The
affordability restrictions may terminate
upon occurrence of any of the following
termination events: Foreclosure, transfer
in lieu of foreclosure or assignment of
an FHA-insured mortgage to HUD. The
Awardee may use purchase options,
rights of first refusal or other preemptive
rights to purchase the housing before
foreclosure to preserve affordability.
The affordability restrictions shall be
revived according to the original terms
if, during the original affordability
period, the owner of record before the
termination event, obtains an ownership
interest in the housing.
(b) Rehabilitation not involving
acquisition. Housing that is currently
owned by a qualifying family, as set
forth in § 1807.400, qualifies as
Affordable Housing if it meets the
requirements of this subsection.
(1) The estimated value of the
housing, after Rehabilitation, does not
exceed 95 percent of the median
purchase price for the area, as used in
the HOME Program and as determined
by the applicable Participating
Jurisdiction; or
(2) The housing is the principal
residence of a qualifying family as set
forth in § 1807.400, at the time that CMF
funding is Committed to the housing.
(3) Housing under this subsection
must meet the affordability
requirements for at least 10 years after
Rehabilitation is completed or meet the
resale provisions of § 1807.402(a)(5).
(c) Ownership interest. The ownership
in the housing assisted under this
section must meet the definition of
‘‘Homeownership’’ as defined in
§ 1807.104(z).
(d) New construction without
acquisition. Newly constructed housing
that is built on property currently
owned by a family which will occupy
the housing upon completion, qualifies
as Affordable Housing if it meets the
requirements under paragraph (a) of this
section.
(e) Converting rental units to
Homeownership units for existing
tenants. CMF-funded rental units may
be converted to Homeownership units
by selling, donating, or otherwise
conveying the units to the existing
tenants to enable the tenants to become
homeowners in accordance with the
requirements of § 1807.402. The
Homeownership units are subject to a
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minimum period of affordability equal
to the remaining affordability period.
Subpart E—Leveraging and
Commitment Requirement
§ 1807.500
Leveraged costs—general.
(a) Each CMF grant is expected to
result in Eligible Project Costs that total
at least 10 times the grant amount. Such
costs may be for activities that include
Affordable Housing Activities,
Economic Development Activities, or
Community Service Facilities. Thus, an
Awardee shall demonstrate that it
leveraged, over its CMF funded
portfolio, its CMF award at least 10
times the CMF grant amount or some
other standard established by the CDFI
Fund in the Awardee’s Assistance
Agreement. Leveraged Costs are costs
that exceed the dollar amount of the
Awardee’s CMF contribution to each
CMF-funded activity. However, the
applicable NOFA may set forth a
required percentage of Leveraged Costs
that must be attributable to nongovernmental sources. An Awardee may
report to the CDFI Fund all Leveraged
Costs, with the following limitations:
(1) No costs attributable to Operations
may be reported as Leveraged Costs.
(2) No costs attributable to prohibited
uses as identified in § 1807.302(a) and
(c) may be reported as Leveraged Costs.
(3) All costs attributable to Affordable
Housing Activities reported as
Leveraged Costs must be for housing
units that qualify as Affordable Housing
under § 1807.401 or § 1807.402 for
Eligible-Income Families.
(b) Awardees shall self-report
leveraging information through forms or
electronic systems developed by the
CDFI Fund, subject to audit
requirements set forth herein.
Consequently, Awardees shall maintain
appropriate documentation, such as
audited financial statements, wire
transfers documents, pro-formas, and
other relevant records, to support its
reports.
§ 1807.501
Commitment for use.
(a) CMF awards shall be Committed
for use by the date designated in the
Awardee’s Assistance Agreement. An
Awardee shall demonstrate that its CMF
award is Committed by having executed
a written, legally binding agreement
under which CMF assistance will be
provided to the developer or project
sponsor for an identifiable project under
which:
(1) Construction can reasonably be
expected to start within 12 months of
the agreement date; or
(2) Property title will be transferred
within six months of the agreement
date.
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(b) An Awardee shall make an initial
disbursement of its CMF award for
Affordable Housing Activities,
Economic Development Activities or
Community Service Facilities by the
date designated in its Assistance
Agreement.
§ 1807.502
Assistance limits.
An eligible Applicant and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates may not be
awarded more than 15 percent of the
aggregate funds available for CMF grants
during any funding year.
§ 1807.503
Project completion.
Once a CMF-funded project has been
completed, it must be placed into
service by the date designated in the
Awardee’s Assistance Agreement.
Project Completion occurs, as
determined by the CDFI Fund, when:
(a) All necessary title transfer
requirements and construction work
have been performed;
(b) The project complies with the
requirements of this part, including the
following property standards (these
property standards must be complied
with at the time of Project Completion
and maintained for a period of at least
10 years thereafter):
(1) Housing that is constructed or
rehabilitated with CMF funding must
meet all applicable local codes,
rehabilitation standards, ordinances,
and zoning ordinances at the time of
project completion. In the absence of a
local code for new construction or
rehabilitation, such housing must meet,
as applicable: One of three model codes
(Uniform Building Code (ICBO),
National Building Code (BOCA),
Standard (Southern) Building Code
(SBCCI)); or the Council of American
Building Officials (CABO) one or two
family code; or the Minimum Property
Standards (MPS) in 24 CFR 200.925 or
200.926. Newly constructed housing
must meet the current edition of the
Model Energy Code published by the
Council of American Building Officials.
(2) The housing must meet the
accessibility requirements at 24 CFR
part 8, which implements section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
794) and covered multifamily dwellings,
as defined at 24 CFR 100.201, must also
meet the design and construction
requirements at 24 CFR 100.205, which
implements the Fair Housing Act (42
U.S.C. 3601–3619).
(3) Construction of all manufactured
housing must meet the Manufactured
Home Construction and Safety
Standards established in 24 CFR part
3280. These standards pre-empt State
and local codes covering the same
aspects of performance for such
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housing. The installation of all
manufactured housing units must
comply with applicable State and local
laws or codes. In the absence of such
laws or codes, the installation must
comply with the manufacturer’s written
instructions for installation of
manufactured housing units.
Manufactured housing that is
rehabilitated using CMF funds must
meet the requirements set out in
paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and
(c) The final drawdown has been
disbursed for the project.
Subpart F—Tracking Requirements
§ 1807.600
Tracking funds—general.
An Awardee receiving a CMF award
shall develop and maintain a system to
ensure that its CMF award is used in
accordance with this part, the Act, its
Assistance Agreement, and any
requirements or conditions under which
such amounts were awarded. Thus, an
Awardee may create a separate account
or accounting code for CMF activities.
§ 1807.601
Nature of funds.
A CMF award shall be considered
Federal financial assistance in regards to
applying Federal civil rights laws.
Subpart G—Applications for
Assistance
§ 1807.700
Notice of funds availability.
Each Applicant shall submit an
application for funding under this part
in accordance with the regulations in
this subpart. The applicable NOFA will
advise potential Applicants on how to
obtain and complete an application and
will establish deadlines and other
requirements. The NOFA will specify
any limitations, special rules,
procedures, and restrictions for a
particular funding round. After receipt
of an application, the CDFI Fund may
request clarifying or technical
information on the materials submitted
as part of such application.
Subpart H—Evaluation and Selection
of Applications
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§ 1807.800
general.
Evaluation and selection—
Applicants will be evaluated and
selected, at the sole discretion of the
CDFI Fund, to receive assistance based
on a review process that may include an
interview(s) and/or site visit(s) intended
to:
(a) Ensure that Applicants are
evaluated on a merit basis and in a fair
and consistent manner;
(b) Ensure that each Awardee can
successfully meet its leveraging goals
and achieve Affordable Housing
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Activity, Community Service Facility
and/or Economic Development Activity
impacts;
(c) Ensure that Awardees represent a
geographically diverse group of
Applicants serving Metropolitan Areas
and Underserved Rural Areas across the
United States that meet criteria of
economic distress, which may include:
(1) The percentage of Low-Income
Families or the extent of poverty;
(2) The rate of unemployment or
underemployment;
(3) The extent of blight and
disinvestment;
(4) Economic Development Activities
or Community Service Facilities that
target Extremely Low-Income, Very
Low-Income, and Low-Income families
within the Awardee’s Service Area; or
(5) Any other criteria the CDFI Fund
shall set forth in the applicable NOFA;
and
(d) Take into consideration other
factors as described in the applicable
NOFA.
§ 1807.801
Evaluation of applications.
(a) Eligibility and completeness. An
Applicant will not be eligible to receive
a CMF award if it fails to meet the
eligibility requirements described in
Part 1807.200 and in the applicable
NOFA, or if the Applicant has not
submitted complete application
materials. For the purposes of this
paragraph (a), the CDFI Fund reserves
the right to request additional
information from the Applicant, if the
CDFI Fund deems it appropriate.
