Bill Text: NJ S1189 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Revises certain eligibility requirements under NJ Aspire Program; establishes net neutral benefits test for redevelopment projects that incur certain sustainability and resiliency costs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [S1189 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S1189-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator RAJ MUKHERJI
District 32 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Revises certain eligibility requirements under NJ Aspire Program; establishes net neutral benefits test for redevelopment projects that incur certain sustainability and resiliency costs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act revising certain eligibility requirements under the New Jersey Aspire Program and amending P.L.2020, c.156.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 55 of P.L. P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-323) is amended to read as follows:
55. As used in sections 54 through 67 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-322 through C.34:1B-335):
"Agency" means the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency established pursuant to P.L.1983, c.530 (C.55:14K-1 et seq.).
"Authority" means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).
"Aviation district" means all areas within the boundaries of the Atlantic City International Airport, established pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-24), and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center and the area within a one-mile radius of the outermost boundary of the Atlantic City International Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center.
"Board" means the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, established by section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).
"Brownfield site" means any former or current commercial or industrial site that is currently vacant or underutilized and on which there has been, or there is suspected to have been, a discharge of a contaminant or on which there is contaminated building material.
"Building services" means any cleaning or routine building maintenance work, including but not limited to sweeping, vacuuming, floor cleaning, cleaning of rest rooms, collecting refuse or trash, window cleaning, securing, patrolling, or other work in connection with the care or securing of an existing building, including services typically provided by a door-attendant or concierge. "Building services" shall not include any skilled maintenance work, professional services, or other public work for which a contractor is required to pay the "prevailing wage" as defined in section 2 of P.L.1963, c.150 (C.34:11-56.26).
"Cash flow" means the profit or loss that an investment property earns from rent, deposits, and other fees after financial obligations, such as debt, maintenance, government payments, and other expenses, have been paid.
"Collaborative workspace" means coworking, accelerator, incubator, or other shared working environments that promote collaboration, interaction, socialization, and coordination among tenants through the clustering of multiple businesses or individuals. For this purpose, the collaborative workspace shall be the greater of: 2,500 of dedicated square feet or 10 percent of the total property on which the redevelopment project is situated. The collaborative workspace shall include a community manager, be focused on collaboration among the community members, and include regularly scheduled education events for the community members. The collaborative workspace shall also include a physical open space that supports the engagement of its community members.
"Commercial project" means a redevelopment project, which is predominantly commercial and contains 100,000 or more square feet of office and retail space, industrial space, or film studios, professional stages, television studios, recording studios, screening rooms, or other infrastructure for film production, for purchase or lease and may include a parking component.
"Contaminated building material" means components of a structure where abatement or removal of asbestos, or remediation of materials containing hazardous substances, as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1976, c.141 (C.58:10-23.11b), is required by applicable federal, state, or local rules or regulations.
"Contamination" or "contaminant" means any discharged hazardous substance as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1976, c.141 (C.58:10-23.11b), hazardous waste as defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1976, c.99 (C.13:1E-38), pollutant as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-3), or contaminated building material.
"Developer" means a person who enters or proposes to enter into an incentive award agreement pursuant to the provisions of section 60 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-328), including, but not limited, to a lender that completes a redevelopment project, operates a redevelopment project, or completes and operates a redevelopment project.
"Director" means the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury.
"Distressed municipality" means a municipality that is qualified to receive assistance under P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.), a municipality under the supervision of the Local Finance Board pursuant to the provisions of the "Local Government Supervision Act (1947)," P.L.1947, c.151 (C.52:27BB-1 et seq.), a municipality identified by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to be facing serious fiscal distress, a SDA municipality, or a municipality in which a major rail station is located.
"Economic development incentive" means a financial incentive, awarded by the authority, or agreed to between the authority and a business or person, for the purpose of stimulating economic development or redevelopment in New Jersey, including, but not limited to, a bond, grant, loan, loan guarantee, matching fund, tax credit, or other tax expenditure.
"Eligibility period" means the period not to exceed 15 years for a commercial or mixed-use project or the period not to exceed 10 years for a residential project specified in an incentive award agreement during which a developer may claim a tax credit under the program.
"Enhanced area" means (1) a municipality that contains an urban transit hub, as defined in section 2 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-208); (2) the five municipalities with the highest poverty rates according to the 2017 Municipal Revitalization Index; and (3) the three municipalities with the highest percentage of SNAP recipients according to the 2017 Municipal Revitalization Index.
"Food delivery source" means access to nutritious foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, through grocery operators, including, but not limited to a full-service supermarket or grocery store, and other healthy food retailers of at least 16,000 square feet, including, but not limited to, a prepared food establishment selling primarily nutritious ready-to-serve meals.
