Governing Board and Overview Committee
As provided by the Act (O.C.G.A.50-34-3(c))
Article Four
Section 1. Members of Authority
PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY
OneGeorgia Authority
Equity Program – Rural Workforce Housing Initiative
May 3, 2023
Please note that this Preliminary Notice of Funding Availability (“NOFA”) announcement and the availability of the funding described herein is subject to approval of the Amended Equity rules at the fourth quarter or Q4 2023 OneGeorgia Authority Board Meeting.
Pending approval of a necessary rules amendment by the Authority, OneGeorgia aims to launch the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative. Funding will be made available to assist local communities with housing development to address a shortage of housing stock that impacts the workforce economy.
The purpose of this NOFA will be to outline available financial assistance, in the form of grants and loans, for activities that result in housing that meets the needs of working families and others who may consider relocating to a community for employment reasons. Workforce housing funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that demonstrate an ability to address:
This initiative is intended to provide a flexible funding source to support any eligible activity that results in workforce housing. Examples of such activities include essential community infrastructure specifically needed to support new housing development, land acquisition (subject to public ownership requirements), and construction finance for workforce housing.
Grantees will be expected to demonstrate transformational change in workforce housing. OneGeorgia funds are offered to support housing affordability; therefore, resulting cost savings must contribute to the affordability of the per unit purchase price or rent extended to families who ultimately benefit from the activity.
A copy of this NOFA, the Application package, and other related materials will be available on the Department of Community Affairs’ website at the link listed below after clicking on the “Newsroom” tab: https://www.dca.ga.gov/community-economic-development/funding-programs/onegeorgia-authority
A. FUNDS AVAILABLE
The Amended Fiscal Year 2023 Budget includes approximately $35 million for this initiative. This funding will be awarded at regular intervals through an ongoing, competitive grant cycle, subject to funding availability. The amount of funds available may be increased or decreased at the Authority’s discretion.
B. GRANT FUNDING LIMITATIONS
Infrastructure grants are limited to no more than $2,500,000 per application and development. Construction finance is limited to no more than $1,000,000 per applicant and development. The Authority reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications submitted in response to this NOFA. Applications for less than $250,000 will not be accepted; however, the Authority reserves the ability to waive minimum and maximum funding limits at its discretion.
C. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT
Applications are expected to leverage other sources of funding – private debt or equity, philanthropic support, or other public funds. For applicants seeking assistance with infrastructure, there is no prescribed match requirement; however, leverage will factor into an application’s overall competitiveness. For developers seeking assistance with construction finance, the matching requirements are outlined in further detail in Section F.
D. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Units of general-purpose local government (e.g., city, county, consolidated government), as well as local, regional, and state authorities, generally in partnership with a housing developer, are eligible to apply. The OneGeorgia Authority will also consider offering loans to private developers, including not-for-profits and community housing development organizations, to further the objectives of this initiative. Prospective applicants should consult the Authority with questions about eligibility.
Additional eligibility requirements include the following:
E. ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
This initiative is intended to provide flexible funding to support the development of workforce housing. Any OneGeorgia eligible activity will be considered for funding, subject to the following overarching objectives.
F. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
The application process will differ slightly depending on the type of financial assistance requested.
G. APPLICATION DEADLINES AND AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
For infrastructure requests, Initial Project Assessments (IPA) and full Applications must be submitted online. The link to access the IPA and the Application can be found at https://www.dca.ga.gov/community-economic-development/funding-programs/onegeorgia-authority . (Hard copy applications will not be accepted.)
Fiscal Year 2024 submission deadlines are as follows:
For construction financing, Initial Project Assessments (IPA) and Applications will be accepted and awarded on a rolling cycle so long as funds are available. The IPA is the same for construction financing and infrastructure requests.
Successful applicants will receive written notice of award, including all necessary grant or loan documents, requirements, timelines, and other details.
H. TIMEFRAME FOR COMPLETION
OneGeorgia funds must be expended within the timeframe specified in the grant/loan award documentation, which is generally two years from the date of the award. For purposes of the Authority, “completion” is defined as 1) all activities for which funds were received are complete, 2) all awarded funding has been expended, and 3) all award close-out procedures have been finalized.
I. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The OneGeorgia Authority is the administrator of the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative. This initiative is subject to funding availability, and the Authority reserves its right to amend the initiative at any time. Use of funds is subject to all applicable state laws and regulations, as well as to the policies and requirements of the Department of Community Affairs and OneGeorgia Equity program.
For additional information, please contact Gina Webb, OneGeorgia Authority Director, at gina.webb@dca.ga.gov.
Notice is hereby given that the OneGeorgia Authority will accept public comments in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, O.C.G.A. §50-13-1, et seq. The comment period will afford all interested persons reasonable opportunity to provide data, views, or arguments regarding proposed rules for the Equity Fund program (Rules of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Chapter 50-34-1, et seq.).
Any party wishing to provide data, views, or arguments regarding the proposed amended rules in writing may do so by submitting them to: gina.webb@dca.ga.gov. These written comments should be received no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 22, 2023.
Notice is hereby given that at the OneGeorgia Authority Board meeting in June 2023, in the Governor’s Conference Room 107 at the Georgia State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, the Board of the OneGeorgia Authority intends to adopt the amended rules of the Equity Fund program (Rules of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Chapter 110-36-1, et seq.). If adopted by the Board of the OneGeorgia Authority, the proposed rules will become effective on or about July 13, 2023.
The Department’s authority to administer this program is recognized in O.C.G.A. 50-34-1, et seq. A complete copy of these proposed rules is available for public inspection in the Community Development and Finance Division, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 60 Executive Park South, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30329, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., each Monday through Friday (excluding State holidays). A complete copy of the proposed rules can also be obtained by contacting Gina Webb at (404) 387-1429 or by accessing it on the Department’s website at https://www.dca.ga.gov/community-economic-development/funding-programs/onegeorgia-authority.
This 20th day of April 2023.
Christopher Nunn, Commissioner
The OneGeorgia Authority hereby notifies interested applicants of the availability of funds in the Equity and Rural Innovation Programs in the form of grants, loans and any other forms of assistance authorized by (O.C.G.A. 50-34-1 et seq). The Equity Fund is designed as a flexible community and economic development tool which provides funding for projects relating to public water and sewer infrastructure; road, rail and airport improvements; capacity building for industrial/business sites; workforce and tourism. The Rural Innovation Fund is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants when the health, welfare, safety, and economic security of the citizens of the state are promoted through the development or retention of economic and employment opportunities.
In general, OneGeorgia Equity seeks to fund projects which increase capacity and enhance the competiveness of rural Georgia. However, the Equity Fund should not be used for projects when other state or federal programs could be used or when local funds would be sufficient to accomplish community and economic development goals.
In general, OneGeorgia Rural Innovation seeks to fund projects that are innovative in nature or assist existing/new companies locating in rural Georgia that are not eligible for other state or federal grant/loan programs. The Rural Innovation Fund should not be used for projects when other state or federal programs could be used or when local funds would be sufficient to accomplish community and economic development goals.
Due to the specialized nature of the program and the limited resources available, we encourage potential applicants to contact their local Community Services Regional Representative to discuss any projects.
The application procedure for the Equity and Rural Innovation Programs includes an Initial Project Assessment / Pre-application phase and an Application phase. The purpose of the Initial Project Assessment is to provide: A) a determination of a proposed activity or activities eligibility for Equity/Rural Innovation Funds financing; B) a determination on whether the proposed activity or activities and broader project can meet the basic Equity/Rural Innovation Programs thresholds; and C) an opportunity to obtain Pre-Agreement Cost Approval (PACA) from the Authority so that projects may obtain interim financing and proceed with certain identified project activities prior to receipt of an actual Grant or Loan Agreement.
Eligible applicants may submit Initial Project Assessments and/or Applications for consideration at any time. The OneGeorgia Authority strongly encourages potential applicants to contact the Authority or DCA to arrange an Initial Project Assessment review prior to submitting an application. Pre-application is strongly encouraged. Applications under the OneGeorgia Authority Equity and Rural Innovation Fund will be accepted beginning immediately. Online Applications must submitted to DCA by 5:00 PM on the 2nd Friday of January, April, July and October of each year. No applications will be accepted after the specified date and time.
For more information, please email gina.webb@dca.ga.gov.
As provided by the Act (O.C.G.A.50-34-3(c))
Article Four
Section 1. Members of Authority
Central Office
60 Executive Park South, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 679-4840