(b) Substantive review. In evaluating
and selecting applications to receive
assistance, the CDFI Fund will evaluate
the Applicant’s likelihood of success in
meeting the factors set forth in the
applicable NOFA, including but not
limited to:
(1) The Applicant’s ability to use CMF
funding to generate additional
investments;
(2) The need for affordable housing in
the Applicant’s market; and
(3) The ability of the Applicant to
obligate amounts and undertake
activities in a timely manner. In the case
of an Applicant that has previously
received assistance under any CDFI
Fund program, the CDFI Fund will also
consider the Applicant’s level of success
in meeting its performance goals,
reporting requirements, and other
requirements contained in the
previously negotiated and executed
assistance, allocation or award
agreement(s) with the CDFI Fund, any
undisbursed balance of assistance, and
compliance with applicable Federal
laws. The CDFI Fund may consider any
other factors, as it deems appropriate, in
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75387
reviewing an application, as set forth in
the applicable NOFA.
(c) Consultation with appropriate
regulatory agencies. In the case of an
Applicant that is a federally-regulated
financial institution, the CDFI Fund
may consult with the Appropriate
Federal Banking Agency or Appropriate
State Agency prior to making a final
award decision and prior to entering
into an Assistance Agreement.
(d) Awardee selection. The CDFI Fund
will select CMF Awardees based on the
criteria described in paragraph (b) of
this section and any other criteria set
forth in this part or the applicable
NOFA.
Subpart I —Terms and Conditions of
Assistance
§ 1807.900
Assistance agreement.
(a) Each Applicant that is selected to
receive a CMF award must enter into an
Assistance Agreement with the CDFI
Fund. The Assistance Agreement will
set forth certain required terms and
conditions of the Assistance Agreement
which may include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(1) The amount of the award;
(2) The approved uses of the award;
(3) The approved Service Area in
which the award may be used;
(4) The time period by which the
award proceeds must be Committed;
(5) The required documentation to
evidence Project Completion; and
(6) Performance goals that have been
established by the CDFI Fund based
upon the Awardee’s application.
(b) The Assistance Agreement shall
provide that in the event of fraud,
mismanagement, noncompliance with
the Act or the CDFI Fund’s regulations;
or noncompliance with the terms and
conditions of the Assistance Agreement
on the part of the Awardee; the CDFI
Fund, in its discretion, may:
(1) Require changes in the
performance goals set forth in the
Assistance Agreement;
(2) Revoke approval of the Awardee’s
Application;
(3) Reduce or terminate the Awardee’s
assistance;
(4) Require repayment of any
assistance that has been distributed to
the Awardee;
(5) Bar the Awardee from reapplying
for any assistance from the CDFI Fund;
or
(6) Take such other actions as the
CDFI Fund deems appropriate or as set
forth in the Assistance Agreement.
(c) Prior to imposing any sanctions
pursuant to this section or an Assistance
Agreement, the CDFI Fund shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, provide
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the Awardee with written notice of the
proposed sanction and an opportunity
to comment. Nothing in this section,
however, shall provide an Awardee the
right to any formal or informal hearing
or comparable proceeding not otherwise
required by law.
§ 1807.901
Disbursement of funds.
Assistance provided pursuant to this
part may be provided in a lump sum or
in some other manner, as determined
appropriate by the CDFI Fund. The
CDFI Fund shall not provide any
assistance under this part until an
Awardee has satisfied all conditions set
forth in the applicable NOFA and
Assistance Agreement.
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§ 1807.902
Data collection and reporting.
(a) Data—General. An Awardee shall
maintain such records as may be
prescribed by the CDFI Fund that are
necessary to:
(1) Disclose the manner in which
CMF funding is used, including
providing documentation to
demonstrate Project Completion;
(2) Demonstrate compliance with the
requirements of this part and the
Assistance Agreement; and
(3) Evaluate the impact of CMF
funding.
(b) Customer profiles. An Awardee
shall compile such data on the gender,
race, ethnicity, national origin, or other
information on individuals that utilize
its products and services as the CDFI
Fund shall prescribe in an Assistance
Agreement. Such data will be used to
determine whether residents of the
Awardee’s Service Area are adequately
served and to evaluate the impact of
CMF funding.
(c) Access to records. An Awardee
must submit such financial and activity
reports, records, statements, and
documents at such times, in such forms,
and accompanied by such reporting
data, as required by the CDFI Fund or
the U.S. Department of Treasury to
ensure compliance with the
requirements of this part and to evaluate
the impact of CMF funding. The United
States Government, including the U.S.
Department of Treasury, the
Comptroller General, and their duly
authorized representatives, shall have
full and free access to the Awardee’s
offices and facilities and all books,
documents, records, and financial
statements relating to use of Federal
funds and may copy such documents as
they deem appropriate and audit or
provide for an audit at least annually.
The CDFI Fund, if it deems appropriate,
may prescribe access to record
requirements for entities that are
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15:01 Dec 02, 2010
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borrowers of, or that receive
investments from, an Awardee.
(d) Retention of records. An Awardee
shall comply with all record retention
requirements as set forth in OMB
Circular A–110 (as applicable).
(e) Data collection and reporting.
(1) Financial Reporting: (i) All NonProfit Awardees (excluding Insured
CDFIs and State-Insured Credit Unions)
must submit to the CDFI Fund financial
statements that have been reviewed by
an independent certified public
accountant in accordance with
Statements on Standards for Accounting
and Review Services, issued by the
American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants by a time set forth in the
applicable Notice of Funding
Availability or Assistance Agreement
(audited financial statements can be
provided by the due date in lieu of
reviewed statements, if available). NonProfit Awardees (excluding Insured
CDFIs and State-Insured Credit Unions)
that are required to have their financial
statements audited pursuant to OMB
Circular A–133 Audits of States, Local
Governments and Non-Profit
Organizations, must also submit their
A–133 audited financial statements by a
time set forth in the applicable NOFA or
Assistance Agreement. Non-Profit
Awardees (excluding Insured CDFIs and
State-Insured Credit Unions) that are not
required to have financial statements
audited pursuant to OMB Circular A–
133, Audits of States, Local
Governments and Non-Profit
Organizations, must submit to the CDFI
Fund a statement signed by the
Awardee’s authorized representative or
certified public accountant, asserting
that the Awardee is not required to have
a single audit pursuant OMB Circular
A–133.
(ii) For-profit Awardees (excluding
Insured CDFIs and State-Insured Credit
Unions) must submit to the CDFI Fund
financial statements audited in
conformity with generally accepted
auditing standards as promulgated by
the American Institute of Certified
Public by a time set forth in the
applicable NOFA or Assistance
Agreement.
(iii) Insured CDFIs are not required to
submit financial statements to the CDFI
Fund. The CDFI Fund will obtain the
necessary information from publicly
available sources. State-Insured Credit
Unions must submit to the CDFI Fund
copies of the financial statements that
they submit to the Appropriate State
Agency.
(2) Performance Goal Reporting:
Performance goals and measures that are
specific to the Awardee’s application for
funding shall be met as set forth in its
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Assistance Agreement. Awardees shall
submit data and information to the CDFI
Fund regarding achievement of these
Performance Goals as described in the
Assistance Agreement.
(f) Availability of referenced
publications. The publications
referenced in this section are available
as follows:
(1) OMB Circulars may be obtained
from the Office of Administration,
Publications Office, 725 17th Street,
NW., Room 2200, New Executive Office
Building, Washington, DC 20503 or on
the Internet (https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
grants_circulars/); and
(2) General Accounting Office
materials may be obtained from GAO
Distribution, 700 4th Street, NW., Suite
1100, Washington, DC 20548.
§ 1807.903 Compliance with government
requirements.
In carrying out its responsibilities
pursuant to an Assistance Agreement,
the Awardee shall comply with all
applicable Federal, State, and local
laws, regulations, and ordinances, OMB
Circulars, and Executive Orders.
§ 1807.904
Lobbying restrictions.
No assistance made available under
this part may be expended by an
Awardee to pay any person to influence
or attempt to influence any agency,
elected official, officer or employee of a
State or local government in connection
with the making, award, extension,
continuation, renewal, amendment, or
modification of any State or local
government contract, grant, loan or
cooperative agreement as such terms are
defined in 31 U.S.C. 1352.
§ 1807.905
Criminal provisions.
The criminal provisions of 18 U.S.C.
657 regarding embezzlement or
misappropriation of funds is applicable
to all Awardees and insiders.
§ 1807.906
control.
CDFI Fund deemed not to
The CDFI Fund shall not be deemed
to control an Awardee by reason of any
assistance provided under the Act for
the purpose of any applicable law.
§ 1807.907
Limitation on liability.
The liability of the CDFI Fund and the
United States Government arising out of
any assistance to an Awardee in
accordance with this part shall be
limited to the amount of the investment
in the Awardee. The CDFI Fund shall be
exempt from any assessments and other
liabilities that may be imposed on
controlling or principal shareholders by
any Federal law or the law of any State.
E:\FR\FM\03DER1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2010 / Rules and Regulations
Nothing in this section shall affect the
application of any Federal tax law.
§ 1807.908
Fraud, waste and abuse.
Any person who becomes aware of
the existence or apparent existence of
fraud, waste or abuse of assistance
provided under this part should report
such incidences to the Office of
Inspector General of the U.S.
Department of the Treasury.
Dated: November 24, 2010.