"Food desert community" means a physically contiguous area in the State in which residents have limited access to nutritious foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and that has been designated as a food desert community pursuant to subsection b. of section 38 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-306).
"Government-restricted municipality" means a municipality in this State with a municipal revitalization index distress score of at least 75, that met the criteria for designation as an urban aid municipality in the 2019 State fiscal year, and that, on the effective date of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-269 et al.), is subject to financial restrictions imposed pursuant to the "Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act," P.L.2016, c.4 (C.52:27BBBB-1 et seq.), or is restricted in its ability to levy property taxes on property in that municipality as a result of the State of New Jersey owning or controlling property representing at least 25 percent of the total land area of the municipality or as a result of the federal government of the United States owning or controlling at least 50 acres of the total land area of the municipality, which is dedicated as a national natural landmark.
"Health care or health services center" means an establishment where patients are admitted for examination and treatment by one or more physicians, dentists, psychologists, or other medical practitioners.
"Historic property" means a property located in the State of New Jersey that is an income producing property, and that is:
(a) (i) individually listed, or located in a district listed on the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the provisions of chapter 3021 of Title 54, United States Code (54 U.S.C. s.302101 et seq), or on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places pursuant to P.L.1970, c.268 (C.13:1B-15.128 et seq.), or individually designated, or located in a district designated, by the Pinelands Commission as a historic resource of significance to the Pinelands in accordance with the Pinelands comprehensive management plan adopted pursuant to the "Pinelands Protection Act," P.L.1979, c.111 (C.13:18A-1 et seq.); and
(ii) if located within a district, certified by either the officer or the Pinelands Commission, as appropriate, as contributing to the historic significance of the district; or
(b) (i) individually identified or registered, or located in a district composed of properties identified or registered, for protection as significant historic resources in accordance with criteria established by a municipality in which the property or district is located if the criteria for identification or registration has been approved by the officer as suitable for substantially achieving the purpose of preserving and rehabilitating buildings of historic significance within the jurisdiction of the municipality, and
(ii) if located within a district, certified by the officer as contributing to the historic significance of the district.
"Incentive area" means an aviation district, a port district, or an area designated pursuant to the "State Planning Act," P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et seq.), as Planning Area 1 (Metropolitan), Planning Area 2 (Suburban), or a Designated Center, provided an area designated as Planning Area 2 (Suburban) or a Designated Center shall be located within a one-half mile radius of the mid-point, with bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, of a New Jersey Transit Corporation, Port Authority Transit Corporation, or Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation rail, bus, or ferry station, including all light rail stations, or a high frequency bus stop as certified by the New Jersey Transit Corporation.
"Incentive award" means an award of tax credits to reimburse a developer for all or a portion of the project financing gap of a redevelopment project pursuant to the provisions of sections 54 through 67 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-322 through C.34:1B-335).
"Incentive award agreement" means the contract executed between a developer and the authority pursuant to section 60 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-328), which sets forth the terms and conditions under which the developer may receive the incentive awards authorized pursuant to the provisions of sections 54 through 67 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-322 through C.34:1B-335).
"Incubator facility" means a commercial property, which contains 5,000 or more square feet of office, laboratory, or industrial space, which is located near, and presents opportunities for collaboration with, a research institution, teaching hospital, college, or university, and within which at least 75 percent of the gross leasable area is restricted for use by one or more technology startup companies.
"Individuals with special needs" means individuals with mental illness, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and individuals in other emerging special needs groups identified by the authority, based on guidelines established for the administration of the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2005, c.163 (C.34:1B-21.25a) or developed in consultation with other State agencies.
"Living shorelines" means nature-based techniques using native vegetation, alone or in combination with other practices, to restore or enhance marshes or to stabilize the shoreline.
"Low-income housing" means housing affordable according to federal Department of Housing and Urban Development or other recognized standards for home ownership and rental costs and occupied or reserved for occupancy by households with a gross household income equal to 50 percent or less of the median gross household income for households of the same size within the housing region in which the housing is located.
"Major rail station" means a railroad station that is located within a qualified incentive area and that provides to the public access to a minimum of six rail passenger service lines operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation.
"Minimum environmental and sustainability standards" means standards established by the authority in accordance with the green building manual prepared by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.132 (C.52:27D-130.6), regarding the use of renewable energy, energy-efficient technology, and non-renewable resources to reduce environmental degradation and encourage long-term cost reduction.
