NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS

 

Forward Community Investments (FCI) utilizes the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program to provide financing to nonprofit organizations developing community facilities that provide critical services to those areas in Wisconsin that need it most. Since 2014, FCI has been awarded and deployed over $132 million in Qualified Low-Income Community Loans to nonprofit partners and local community stakeholders in low-income communities throughout the state. Proceeds from these loans have been used to construct and rehabilitate community facilities and commercial real estate projects that allow program providers and business owners to scale up services, create jobs, and build community assets.

 

The NMTC Program allows FCI to finance high-cost socially impactful projects via low-cost low-interest loans with flexible terms and interest-only payments. Consistent with our mission to support community-led projects that work to address issues of racial inequality and socioeconomic disparities, FCI has invested in childcare facilities, YMCA recreational facilities, community health centers, charter schools, and youth arts and performance centers with our NMTC allocation. More in-depth information about the types of projects FCI uses NMTC allocation to finance can be found here and here.

 

In considering if accessing NMTC financing is right for your project, please consider the following criteria FCI uses when reviewing potential NMTC opportunities:

 

• The project must be located in a qualified census tract as defined by the CDFI Fund. More information about project eligibility can be found here.

• FCI targets real estate projects with total development costs of $5 million or more.

• Special consideration is provided to projects that address issues of racial inequality and socioeconomic disparities in the community where the development is located.

• For borrowers who have not accessed NMTCs previously, engaging a NMTC consultant is strongly encouraged.

 

Due to the competitive nature for NMTC credits, FCI receives far more interest in projects looking to secure subsidy than allocation that is available. If you believe your project is a good fit for receiving NMTC subsidy, please reach out to Rob Beach for more information about the NMTC Program and to complete a project intake form.

 

About NMTC:

The New Markets Tax Credit Program was established by the United States Congress in 2000. The goal of the credit is to stoke private market investment in low-income communities in all 50 states. The flexibility in how the credit can be deployed makes the subsidy attractive to a wide variety of projects and investors and has been responsible for more than $52 billion in direct investment and leveraged more than $100 billion in total capital invested in revitalization projects since its inception. More information about the NMTC Program can be found here.