Donna J. Gambrell,
Director, Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 2010–30303 Filed 12–2–10; 8:45 am]
Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington,
VA. The Docket Facility is open from
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
Docket Facility telephone number is
(703) 305–5805.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tawanda Maignan, Registration
Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone
number: (703) 308–8050; e-mail
address: maignan.tawanda@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
BILLING CODE 4810–70–P
A. Does this action apply to me?
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0732; FRL–8854–6]
Metrafenone; Pesticide Tolerances
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This regulation establishes
tolerances for residues of metrafenone
(3-bromo-6-methoxy-2methylphenyl)(2,3,4-trimethoxy-6methylphenyl)methanone in or on
grapes. BASF Corporation requested
these tolerances under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
DATES: This regulation is effective
December 3, 2010. Objections and
requests for hearings must be received
on or before February 1, 2011, and must
be filed in accordance with the
instructions provided in 40 CFR part
178 (see also Unit I.C. of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under docket
identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2008–0732. All documents in the
docket are listed in the docket index
available at https://www.regulations.gov.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., Confidential Business Information
(CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available in the electronic docket at
https://www.regulations.gov, or, if only
available in hard copy, at the OPP
Regulatory Public Docket in Rm.
S–4400, One Potomac Yard (South
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:01 Dec 02, 2010
Jkt 223001
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are an agricultural
producer, food manufacturer, or
pesticide manufacturer. Potentially
affected entities may include, but are
not limited to those engaged in the
following activities:
• Crop production (NAICS code 111).
• Animal production (NAICS code
112).
• Food manufacturing (NAICS code
311).
• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS
code 32532).
This listing is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather to provide a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
affected by this action. Other types of
entities not listed in this unit could also
be affected. The North American
Industrial Classification System
(NAICS) codes have been provided to
assist you and others in determining
whether this action might apply to
certain entities. If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of
this action to a particular entity, consult
the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How can I get electronic access to
other related information?
You may access a frequently updated
electronic version of EPA’s tolerance
regulations at 40 CFR part 180 through
the Government Printing Office’s e-CFR
site at https://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr.
To access the harmonized test
guidelines referenced in this document
electronically, please go https://
www.epa.gov/ocspp and select ‘‘Test
Methods and Guidelines.’’
C. How can I file an objection or hearing
request?
Under FFDCA section 408(g), 21
U.S.C. 346a, any person may file an
objection to any aspect of this regulation
and may also request a hearing on those
objections. You must file your objection
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
75389
or request a hearing on this regulation
in accordance with the instructions
provided in 40 CFR part 178. To ensure
proper receipt by EPA, you must
identify docket ID number EPA–HQ–
OPP–2008–0732 in the subject line on
the first page of your submission. All
objections and requests for a hearing
must be in writing, and must be
received by the Hearing Clerk on or
before February 1, 2011. Addresses for
mail and hand delivery of objections
and hearing requests are provided in 40
CFR 178.25(b).
In addition to filing an objection or
hearing request with the Hearing Clerk
as described in 40 CFR part 178, please
submit a copy of the filing that does not
contain any CBI for inclusion in the
public docket. Information not marked
confidential pursuant to 40 CFR part 2
may be disclosed publicly by EPA
without prior notice. Submit a copy of
your non-CBI objection or hearing
request, identified by docket ID number
EPA–HQ–OPP–2008–0732, by one of
the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460–0001.
• Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public
Docket (7502P), Environmental
Protection Agency, Rm. S–4400, One
Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S.
Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA. Deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket
Facility’s normal hours of operation
(8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays).
Special arrangements should be made
for deliveries of boxed information. The
Docket Facility telephone number is
(703) 305–5805.
II. Summary of Petitioned-For
Tolerance
In the Federal Register of October 7,
2009 (74 FR 51599) (FRL–8792–7), EPA
issued a notice pursuant to section
408(d)(3) of FFDCA, 21 U.S.C.
346a(d)(3), announcing the filing of a
pesticide petition (PP 8F7371) by BASF
Corporation, 26 Davis Drive, P.O. Box
13528, Research Triangle Park, NC
27709. The petition requested that 40
CFR 180.624 be amended by
establishing tolerances for residues of
the fungicide metrafenone, (3-bromo-6methoxy-2-methylphenyl)(2,3,4trimethoxy-6-methylphenyl)
methanone, in or on table and wine
grapes at 4.5 parts per million (ppm),
juice grapes at 0.45 ppm, and raisin
grapes at 17 ppm. That notice
E:\FR\FM\03DER1.SGM
03DER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75376-75389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30303]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
12 CFR Part 1807
RIN 1559-AA00
Capital Magnet Fund
AGENCY: Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Department
of the Treasury.
ACTION: Interim rule with request for public comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury is issuing this interim rule
[[Page 75377]]
implementing the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), administered by the
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), U.S.
Department of the Treasury. The mission of the CDFI Fund is to increase
the capacity of financial institutions to provide capital, credit and
financial services in underserved markets. Its long-term vision is an
America in which all people have access to affordable credit, capital
and financial services. The CMF was established through the Housing and
Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which added section 1339 to the Federal
Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992.
DATES: Interim rule effective December 3, 2010. Comment due date:
Comments on this interim rule must be received in the offices of the
CDFI Fund on or before February 1, 2011.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this interim rule should be
addressed to the Capital Magnet Fund Manager, Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund, Department of the Treasury, 601 13th
Street, NW., Suite 200 South, Washington, DC 20005; by e-mail to
cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov; or by facsimile at (202) 622-7754. Comments
will be made available for public review on the CDFI Fund's Web site at
https://www.cdfifund.gov.
Comments may be also be submitted and viewed through the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal, https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey C. Berg, Legal Counsel,
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, at (202) 622-8662
(This is not a toll free number). Information regarding the CDFI Fund
and the CMF may be downloaded from the CDFI Fund's Web site at https://www.cdfifund.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) was established through the Housing
and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (the Act), Public Law 110-289,
section 1131, as a trust fund whose appropriation will be used to carry
out a competitive grant program administered by the CDFI Fund. Through
the CMF, the CDFI Fund is authorized to make financial assistance
grants to certified Community Development Financial Institutions
(CDFIs) and Nonprofit Organizations (if one of their principal purposes
is the Development or management of Affordable Housing). CMF grants
must be used to attract financing for and increase investment in: (i)
The Development, Preservation, Rehabilitation, and Purchase of
Affordable Housing for primarily Extremely Low-, Very Low-, and Low-
Income Families; and (ii) Economic Development Activities or Community
Service Facilities (such as day care centers, workforce development
centers, and health care clinics) which In Conjunction With Affordable
Housing Activities will implement a Concerted Strategy to stabilize or
revitalize a Low-Income Area or Underserved Rural Area. This interim
rule creates the requirements and parameters for CMF implementation and
administration including, among others, application eligibility,
application review, award selection, Assistance Agreements, eligible
uses of award dollars and related funds, Awardee reporting, and
compliance monitoring.
On March 15, 2010, the CDFI Fund published in the Federal Register
a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 75 FR 12408, seeking responses to
specific questions regarding CMF design, implementation, and
administration. The CDFI Fund seeks public comment on this entire
interim rule. All capitalized terms are defined in the definition
section of the interim rule, as set forth in 12 CFR 1807.104.
II. Comments on the Proposed Rule and Summary of Changes
The interim rule contained in this document is based on the Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking (the proposed rule) published on March 15, 2010.
The comment period for the proposed rule ended on May 14, 2010. The
CDFI Fund received a total of 5 written submissions. The submissions
were from three community development financial institutions (CDFIs),
an affordable housing trade association and a lender. All comments
received by the end of the comment period were posted on the CDFI
Fund's Web site for public view.
Below are the CDFI Fund's responses to the public comments on the
proposed rule and answers to the specific five italicized questions
asked in the proposed rule. The following includes a discussion of the
significant issues, as well as clarifying information.
A. Eligibility
The eligibility requirements for Applicants are set forth in 12 CFR
1807.200. The CDFI Fund asked whether an eligibility requirement that
33 percent of the Applicant's resources (measured by staff time and/or
budget) be dedicated to Affordable Housing is appropriate (12 CFR
1807.200(a)(2)(iii)). If not, what is the appropriate percentage of
activities, and how should this be measured?
Commentators supported the 33 percent of resources eligibility
requirement. Two commentators recommended that the CDFI Fund allow
consortiums to apply as a single Applicant, suggesting that a
consortium consisting of smaller CDFIs could collaborate to serve a
number of adjacent or related markets more effectively. One commentator
suggested that permitting consortiums to apply would allow an
established nonprofit organization, with a track record of success, to
partner with a new entity in order to address a particular and
immediate affordable housing need. Thus, the three year existence
requirement should apply only to non-consortium applicants, thus
allowing new entities to apply, as long as they can demonstrate they
have raised sufficient money to operate for a specific amount of time
and have applied for their 501(c)(3) status.
Another commentator suggested the CDFI Fund divide CMF awards into
two applicant pools delineated by applicant size, similar to the
practice under the CDFI Program. The commentator suggested that
national organizations typically cannot serve smaller more remote
markets and that two applicant pools would ensure that the CMF awards
are distributed to urban, suburban and rural areas fairly. The
commentator also suggested reducing the maximum award amount to ensure
the distribution of awards to more areas throughout the country.