"Moderate-income housing" means housing affordable according to federal Department of Housing and Urban Development or other recognized standards for home ownership and rental costs and occupied or reserved for occupancy by households with a gross household income equal to more than 50 percent, but less than 80 percent, of the median gross household income for households of the same size within the housing region in which the housing is located.
"Municipal Revitalization Index" means the index by the Department of Community Affairs ranking New Jersey's municipalities according to eight separate indicators that measure diverse aspects of social, economic, physical, and fiscal conditions in each locality.
"Port district" means the portions of a qualified incentive area that are located within:
a. the "Port of New York District" of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as defined in Article II of the Compact Between the States of New York and New Jersey of 1921; or
b. a 15-mile radius of the outermost boundary of each marine terminal facility established, acquired, constructed, rehabilitated, or improved by the South Jersey Port District established pursuant to "The South Jersey Port Corporation Act," P.L.1968, c.60 (C.12:11A-1 et seq.).
"Program" means the New Jersey Aspire Program established by section 56 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-324).
"Project cost" means the costs incurred in connection with a redevelopment project by a developer until the issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy, or until such other time specified by the authority, for a specific investment or improvement, including the costs relating to lands, except the cost of acquiring such lands, buildings, improvements, real or personal property, or any interest therein, including leases discounted to present value, including lands under water, riparian rights, space rights, and air rights acquired, owned, developed or redeveloped, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated, or improved, any environmental remediation costs, plus costs not directly related to construction, including capitalized interest paid to third parties, of an amount not to exceed 20 percent of the total costs and the cost of infrastructure improvements, including ancillary infrastructure projects. The fees associated with the application or administration of a grant under sections 54 through 67 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-322 through C.34:1B-335) shall not constitute a project cost.
"Project financing gap" means the part of the total project cost, including reasonable and appropriate return on investment, that remains to be financed after all other sources of capital have been accounted for, including, but not limited to developer contributed capital, which shall not be less than 20 percent of the total project cost, and investor or financial entity capital or loans for which the developer, after making all good faith efforts to raise additional capital, certifies that additional capital cannot be raised from other sources on a non-recourse basis; provided, however, that for a redevelopment project located in a government-restricted municipality, the developer contributed capital shall not be less than 10 percent of the total project cost. Developer contributed capital may consist of cash, deferred development fees, costs for project feasibility incurred within the 12 months prior to application, property value less any mortgages when the developer owns the project site, and any other investment by the developer in the project deemed acceptable by the authority, as provided by regulations promulgated by the authority. Property value shall be valued at the lesser of: (i) the purchase price, provided the property was purchased pursuant to an arm's length transaction within 12 months of application; or (ii) the value as determined by a current appraisal.
"Project labor agreement" means a form of pre-hire collective bargaining agreement covering terms and conditions of a specific project that satisfies the requirements set forth in section 5 of P.L.2002, c.44 (C.52:38-5).
"Qualified incentive tract" means (i) a population census tract having a poverty rate of 20 percent or more; or (ii) a census tract in which the median family income for the census tract does not exceed 80 percent of the greater of the Statewide median family income or the median family income of the metropolitan statistical area in which the census tract is situated.
"Quality childcare facility" is a child care center licensed by the Department of Children and Families or a registered family child care home with the Department of Human Services, operating continuously, which has not been subject to an enforcement action, and which has and maintains a licensed capacity for children age 13 years or younger who attend for less than 24 hours a day.
"Redevelopment project" means a specific construction project or improvement or phase of a project or improvement undertaken by a developer, owner or tenant, or both, and any ancillary infrastructure project. A redevelopment project may involve construction or improvement upon lands, buildings, improvements, or real and personal property, or any interest therein, including lands under water, riparian rights, space rights, and air rights, acquired, owned, developed or redeveloped, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated, or improved.
"Rehabilitation" means the repair or reconstruction of the exterior or interior of an historic property to make an efficient contemporary use possible while preserving the portions or features of the property that have significant historical, architectural, and cultural value.
"Remediation" means all necessary actions to investigate and clean up or respond to any known, suspected, or threatened discharge of contaminants, including, as necessary, the preliminary assessment, site investigation, remedial investigation, and remedial action, or any portion thereof, as those terms are defined in section 23 of P.L.1993, c.139 (C.58:10B-1); hazardous materials abatement; hazardous materials or waste disposal; and building and structural remedial activities, including, but not limited to, demolition, asbestos abatement, polychlorinated biphenyl removal, contaminated wood or paint removal, and other infrastructure remedial activities; provided, however, "remediation" shall not include the payment of compensation for damage to, or loss of, natural resources.
"Residential project" means a redevelopment project that is predominantly residential, intended for multi-family residency, and may include a parking component.