The CDFI Fund's response: The eligibility requirement that 33
percent of an applicant's resources must be dedicated to Affordable
Housing remains as set forth in 12 CFR 1807.200(a)(2)(iii). In response
to comments advocating for two CMF applicant pools, consortium
applicants, and a variation on the time in existence requirement for
consortium applicants, at this time the CDFI Fund will maintain the
requirements as stated in the proposed rule. As the CMF is a new
program, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the program implementation and
impacts before making additional modifications in these areas. If in
the future, the CDFI Fund determines that it is appropriate to develop
more than one applicant pool, permit consortium applicants or otherwise
modify the time in existence requirements, the CDFI Fund will do so in
the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the applicable funding
round as permitted in the interim rule.
[[Page 75378]]
B. Eligible Uses
The proposed rule in 12 CFR 1807.302 sets forth a number of
restrictions on use of CMF award funds. Are there suggested
restrictions that will prevent the CMF from financing predatory lending
practices that should be included in this section? Is the use
restriction that no more than 30 percent of an Awardee's CMF award can
be used for Economic Development Activities and Community Service
Facilities appropriate (12 CFR 1807.302(d))? If not, what is the
appropriate percentage?
One commentator remarked that the new industry rules emerging for
mortgage finance will provide additional protections for low-income
purchasers and thus, suggested that there is no need for the addition
of anti-predatory lending provisions to the proposed rule.
Another commentator suggested that the CDFI Fund lower the
statutorily imposed maximum award percentage that an Awardee can
receive in any given funding round and also remove the 30 percent
restriction on use of CMF awards for Economic Development Activities or
Community Service Facilities. To allow for maximum flexibility, a
commentator also suggested that no cap be placed on the amount of a CMF
award that can be used for Operations. One commentator suggested that
the CDFI Fund make clear that Awardees can utilize an Affordable
Housing Fund at the enterprise level and be able to aggregate a CMF
award with an existing fund maintained by the Awardee. The commentator
also suggested that the definition of Affordable Housing Fund mirror
that of the FY 2010 NOFA published on March 15, 2010, which allows the
Awardee to use the fund to make grants and investments.
The CDFI Fund's response: The CDFI Fund considers the restrictions
on eligible uses in 12 CFR 1807.302 of the Proposed Rule appropriate
and therefore these restrictions are maintained in the interim rule. As
there are other Federal programs and mechanisms better suited to deal
with predatory lending, the interim rule will not explicitly address
this issue. The six eligible uses of CMF awards are set forth in 12 CFR
1807.301. One of those eligible uses is to capitalize an Affordable
Housing Fund. As suggested by Commentators, the definition of
Affordable Housing Fund in 12 CFR 1807.104(e) is revised in this
interim rule to include grants and investments to be consistent with
the definition published in the FY 2010 CMF NOFA. Any previous
inconsistency between the Proposed Rule and the NOFA was inadvertent.
The statutory purpose of the CMF is to attract private capital for
and increase investment in Affordable Housing Activities and related
Economic Development Activities and Community Service Facilities. The
CDFI Fund wants to ensure that the awards are used primarily for those
specific purposes. Therefore, the CDFI Fund thinks the 5 percent cap on
Operations uses and the 30 percent cap on use of CMF awards for
Economic Development Activities or Community Service Facilities is in
line with the spirit of the authorizing statute. As this is a new
program, the CDFI Fund may at a future point determine that the
Operations use restriction should be modified. In such a case, the
interim rule, as set forth in 12 CFR 1807.302(b), allows the CDFI Fund
to establish the restrictions on Operations uses in the applicable
NOFA.
Finally, an Awardee is not required to create a separate legal
entity or investment vehicle in which it will undertake the eligible
activities listed in 12 CFR 1807.301. However, as set forth in 12 CFR
1807.600, the Awardee must be able to account for every dollar of its
CMF award and track its uses.
C. Affordable Housing Activities, Economic Development Activities and
Community Service Facilities
This proposed rule currently defines Economic Development
Activities as ``the Development, Preservation, Rehabilitation, or
Purchase of Community Service Facilities and/or other physical
structures in which neighborhood-based businesses operate which, In
Conjunction With Affordable Housing Activities, implements a Concerted
Strategy to stabilize or revitalize a Low-Income Area or Underserved
Rural Area.'' Is this an appropriate definition? Should it be expanded
to include working capital loans to businesses? Should refinancing of
existing loans be a permissible activity?
One commentator generally agreed with the proposed rule's
definition of Economic Development Activities and supported limiting
the use of CMF awards for non-housing activities. However, the same
commentator suggested that the CDFI Fund broaden the definition of
Economic Development Activity beyond its relation to defined Affordable
Housing Activities and instead have it apply to housing-related
activities more generally. The same commentator also suggested changing
the definitions of Development, Preservation, Rehabilitation and
Purchase to align with that which is used in the affordable housing
industry, which would allow for more flexibility. This commentator
suggested that these terms are used interchangeably and are not
mutually exclusive. The commentator recommended adding the term
``resident services'' to the definition of Community Service Facility
to acknowledge the presumed eligibility of physical spaces for resident
services in the use of CMF awards, as well as expanding the list of the
types of community services provided.
The CDFI Fund's response: The interim rule accepts the
commentator's suggestion and revises the definition of Economic
Development Activity in 12 CFR 1807.104(t) to apply to real estate
development activities generally. The interim rule revises the
definition of Preservation in 12 CFR 1807.104(tt) to provide for the
purchase or refinance of single-family or multi-family rental mortgages
or housing that was not previously subject to affordability
restrictions, with the intent of subjecting the housing to the CMF
affordability qualifications, as set forth in 12 CFR 1807.400 et seq.
The definition of Purchase is also revised in 12 CFR 1807.104(vv) to
clarify the authorization of mortgage financing of Single-family
housing. The interim rule also adds the definition of Multi-family
housing, as set forth in 12 CFR 1807.104(nn), and Family in 12 CFR
1807.104(x).
Under the interim rule, Awardees may pursue any or all of the
strategies set forth in 12 CFR 1807.300(a). Thus, it is not necessary
to revise the definitions of Development, Preservation, Rehabilitation
and Purchase to make them interchangeable, as the commentator
suggested. The interim rule, however, makes technical and clarifying
corrections to those definitions, as previously described. It also
revises the definition of Community Services Facility in 12 CFR
1807.104(o) to expand the types of services, as suggested by the
commentator.
The interim rule also revises 12 CFR 1807.501 to require the date
by which CMF awards must be Committed for use and initially disbursed,
to the date designated in the Awardee's Assistance Agreement.
Similarly, 12 CFR 1807.503 of the interim rule is revised to require
that CMF-funded projects must be completed and placed into service by
the date designated in the Awardee's Assistance Agreement. The proposed
rule required CMF funds to be Committed for use within two and
disbursed within three years of the effective date of the Assistance
Agreement. The CDFI Fund anticipates that the Assistance Agreement will
still
[[Page 75379]]
provide an Awardee at least two years to commit for use and three years
to initially disburse its CMF award, and five years to complete CMF-
funded projects. The interim rule incorporates these changes to provide
the Awardee flexibility, should additional time be needed to complete
environmental reviews and to accommodate unique circumstances.
Should physical proximity be necessary to meet the requirement that
Economic Development Activities or Community Service Facilities
financed In Conjunction with Affordable Housing Activities implement a
Concerted Strategy to stabilize or revitalize a Low-Income Area or
Underserved Rural Area? If physical proximity is necessary, what is the
best measure of being ``physically proximate'' with respect to projects
undertaken in urban areas, and with respect to projects undertaken in
rural areas?
One commentator remarked that census tract boundaries are sometimes
inconsistent with neighborhood boundaries, which would limit the
usefulness of census tracts as proxies for physical proximity. This
commentator suggested that ``physically proximate'' should allow for
strategies that provide access to the services through readily
available transit options within the Awardee's Service Area. Another
commentator suggested that ``or located within 20 miles'' be added to
the definition of In Conjunction With to deal with situations in which
a property is located near a county line but may rely on services that
are just a few miles away.
The CDFI Fund's response: Geographical proximity is the best
measure of being ``physically proximate.'' However, the CDFI Fund
recognizes that census tract boundaries can be limiting in certain
instances. Therefore, the interim rule revises the definition of In
Conjunction With in 12 CFR 1807.104(cc) to include a 2 mile radius for
a Metropolitan Area and a 20 mile radius for a Non-Metropolitan Area.
D. Affordability Qualifications
Is the Affordable Housing qualification that requires a minimum of
20 percent of units in multi-family rental housing projects financed
with a CMF award be occupied by Low-Income, Very Low-Income, or
Extremely Low-Income Families appropriate (12 CFR 1807.401)? If not,
what is the appropriate percentage?
One commentator agreed with the proposed rule's level of targeting.
The CDFI Fund's response: The percentage threshold in 12 CFR
1807.401 remains unchanged.
As set forth in 12 CFR 1807.400 et seq., Affordable Housing is
subject to a 10-year affordability requirement that begins at Project
Completion. Is this 10-year affordability requirement appropriate? How
should this be measured with respect to funds that are deployed,
returned to the Awardee, and reinvested during the life of the
Assistance Agreement (e.g., in the case of CMF awards that are used to
establish a revolving loan fund)?
Two commentators expressed significant concern with the 10-year
affordability requirement for homeownership. One commentator remarked
that the 10-year provision would impose an onerous administrative
burden on nonprofit program sponsors, as well as the homeowner, and
suggested that the affordability qualification only be measured at
purchase. That same commentator also opposed specific underwriting
criteria as the affordability criteria. A second commentator opposed
the 10-year affordability requirement because it would impose an
affordability covenant and deter otherwise qualified homeowners. It
would create a situation where the homeowner would have to suppress the
sale price if he or she had to sell before the 10-year period ended.
Thus, the provision serves as a barrier to homeownership, cited the
commentator. The commentator provided an alternative to the 10-year
affordability requirement: To remove the 10-year affordability covenant
for each individual loan and instead require Awardees to redeploy the
CMF dollars, upon resale, to new borrowers that meet the affordability
requirements. Another commentator suggested that the proposed rule
adopt the affordability qualifications of all Federal and state
affordable housing programs.
One commentator suggested that the front-end and back-end ratios
for homeownership affordability qualification are too inflexible. The
commentator suggested deleting the ratios and provide for the ability
to negotiate specific terms with an Awardee should the CDFI Fund
discover abusive lending.
The CDFI Fund's response: The CDFI Fund recognizes the limitation
of an affordability covenant on homeownership. However, the CDFI Fund
also recognizes the challenges from a compliance standpoint in
accepting the many definitions of ``affordable housing'' across all
Federal and state programs. In an effort to balance the two interests,
the interim rule removes the required affordability covenant on
homeownership and allows Awardees to create their own mechanism of
recouping and redeploying the CMF award in cases where the original
homeowner sells the property to a buyer that does not meet the
affordability qualifications. Under those circumstances, the Awardee
must ensure that the portion of the CMF award spent or designated to
finance the Affordable Housing Activity is recouped from the homeowner
or the Awardee's other resources, and redeployed in an eligible use for
a qualified family for the remaining affordability period. The interim
rule thus places the affordability restriction on the dollar amount of
the CMF award used for the eligible activity, instead of the housing
itself. The interim rule sets forth the parameters of resale,
recoupment and redeployment in 12 CFR 1807.402(a)(5).
Likewise, the CDFI Fund wants to allow for increases in tenant
incomes while also increasing affordable housing opportunities.
Therefore, in 12 CFR 1807.401(g)(3), the interim rule provides that in
the event a tenant's income increases, the Awardee may replace that
unit with another qualifying unit for purposes of meeting the 10-year
affordability requirement. This provision encourages increases in
wealth by low-income families, yet allows Awardees to fulfill the
purpose of the CMF without encountering noncompliance.
With regard to the homeownership front-end and back-end ratios, the
interim rule removes those as affordability standards and simply uses
the ``no greater than 95 percent of median purchase price'' as the
qualification.
The interim rule also adds the new defined term, ``Eligible-
Income'' in 12 CFR 1807.104(u), to describe families whose annual
income does not exceed 120 percent of the area median income, as
determined by HUD.
E. Record Retention
The proposed rule sets forth record data collection and record
retention requirements in 12 CFR 1807.902. What documentation should
Awardees be required to retain to demonstrate compliance with (i) the
affordability qualification requirements in 12 CFR 1807.400 et seq. and
(ii) the leveraging, commitment and Project Completion requirements in
12 CFR 1807.500 et seq.?
No commentators offered specific recommendations regarding the
documentation Awardees should be
[[Page 75380]]
required to retain in order to demonstrate compliance.
The CDFI Fund's response: The CDFI Fund will set forth guidance and
information on the documentation requirements in the Assistance
Agreements and compliance guidance documents to be issued at a future
date.
F. Income Determination and Rent Limitations
Although the CDFI Fund did not ask a specific question about the
income determination and rent limitation provisions in the proposed
rule, comments were submitted regarding these issues. One commentator
remarked that the rent-setting mechanisms and income definitions are
unnecessarily complex and should defer to the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) program and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program,
authorized under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, I.R.C. section 42, rules
for rent-setting and income determinations. The commentator also
suggested that the rent limitation of no more than 30 percent of a
family's annual income is too restrictive, especially if the housing
provider does not have access to rental assistance subsidies. In
addition, the developer must be able to demonstrate predictable rental
proceeds for the property, which would be speculative under the
proposed rule, remarked the commentator. As an alternative, the
commentator suggested that in projects where CMF funds will represent
10 percent or less of the total capital, the proposed rule should defer
to the income targeting and rent-setting requirements of other Federal
programs, thus allowing rents to increase but not decrease below a
floor, based on the initial rents.
Another commentator suggested in lieu of the ``30 percent of the
family's annual income'' rent limitation is to adopt the LIHTC standard
in which rents are restricted based on levels that are affordable to a
family making 60 percent of area median income or less.
The CDFI Fund's response: The proposed rule largely mirrors the
income determination rules and rent limits of the HOME Investment
Partnership Program (HOME Program), authorized under title II of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, 42
U.S.C. 12701 et seq., administered by HUD. Thus, in 12 CFR 1807.401(a),
the interim rule adopts the commentator's suggestion of using the HOME
Program rent limitations and sets the rent limitations as 30 percent of
the income threshold of Eligible-Income, Low-Income, Very Low-Income
and Extremely-Low Income Families. Similar to the HOME Program, 12 CFR
1807.401(2)(iii) is added to the interim rule to allow an Awardee to
determine a tenant's income by using HUD's definition of ``annual
income'' in its Section 8 program, as set forth in the United States
Housing Act of 1937, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.
G. Rural Definitions
The CDFI Fund received comments on the definition of Underserved
Rural Area. One commentator suggested that the proposed rule revise the
definition of Underserved Rural Area to include rural areas that are
eligible for USDA housing. The commentator remarked that defining only
Non-Metropolitan Areas as ``rural'' areas excludes many underserved
rural areas from consideration. In addition, the commentator advocated
that the CDFI Fund use USDA's definition of ``housing stress'' as one
criteria of economic distress.
The CDFI Fund's response: The CDFI Fund has opted to use Non-
Metropolitan areas as a proxy for rural areas because it is an
objective classification that wholly comprises areas that would be
deemed ``rural'' under most, if not all other definitions of the word
``rural.''
With regard to the use of ``housing stress'' as an additional
criteria of economic distress, the interim rule in 12 CFR
1807.800(c)(5) provides for the addition of any criteria the CDFI Fund
deems appropriate. Should the CDFI Fund decide to include additional
criteria of economic distress, it will do so in the applicable NOFA.
III. Rulemaking Analysis
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866
It has been determined that this interim rule is not a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, a
regulatory impact assessment is not required.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required under the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C 553), the Regulatory Flexibility
Act does not apply.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The collection of information contained in this interim rule has
been previously reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
assigned OMB Control Number 1559-0036. An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a valid control number assigned by OMB.
This document restates the collections of information without
substantive change. Comments concerning suggestions for reducing the
burden of collections of information should be directed to the Capital
Magnet Fund Manager, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund,
601 13th Street, NW., Suite 200 South, Washington, DC 20005.
National Environmental Policy Act
This interim rule has been reviewed in accordance with 12 CFR part
1815. The CDFI Fund's Environmental Regulations under the National
Environmental Protection Act of 1969 (NEPA) require that the CDFI Fund
adequately consider the cumulative impact proposed activities have upon
the human environment. It is the determination of the CDFI Fund that
the interim rule does not constitute a major Federal action
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and, in
accordance with the NEPA and the CDFI Fund Environmental Quality
Regulations, 12 CFR part 1815, neither an Environmental Assessment nor
an Environmental Impact Statement is required.
Administrative Procedure Act
Because this interim rule relates to loans and grants, notice and
public procedure and a delayed effective date are not required pursuant
to the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2).
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
Capital Magnet Fund--21.011.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1807
Community development, Grant programs--housing and community
development, Reporting and record keeping requirements.
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 12 CFR chapter XVIII is
amended by adding part 1807 to read as follows:
PART 1807--CAPITAL MAGNET FUND
Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
1807.100 Purpose.
1807.101 Summary.
1807.102 Relationship to other CDFI Fund programs.
1807.103 Awardee not instrumentality.
1807.104 Definitions.
1807.105 Waiver authority.
1807.106 OMB control number.
[[Page 75381]]
Subpart B--Eligibility
1807.200 Applicant eligibility.
Subpart C--Use of Funds/Eligible Activities
1807.300 Purposes of grants.
1807.301 Eligible activities.
1807.302 Restrictions on use of assistance.
Subpart D--Qualification as Affordable Housing
1807.400 Affordable Housing--General.
1807.401 Affordable Housing--Rental Housing.
1807.402 Affordable Housing--Homeownership.
Subpart E--Leveraging and Commitment Requirement.