"SDA district" means an SDA district as defined in section 3 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-3).
"SDA municipality" means a municipality in which an SDA district is situated.
"Stormwater management system" means any equipment, plants, structures, machinery, apparatus, management practices, or land, or any combination thereof, acquired, used, constructed, implemented, or operated to prevent nonpoint source pollution, abate improper cross-connections and interconnections between stormwater and sewer systems, minimize stormwater runoff, reduce soil erosion, or induce groundwater recharge, or any combination thereof.
"Sustainability and resiliency costs" means costs incurred in connection with a redevelopment project by the developer, and which costs shall be comprised of the following: (1) the utilization of carbon reduction initiatives, including renewable or non-carbon-emitting energy technologies, at the site of the redevelopment project; (2) the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the site of the redevelopment project; (3) the installation of a geothermal heat pump system at the site of the redevelopment project; (4) the installation of a stormwater management system at the site of the redevelopment project; (5) the installation of living shorelines at the site of the redevelopment project if the site of the project is located in close proximity to a shoreline; (6) the remediation of a brownfield site located at the site of the redevelopment project; (7) the rehabilitation of an historic property located at the site of the redevelopment project; and (8) the investment in public and community infrastructure, such as parks, roadways, and transit facilities and services.
"Technology startup company" means a for-profit business that has been in operation fewer than seven years at the time that it initially occupies or expands in a qualified business facility and is developing or possesses a proprietary technology or business method of a high technology or life science-related product, process, or service, which proprietary technology or business method the business intends to move to commercialization. The business shall be deemed to have begun operation on the date that the business first hired at least one employee in a full-time position.
"Total project cost" means the costs incurred in connection with the redevelopment project by the developer until the issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy, or upon such other event evidencing project completion as set forth in the incentive grant agreement, for a specific investment or improvement.
"Tourism destination project" means a non-gaming business facility that will be among the most visited privately owned or operated tourism or recreation sites in the State, and which has been determined by the authority to be in an area appropriate for development and in need of economic development incentive assistance, including a non-gaming business within an established Tourism District with a significant impact on the economic viability of that district.
"Transit hub" means an urban transit hub, as defined in section 2 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-208), that is located within an eligible municipality, as defined in section 2 of P.L.2007, c.346 (C.34:1B-208) and also located within a qualified incentive area.
"Transit hub municipality" means a Transit Village or a municipality: a. which qualifies for State aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.), or which has continued to be a qualified municipality thereunder pursuant to P.L.2007, c.111; and b. in which 30 percent or more of the value of real property was exempt from local property taxation during tax year 2006. The percentage of exempt property shall be calculated by dividing the total exempt value by the sum of the net valuation which is taxable and that which is tax exempt.
"Transit Village" means a municipality that has been designated as a transit village by the Commissioner of Transportation and the Transit Village Task Force established pursuant to P.L.1985, c.398 (C.27:1A-5).
(cf: P.L.2021, c.160, s.22)
2. Section 58 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-326) is amended to read as follows:
58. a. Prior to March 1, 2027, for redevelopment projects eligible pursuant to section 57 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-325) for which a developer is seeking an incentive award for the redevelopment project, the developer shall submit an application to the authority and, in the case of a residential project, shall submit an application to the authority and the agency, in a form and manner prescribed in regulations adopted by the authority, in consultation with the agency, pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The authority shall accept applications for incentive awards during the grant periods established pursuant to section 59 of P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-327).
b. The authority shall not consider an application for a commercial project unless the developer submits a letter evidencing support for the commercial project from the governing body of the municipality in which the commercial project is located with the application.
c. (1) The authority shall review the project cost, evaluate and validate the project financing gap estimated by the developer, and conduct a State fiscal impact analysis to ensure that the overall public assistance provided to the project will result in a net positive benefit to the State, provided that the net benefit analysis shall not apply to capital investment for a food delivery source; a health care or health services center with a minimum of 10,000 square feet of space devoted to health care or health services that is located in a municipality with a Municipal Revitalization Index distress score of at least 50 lacking adequate access, as determined by the Commissioner of Health; [or] a residential project; or a project that has a total project cost of at least $17,000,000, including at least $3,400,000 in total sustainability and resiliency costs and not less than $1,000 for each of the sustainability and resiliency costs, as applicable, enumerated in the definition for "sustainability and resiliency costs" pursuant to section 55 of P.L. P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-323). In determining whether a project will result in a net positive benefit to the State, the authority shall not consider the value of any taxes exempted, abated, rebated, or retained under the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law," P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.), the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," P.L.1991, c.431 (C.40A:20-1 et al.), the "New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones Act," P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-60 et seq.), or any other law that has the effect of lowering or eliminating the developer's State or local tax liability. The determination made pursuant to this [subsection] paragraph shall be based on the potential tax liability of the developer without regard for potential tax losses if the developer were to locate in another state. The authority shall assess the cost of these reviews to the applicant. A developer shall pay to the authority the full amount of the direct costs of an analysis concerning the developer's application for a tax credit that a third party retained by the authority performs, if the authority deems such retention to be necessary. The authority shall evaluate the net economic benefits on a present value basis under which the requested tax credit allocation amount is discounted to present value at the same discount rate as the projected benefits from the implementation of the proposed redevelopment project for which an award of tax credits is being sought.