1807.500 Leveraged costs--general.
1807.501 Commitment for use.
1807.502 Assistance limits.
1807.503 Projection completion.
Subpart F--Tracking Requirements
1807.600 Tracking funds--general.
1807.601 Nature of funds.
Subpart G--Applications for Assistance
1807.700 Notice of Funds Availability.
Subpart H--Evaluation and Selection of Applications
1807.800 Evaluation and selection--general.
1807.801 Evaluation of Applications.
Subpart I--Terms and Conditions of Assistance
1807.900 Assistance Agreement.
1807.901 Disbursement of funds.
1807.902 Data collection and reporting.
1807.903 Compliance with government requirements.
1807.904 Lobbying restrictions.
1807.905 Criminal provisions.
1807.906 CDFI Fund deemed not to control.
1807.907 Limitation on liability.
1807.908 Fraud, waste and abuse.
Authority: Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Pub. L.
No.110-289, section 1131
Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec. 1807.100 Purpose.
The purpose of the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) is to attract private
capital for and increase investment in Affordable Housing Activities
and related Economic Development Activities and Community Service
Facilities.
Sec. 1807.101 Summary.
(a) Through the CMF, the CDFI Fund will competitively award grants
to CDFIs and qualified Nonprofit Organizations to leverage dollars for:
(1) The Development, Preservation, Rehabilitation or Purchase of
Affordable Housing primarily for Low-Income Families; and
(2) Financing Economic Development Activities or Community Service
Facilities.
(b) The CDFI Fund will select Awardees to receive financial
assistance grants through a merit-based, competitive application
process. Financial assistance grants that are awarded through the CMF
may only be used for eligible uses set forth in subpart C of this part.
Each Awardee will enter into an Assistance Agreement which will require
it to leverage the CMF grant amount and abide by other terms and
conditions pertinent to any assistance received under this part.
Sec. 1807.102 Relationship to other CDFI Fund programs.
A Certified CDFI will automatically be deemed to meet the eligible
entity requirements, provided that it has been in business as an
operating entity for a period of at least three years prior to the
application deadline.
Sec. 1807.103 Awardee not instrumentality.
No Awardee shall be deemed to be an agency, department, or
instrumentality of the United States.
Sec. 1807.104 Definitions.
For the purpose of this part:
(a) Act means the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, as
amended, Public Law 110-289, section 1131;
(b) Affiliate means any entity that Controls, is Controlled by, or
is under common Control with, an entity;
(c) Affordable Housing means rental or for-sale single-family or
multi-family housing that meets the requirements set forth in subpart D
of this part;
(d) Affordable Housing Activities means the Development,
Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Purchase of Affordable Housing;
(e) Affordable Housing Fund means a loan, grant or investment fund,
managed by the Awardee, whose capital is used to finance Affordable
Housing Activities;
(f) Appropriate Federal Banking Agency has the same meaning as in
section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(q), and
includes, with respect to Insured Credit Unions, the National Credit
Union Administration;
(g) Applicant means any entity submitting an application for
assistance under this part;
(h) Appropriate State Agency means an agency or instrumentality of
a State that regulates and/or insures the member accounts of a State-
Insured Credit Union;
(i) Assistance Agreement means a formal, written agreement between
the CDFI Fund and an Awardee which specifies the terms and conditions
of assistance under this part;
(j) Awardee means an Applicant selected by the CDFI Fund to receive
assistance pursuant to this part;
(k) Capital Magnet Fund (or CMF) means the program authorized by
section 1131 of the Act, Public Law 110-289, and implemented under this
part;
(l) Certified Community Development Financial Institution (or
Certified CDFI) means an entity that has been determined by the CDFI
Fund to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in 12 CFR 1805.201;
(m) Committed means that the Awardee is able to demonstrate, in
written form and substance that is acceptable to the CDFI Fund, a
commitment for use pursuant to Sec. 1807.501;
(n) Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (or CDFI
Fund) means the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, an
office of the U.S. Department of Treasury, established under the
Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994,
as amended, 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.;
(o) Community Service Facility means the physical structure in
which service programs for residents or service programs for the
broader community (including, but not limited to, health care,
childcare, educational programs including literacy and after school
programs, job training, food and nutrition services, cultural, and/or
social services) operate which, In Conjunction With Affordable Housing
Activities, implements a Concerted Strategy to stabilize or revitalize
a Low-Income Area or Underserved Rural Area;
(p) Concerted Strategy means a formal planning document that
evidences the connection between Affordable Housing Activities and
Economic Development Activities or Community Service Facilities. Such
documents include, but are not limited to, a comprehensive,
consolidated, or redevelopment plan, or some other local or regional
planning document adopted or approved by the jurisdiction;
(q) Control means:
(1) Ownership, control, or power to vote 25 percent or more of the
outstanding shares of any class of Voting Securities of any company,
directly or indirectly or acting through one or more other persons;
(2) Control in any manner over the election of a majority of the
directors, trustees, or general partners (or individuals exercising
similar functions) of any company; or
(3) The power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling
influence over
[[Page 75382]]
the management, credit or investment decisions, or policies of any
company;
(r) Depository Institution Holding Company means a bank holding
company or a savings and loan holding company as defined in section 3
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(w)(1);
(s) Development means land acquisition, demolition of existing
facilities, and construction of new facilities, which may include site
improvement, utilities development and rehabilitation of utilities,
necessary infrastructure, utility services, conversion, and other
related activities;
(t) Economic Development Activity means the development,
preservation, rehabilitation, or purchase of Community Service
Facilities and/or other physical structures in which neighborhood-based
businesses operate which, In Conjunction With Affordable Housing
Activities, implements a Concerted Strategy to stabilize or revitalize
a Low-Income Area or Underserved Rural Area;
(u) Eligible-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied housing units, income not in
excess of 120 percent of the area median income; and
(2) In the case of rental housing units, income not in excess of
120 percent of the area median income, with adjustments for smaller and
larger families, as determined by HUD;
(v) Eligible Project Costs means Leverage Costs plus those costs
funded directly by a CMF award, exclusive of Operations;
(w) Extremely Low-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied housing units, income not in
excess of 30 percent of the area median income; and
(2) In the case of rental housing units, income not in excess of 30
percent of the area median income, with adjustments for smaller and
larger families, as determined by HUD;
(x) Families means households that reside within the boundaries of
the United Sates (which shall encompass any State of the United States,
the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States, Puerto
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern
Mariana Islands) and that meet the criteria set forth in Sec.
1807.104(u), (w), (jj) or (fff);
(y) HOME Program means the HOME Investment Partnership Program set
forth in the HOME Investment Partnerships Act under title II of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, 42
U.S.C. 12701 et seq.;
(z) Homeownership means ownership in fee simple title or a 99-year
leasehold interest in a one- to four-unit dwelling or in a condominium
unit, or equivalent form of ownership (which shall include cooperative
housing and mutual housing project). For purposes of housing located on
trust or restricted Indian lands, homeownership includes leases of 50
years. The ownership interest may be subject only to the following:
(1) Restrictions on resale permitted under the Assistance
Agreement;
(2) Mortgages, deeds of trust, or other liens or instruments
securing debt on the property; or
(3) Any other restrictions or encumbrances that do not impair the
good and marketable nature of title to the ownership interest;
(aa) Housing means single- and multi-family residential units,
including, but not limited to, manufactured housing and manufactured
housing lots, permanent housing for disabled and/or homeless persons,
transitional housing, single-room occupancy housing, and group homes.
Housing also includes elder cottage housing opportunity (ECHO), as
described in 24 CFR 92.258;
(bb) HUD means the Department of Housing and Urban Development
established under the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act
of 1965, 42 U.S.C. 3532-3537;
(cc) In Conjunction With means physically proximate to Affordable
Housing and reasonably available to residents of Affordable Housing.
For a Metropolitan Area, In Conjunction With means located within the
same census tract or within 2 miles of the Affordable Housing. For a
Non-Metropolitan Area, In Conjunction With means located within the
same county, township, or village, or within 20 miles of the Affordable
Housing;
(dd) Insured CDFI means a Certified CDFI that is an Insured
Depository Institution or an Insured Credit Union;
(ee) Insured Credit Union means any credit union, the member
accounts of which are insured by the National Credit Union Share
Insurance Fund by the National Credit Union Administration pursuant to
authority granted in 12 U.S.C. 1783 et seq.;
(ff) Insured Depository Institution means any bank or thrift, the
deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation as determined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2);
(gg) Leveraged Costs means those costs as described in 12 CFR
1807.500;
(hh) Loan Guarantee means an agreement to indemnify the holder of a
loan all or a portion of the unpaid principal balance in case of
default by the borrower;
(ii) Loan Loss Reserves means funds that the Applicant or Awardee
will set aside in the form of cash reserves, or through accounting-
based accrual reserves, to cover losses on loans, accounts, and notes
receivable, or for related purposes that the CDFI Fund deems
appropriate;
(jj) Low-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied housing units, income not in
excess of 80 percent of area median income; and
(2) In the case of rental housing units, income not in excess of 80
percent of area median income, with adjustments for smaller and larger
families, as determined by HUD;
(kk) Low-Income Area (LIA) means a census tract or block numbering
area in which the median income does not exceed 80 percent of the
median income for the area in which such census tract or block
numbering area is located. With respect to a census tract or block
numbering area located within a Metropolitan Area, the median family
income shall be at or below 80 percent of the Metropolitan Area median
family income or the national Metropolitan Area median family income,
whichever is greater. In the case of a census tract or block numbering
area located outside of a Metropolitan Area, the median family income
shall be at or below 80 percent of the statewide Non-Metropolitan Area
median family income or the national Non-Metropolitan Area median
family income, whichever is greater;
(ll) Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program or LIHTC Program means
the program as set forth under Title I of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.;
(mm) Metropolitan Area means an area designated as such by the
Office of Management and Budget pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3504(e) and 31
U.S.C. 1104(d) and Executive Order 10253 (3 CFR, 1949-1953 Comp., p.
758), as amended;
(nn) Multi-family housing means residential properties consisting
of five or more dwelling units, such as a condominium unit, cooperative
unit, apartment or townhouse;
(oo) Non-Metropolitan Area means an area set forth in the
Assistance Agreement;
(pp) Nonprofit Organization means any corporation, trust,
association, cooperative, or other organization that is:
(1) Designated as a nonprofit or not-for-profit entity under the
laws of the organization's State of formation; and
[[Page 75383]]
(2) Exempt from Federal income taxation pursuant to the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986;
(qq) Non-Regulated CDFI means any entity meeting the eligibility
requirements described in 12 CFR 1805.200 which is not a Depository
Institution Holding Company, Insured Depository Institution, or Insured
Credit Union;
(rr) Operations means all allowable expenses as defined by Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles For
Non-Profit Organizations,'' and OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles
for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments,'' incurred by the
Awardee in the administration, operation, and implementation of a CMF
award;
(ss) Participating Jurisdiction means a jurisdiction designated by
HUD, as a participating jurisdiction under the HOME Program in
accordance with the requirements of 24 CFR 92.105;
(tt) Preservation means:
(1) Activities to refinance, with or without Rehabilitation,
single-family or multi-family rental property mortgages that, at the
time of refinancing, are subject to affordability and use restrictions
under State or Federal affordable housing programs, including but not
limited to, the HOME Program, the LIHTC Program, the Section 8 Tenant-
Based Assistance and the Section 8 Rental Voucher programs (24 CFR part
982), or the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing program (7 CFR part
3560), hereinafter referred to as ``similar State or Federal affordable
housing programs,'' where such refinancing has the effect of extending
the term of any affordability and use restrictions on the properties;
(2) Activities to refinance and acquire single-family or multi-
family properties that, at the time of refinancing or acquisition, were
subject to affordability and use restrictions under similar State or
Federal affordable housing programs, by the former tenants of such
properties, where such refinancing has the effect of extending the term
of any affordability and use restrictions on the properties;
(3) Activities to refinance the mortgages of single-family, owner-
occupied housing that at the time of refinancing are subject to
affordability and use restrictions under similar State or Federal
affordable housing programs, where such refinancing has the effect of
extending the term of any affordability and use restrictions on the
properties;
(4) Activities to acquire Single-family or Multi-family housing,
with or without rehabilitation, with the commitment to subject the
properties to the affordability qualifications set forth in subpart D
of this part; or
(5) Activities to refinance, with or without Rehabilitation,
single-family or multi-family rental property mortgages, with the
commitment to subject the properties to the affordability
qualifications set forth in subpart D of this part;
(uu) Project Completion means that all of the requirements set
forth at Sec. 1807.503 for a project supported by a CMF award have
been met;
(vv) Purchase means to provide direct financing to a homeowner to
acquire Homeownership through an exchange of money;
(ww) Rehabilitation means any repairs and/or capital improvements
that contribute to the long-term preservation, current building code
compliance, habitability, sustainability, or energy efficiency of
Affordable Housing.
(xx) Revolving Loan Fund means a pool of funds managed by the
Applicant or Awardee wherein repayments on Affordable Housing
Activities loans, Economic Development Activities loans and/or
Community Services Facilities loans are used to finance additional
loans;
(yy) Risk-Sharing Loan means loans for Affordable Housing
Activities and/or Economic Development Activities in which the risk of
borrower default is shared by the Applicant or Awardee with other
lenders (e.g., participation loans);
(zz) Service Area means the geographic area in which the Applicant
proposes to use CMF funding, and the geographic area approved by the
CDFI Fund in which the Awardee shall use CMF funding as set forth in
its Assistance Agreement;
(aaa) Single-family housing means a one- to four-family residence,
condominium unit, cooperative unit, combination of manufactured housing
and lot, or manufactured housing lot;
(bbb) State means the States of the United States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Island, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory of the
United States;
(ccc) State-Insured Credit Union means any credit union that is
regulated by, and/or the member accounts of which are insured by, a
State agency or instrumentality;
(ddd) Subsidiary means any company which is owned or Controlled
directly or indirectly by another company;
(eee) Underserved Rural Area means a Non-Metropolitan Area that:
(1) Qualifies as a Low-Income Area;
(2) Is experiencing housing stress evidenced by 30 percent or more
of resident households with one or more of these four housing
conditions in the last decennial census:
(i) Lacked complete plumbing,
(ii) Lacked complete kitchen,
(iii) Paid 30 percent or more of income for owner costs or rent, or
(iv) Had more than 1 person per room; or
(3) Is remote-rural county consisting of a Non-Metropolitan Area
that is also not adjacent to a Metropolitan Area;
(fff) Very Low-Income means:
(1) In the case of owner-occupied housing units, income not greater
than 50 percent of the area median income; and
(2) In the case of rental housing units, income not greater than 50
percent of the area median income, with adjustments for smaller and
larger families, as determined by HUD.
Sec. 1807.105 Waiver authority.
The CDFI Fund may waive any requirement of this part that is not
required by law upon a determination of good cause. Each such waiver
shall be in writing and supported by a statement of the facts and the
grounds forming the basis of the waiver. For a waiver in an individual
case, the CDFI Fund must determine that application of the requirement
to be waived would adversely affect the achievement of the purposes of
the Act. For waivers of general applicability, the CDFI Fund will
publish notification of granted waivers in the Federal Register.
Sec. 1807.106 OMB control number.
The collection of information requirements in this part have been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget and assigned OMB
control number 1559-0036.
Subpart B--Eligibility
Sec. 1807.200 Applicant eligibility.
(a) General requirements. An Applicant will be deemed eligible for
a CMF award if it is:
(1) A Certified or certifiable CDFI. An entity may meet the
requirements described in this paragraph (a)(1) if it is:
(i) A Certified CDFI, as set forth in 12 CFR 1805.201, that has
been in existence as a legally formed entity as set forth in the Notice
of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the applicable funding round; or
(ii) A certifiable CDFI that has been in existence as a legally
formed entity as set forth in the NOFA for the applicable round and,
although not yet certified as
[[Page 75384]]
a CDFI, has submitted a complete CDFI certification application as of
the date set forth in the applicable NOFA; or
(2) A Nonprofit Organization having as one of its principal
purposes the development or management of affordable housing. An entity
may meet the requirements described in this paragraph (a)(2) if it:
(i) Has been in existence as a legally formed entity as set forth
in the applicable NOFA;
(ii) Demonstrates, through articles of incorporation, by-laws, or
other board-approved documents, that the development or management of
affordable housing are among its principal purposes; and
(iii) Can demonstrate that at least one-third of the Applicant's
resources (either as a portion of total staffing or as a portion of
total assets) are dedicated to the development or management of
affordable housing.
(b) Eligibility verification. An Applicant shall demonstrate that
it meets the eligibility requirements described in Sec. 1807.200(a)(2)
of this section by providing information described in the application,
NOFA, and/or supplemental information, as may be requested by the CDFI
Fund. For an Applicant seeking eligibility under Sec. 1807.200(a)(1),
the CDFI Fund will verify that the Applicant is a Certified CDFI during
the application eligibility review. For an Applicant seeking
eligibility under Sec. 1807.200(a)(2), the CDFI Fund, in its sole
discretion, shall determine whether the Applicant has satisfied said
requirements.
Subpart C--Use of Funds/Eligible Activities
Sec. 1807.300 Purposes of grants.
The CDFI Fund may provide financial assistance grants to
organizations described under subpart B of this part for the purpose of
attracting private capital for and increase investment in: (a) The
Development, Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Purchase of Affordable
Housing for primarily Extremely Low-Income, Very Low-Income, and Low-
Income families; and
(b) Economic Development Activities or Community Services
Facilities. With respect to an Economic Development Activity or
Community Service Facility funded with a CMF grant, the Affordable
Housing that it is In Conjunction With may be financed by sources other
than the CMF grant.
Sec. 1807.301 Eligible activities.
Grants awarded under this part shall be used by an Awardee to
support Affordable Housing Activities, Economic Development Activities
or Community Service Facilities, including the following eligible uses:
(a) To provide Loan Loss Reserves;
(b) To capitalize a Revolving Loan Fund;
(c) To capitalize an Affordable Housing Fund;
(d) To capitalize a fund to support Economic Development Activities
or Community Service Facilities;
(e) For Risk-Sharing Loans;
(f) For Loan Guarantees; and
(g) For the Awardee's Operations.
Sec. 1807.302 Restrictions on use of assistance.
(a) An Awardee's activities under Sec. 1807.301 shall not include
the use of CMF for the following:
(1) Political activities;
(2) Advocacy;
(3) Lobbying, whether directly or through other parties;
(4) Counseling services (including homebuyer or financial
counseling);
(5) Travel expenses;
(6) Preparing or providing advice on tax returns;
(7) Emergency shelters (including shelters for disaster victims);
(8) Nursing homes;
(9) Convalescent homes;
(10) Residential treatment facilities;
(11) Correctional facilities; or
(12) Student dormitories.