(2) For a redevelopment project that has a total project cost of at least $17,000,000, including at least $3,400,000 in total sustainability and resiliency costs and not less than $1,000 for each of the sustainability and resiliency costs, as applicable, enumerated in the definition for "sustainability and resiliency costs" pursuant to section 55 of P.L. P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-323), the authority shall review the project cost, evaluate and validate the project financing gap estimated by the developer, and conduct a State fiscal impact analysis to ensure that the overall public assistance provided to the project will result in a net neutral benefit to the State. In determining whether a project will result in a net neutral benefit to the State, the authority shall not consider the value of any taxes exempted, abated, rebated, or retained under the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law," P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.), the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," P.L.1991, c.431 (C.40A:20-1 et al.), the "New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones Act," P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-60 et seq.), or any other law that has the effect of lowering or eliminating the developer's State or local tax liability. The determination made pursuant to this paragraph shall be based on the potential tax liability of the developer without regard for potential tax losses if the developer were to locate in another state. The authority shall assess the cost of these reviews to the applicant. A developer shall pay to the authority the full amount of the direct costs of an analysis concerning the developer's application for a tax credit that a third party retained by the authority performs, if the authority deems such retention to be necessary. The authority shall evaluate the net economic benefits on a present value basis under which the requested tax credit allocation amount is discounted to present value at the same discount rate as the projected benefits from the implementation of the proposed redevelopment project for which an award of tax credits is being sought.
d. (1) For a redevelopment project subject to the requirement of paragraph (1) of subsection c. of this section to be eligible for any tax credits under the program, a developer shall demonstrate to the authority that the award of tax credits will yield a net positive benefit to the State equaling an amount determined by the authority through regulation that exceeds the requested tax credit amount. The developer shall certify, under the penalty of perjury, that all documents submitted, and factual assertions made, to the authority to demonstrate that the award of tax credits will yield a net positive benefit to the State in accordance with this [subsection] paragraph are true and accurate at the time of submission. A redevelopment project located in a government-restricted municipality shall yield a net positive benefit to the State that exceeds the requested tax credit amount, but the net benefit requirement set by the authority for such redevelopment projects may be up to 35 percentage points lower than the net benefit requirement set by the authority for all other eligible redevelopment projects.
(2) For a redevelopment project subject to the requirement of paragraph (2) of subsection c. of this section to be eligible for any tax credits under the program, a developer shall demonstrate to the authority that the award of tax credits will yield a net neutral benefit to the State equaling an amount not less than the requested tax credit amount. The developer shall certify, under the penalty of perjury, that all documents submitted, and factual assertions made, to the authority to demonstrate that the award of tax credits will yield a net neutral benefit to the State in accordance with this paragraph are true and accurate at the time of submission.
e. If at any time during the eligibility period the authority determines that the developer made a material misrepresentation on the developer's application, the developer shall forfeit the incentive award.
f. If circumstances require a developer to amend its application to the authority, then the developer, or an authorized agent of the developer, shall certify to the authority that the information provided in its amended application is true under the penalty of perjury.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.160, s.24)
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to applications submitted on and after the effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill revises certain eligibility requirements under the New Jersey Aspire Program, which was established by the "New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020," P.L.2020, c.156. The program provides tax credits to encourage redevelopment programs by covering certain project financing gap costs.
Under current law, for applications submitted under the program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is required to review the project cost of the redevelopment project, evaluate and validate the project financing gap estimated by the developer, and conduct a State fiscal impact analysis to ensure that the overall public assistance provided to the project will result in a net positive benefit to the State, provided that the net benefit analysis does not apply to certain projects. The bill revises these criteria to require the authority to apply a net neutral benefit analysis for projects that have a total project cost of at least $17 million, including at least $3.4 million in total sustainability and resiliency costs and not less than $1,000 for each of the sustainability and resiliency costs, as applicable, enumerated in the definition for "sustainability and resiliency costs" under the bill.