(b) An Awardee may use up to a percentage of CMF award for
Operations as specified in the applicable NOFA.
(c) An Awardee shall not use CMF award to support projects that:
(1) Consist of the operation of any private or commercial golf
course, country club, massage parlor, hot tub facility, suntan
facility, racetrack or other facility used for gambling, or any store
the principal business of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for
consumption off premises;
(2) Consist of farming (within the meaning of I.R.C. section
2032A(e)(5)(A) or (B)) if, as of the close of the taxable year of the
taxpayer conducting such trade or business, the sum of the aggregate
unadjusted bases (or, if greater, the fair market value) of the assets
owned by the taxpayer that are used in such a trade or business, and
the aggregate value of the assets leased by the taxpayer that are used
in such a trade or business, exceeds $500,000.
(d) In any given funding round, no more than 30 percent of an
Awardee's CMF award may be used for purposes described in Sec.
1807.300(b).
Subpart D--Qualification as Affordable Housing
Sec. 1807.400 Affordable housing--general.
Each Awardee that uses CMF funding to support Affordable Housing
Activities shall ensure that 100 percent of Eligible Project Costs are
attributable to housing units that meet the affordability
qualifications set forth below for Eligible-Income Families. In
addition, greater than 50 percent of the Eligible Project Costs must be
attributable to housing units that meet the affordability
qualifications set forth below for either Low-Income, Very Low-Income,
or Extremely Low-Income Families.
Sec. 1807.401 Affordable housing--rental housing.
To qualify as Affordable Housing, a rental Multi-family housing
project financed with a CMF award must have at least 20 percent of the
housing units occupied by Low-Income, Very Low-Income, or Extremely
Low-Income Families and must comply with the rent limits set forth
herein.
(a) Rent limitation. The maximum rent is a rent that does not
exceed:
(1) For an Eligible-Income Family, 30 percent of the annual income
of a family whose annual income equals 120 percent of the area median
income, with adjustments for smaller and larger families, as determined
by HUD;
(2) For a Low-Income Family, 30 percent of the annual income of a
family whose annual income equals 80 percent of the area median income,
with adjustments for smaller and larger families, as determined by HUD;
(3) For a Very Low-Income Family, 30 percent of the annual income
of a family whose annual income equals 50 percent of the area median
income, with adjustments for smaller and larger families, as determined
by HUD; or
(4) For an Extremely Low-Income Family, 30 percent of the annual
income of a family whose annual income equals 30 percent of the area
median income, with adjustments for smaller and larger families, as
determined by HUD.
(b) Nondiscrimination against rental assistance subsidy holders.
The Awardee shall require that the owner of a rental unit cannot refuse
to lease the unit to a Section 8 Program certificate or voucher holder
(24 CFR Part 982, Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance: Unified Rule for
Tenant-Based Assistance under the Section 8 Rental Certificate Program
and the Section 8 Rental Voucher Program) or to the holder of a
comparable document evidencing participation in a HOME tenant-based
rental assistance program
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because of the status of the prospective tenant as a holder of such
certificate, voucher, or comparable HOME tenant-based assistance
document.
(c) Initial rent schedule and utility allowances. The Awardee shall
ensure that the housing adheres to the applicable Participating
Jurisdiction's maximum monthly allowances for utilities and services
(excluding telephone). If the Participating Jurisdiction's allowances
have not been determined or are otherwise unavailable, the Awardee
shall rely upon the utility and services allowances established by the
applicable city, county or State public housing authority.
(d) Periods of Affordability. Housing under Sec. 1807.401 must
meet the affordability requirements for not less than 10 years,
beginning after Project Completion and at initial occupancy. The
affordability requirements apply without regard to the term of any loan
or mortgage or the transfer of ownership and must be imposed by deed
restrictions, covenants running with the land, or other recordable
mechanisms, except that the affordability restrictions may terminate
upon foreclosure or transfer in lieu of foreclosure. Other recordable
mechanisms must be approved in writing and in advance by the CDFI Fund.
The affordability restrictions shall be revived according to the
original terms if, during the original affordability period, the owner
of record before the foreclosure, or deed in lieu of foreclosure, or
any entity that includes the former owner or those with whom the former
owner has or had family or business ties, obtains an ownership interest
in the project or property.
(e) Subsequent rents during the affordability period. Any increase
in rent for a CMF-funded unit requires that tenants of those units be
given at least 30 days prior written notice before the implementation
of the rent increase.
(f) Tenant income determination.
(1) Each year during the period of affordability the tenant's
income shall be re-examined; tenant income examination is the
responsibility of the Awardee. Annual income shall include income from
all household members.
(2) One of the following three definitions of ``annual income''
must be used to determine whether a family is income eligible:
(i) Annual income as reported under the Census long-form for the
most recent available decennial Census. This definition includes:
(A) Wages, salaries, tips, commissions, etc.;
(B) Self-employment income from owned non-farm business, including
proprietorships and partnerships;
(C) Farm self-employment income;
(D) Interest, dividends, net rental income, or income from estates
or trusts;
(E) Social Security or railroad retirement;
(F) Supplemental Security Income, Aid to Families with Dependent
Children, or other public assistance or public welfare programs;
(G) Retirement, survivor, or disability pensions;
(H) Any other sources of income received regularly, including
Veterans' (VA) payments, unemployment compensation, and alimony; and
(I) Any other sources of income the CDFI Fund may deem appropriate;
(ii) Adjusted gross income as defined for purposes of reporting
under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040 series for individual
Federal annual income tax purposes; or
(iii) ``Annual Income'' as defined at 24 CFR 5.609 (except that
when determining the income of a homeowner for an owner-occupied
rehabilitation project, the value of the homeowner's principal
residence may be excluded from the calculation of net family assets).
(3) Although any of the above three definitions of ``annual
income'' are permitted, in order to calculate adjusted income,
exclusions from income set forth at 24 CFR 5.611 shall be applied.
(4) The CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem certain government
programs, under which a Low-Income family is a recipient, as income
eligible for purposes of meeting the tenant income requirements under
this subsection.
(g) Over-income tenants. (1) CMF-funded units continue to qualify
as Affordable Housing despite a temporary noncompliance caused by
increases in the incomes of existing tenants if actions satisfactory to
the CDFI Fund are being taken to ensure that all vacancies are filled
in accordance with this section until the noncompliance is corrected.
(2) Tenants whose incomes no longer qualify must pay rent no
greater than the lesser of the amount payable by the tenant under State
or local law or 30 percent of the family's annual income, except that
tenants of units that have been allocated low-income housing tax
credits by a housing credit agency pursuant to section 42 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, I.R.C. section 42, must pay rent
governed by section 42. Tenants who no longer qualify as Eligible-
Income are not required to pay as rent an amount that exceeds the
market rent for comparable, unassisted units in the neighborhood.
(3) If the income of a tenant of a CMF-funded unit no longer
qualifies, the Awardee may designate another unit, in the CMF-funded
project, as a replacement unit that meets the affordability
qualifications for Eligible-Income, Low-Income, Very Low-Income, or
Extremely Low-Income Families and as set forth in the Awardee's
Assistance Agreement. If there is not an available replacement unit,
the Awardee must fill the first available vacancy with a tenant that
meets the affordability qualifications for Eligible-Income, Low-Income,
Very Low-Income, or Extremely Low-Income Families as necessary to
maintain compliance with the CMF requirements and the Assistance
Agreement.
Sec. 1807.402 Affordable housing--homeownership.
(a) Acquisition with or without rehabilitation. Housing that is for
Homeownership purchase must meet the affordability requirements of this
subsection.
(1) The housing must be Single-family housing.
(2) The housing price does not exceed 95 percent of the median
purchase price for the area as used in the HOME Program and as
determined by the applicable Participating Jurisdiction.
(3) The housing must be purchased by a qualifying family as set
forth in Sec. 1807.400. The housing must be the principal residence of
the family throughout the period described in paragraph (a)(4) of this
section.
(4) Periods of Affordability. Housing under this subsection must
meet the affordability requirements for at least 10 years at the time
of purchase by the homeowner.
(5) Resale. To ensure that CMF awards are being used for qualifying
families for the entire 10-year affordability period, recoupment and
redeployment or resale strategies must be imposed by the Awardee. A
recoupment strategy must ensure that, in the event the qualifying
homeowner sells the housing before the end of the 10-year affordability
period and the new homeowner does not meet the affordability
qualifications set forth in Sec. 1807.400, the portion of the CMF
award used to finance the Affordable Housing Activity is recouped and
redeployed to a qualifying family for affordable housing homeownership
in the manner set forth in Sec. 1807.402, except that the housing must
meet the affordability requirements only for the remaining
affordability period. The Awardee may design and implement its own
recoupment strategy. Deed
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restrictions, covenants running with the land, or other similar
mechanisms may be used as the mechanism to impose the resale strategy.
The Awardee shall report to the CDFI Fund the event of resale,
recoupment and redeployment of the CMF award in the manner described in
the Assist