Survey of Local Community/Economic Devlelopment Agency Officials


NewMarketsTaxCredit(NMTC)ProgramEvaluation

SurveyofLocalCommunity/EconomicDevelopmentAgencyOfficials
11/25/09
TheCommunityDevelopmentFinancialInstitutions(CDFI)FundoftheU.S.Department
oftheTreasuryhascontractedwiththeUrbanInstitute,anonprofitresearch
organizationbasedinWashingtonDC,tostudyfederalgovernmenteconomic
developmentinitiativestargetedtolowincomeareas.Aspartofthiseffort,theUrban
InstitutecommissionedSilberandAssociatestosurveyasmallsampleofcommunity
andeconomicdevelopmentofficialsacrossthecountry.Youragencyororganization
wasselectedtoparticipateinthesurvey.
TheSurvey.Thesurveyincludesgeneralquestionsaboutyourcommunity’suseof
federalgovernmentprogramsforeconomicdevelopmentpurposes.Itshouldonlytake
between10and15minutestocomplete.
Yourparticipation.Yourparticipationinthesurveyisvoluntarybutveryimportantand
muchappreciated.ItwillhelptheCDFIfundbetterunderstandcommunityuseof
federaleconomicdevelopmentprograms.Ifyoudonotbelieveyouarethebestperson
torespondtothequestions,pleaseinformXX(emailandphone)atSilberAssociates.
Guaranteeofconfidentiality.Beassuredthatwewillfollowstrictrulestoprotectyour
confidentiality.Theinformationyouprovidewillbecombinedwithinformationwe
receivefromallotherswhoaresurveyed,andneitheryourname,yourorganization’s
name,oryourcommunity’snamewillbepassedalongtotheCDFIFundorothers,or
citedorreportedinanyway.
Questionsorconcerns.Ifyouhavetechnicalorotherdifficultiesinrespondingtothis
survey,pleasecontactDr.BohneSilberatSilberandAssociates,xxx.Also,youmay
contactNancyPindus(npindus@urban.org;2022615523orMartinAbravanel
mabravanel@urban.org;2022615834)attheUrbanInstituteifyouhavegeneral
questionsaboutthissurveyorconcernsaboutyouroryouragency’s/organization’s
inclusion.
Thankyouverymuchforyourtimeandcooperation.

ThissurveyhasbeenapprovedbytheOfficeofManagementandBudget,asrequiredbythePaperworkReductionActof
1995,underOMBcontrolnumberXXXXXXXX,whichexpiresonXX/XX/XXXX.Thetimetocompletethisinformation
collectionisestimatedtobe15minutes,includingthetimetoreviewinstructions,searchexistingdataresources,gather
theneededdata,andcompletethesurvey.Ifyouhaveanycommentsconcerningtheaccuracyofthetimeestimateor
suggestionsforimprovingthisform,pleasewritetoU.S.DepartmentoftheTreasury,CommunityDevelopmentFinancial
InstitutionsFund,XXXXXXXXX,Washington,DCXXXXX.

CD/EC Officials Survey

Pleasechecktheappropriateboxforeachquestion.

Communityandeconomicdevelopmentaimstoimproveresidentsocialandeconomic
wellbeingandqualityoflife,revitalizeandsustainneighborhoodandcommunity
assets,andpromotecommunityviabilityby,amongothermeans,upgradingthe
environs,creatingorretainingjobs,supportingthetaxbase,andencouragingcitizen
empowermentandparticipation.

1. Doesyourjurisdictioncurrentlyhaveaformalcommunityoreconomic
developmentcomprehensive/strategicplan—eitherpreparedbyagovernment
agency,anindependententity,orboth?

Yes,solelypreparedbylocalgovernment
Yes,solelypreparedbyanindependententityorprivategroup
Yes,preparedjointlybylocalgovernmentandindependententity/private
group
Yes,preparedbysomeotherentity(specify)
Noformalcomprehensive/strategicplan
Don’tknow

2. (Ifyouanswered“Yes”toQuestion1):Howimportantorunimportantwouldyou
sayyourjurisdiction’scommunityoreconomicdevelopmentcomprehensive/
strategicplaniswhenitcomestodecidingsuchthingsaswhichcommunityor
economicdevelopmentactivitiestopursue,wheretopursuethem,etc.?

Itisessential
Itisveryimportantbutnotessential
Itissomewhatimportant
Itisnotveryimportant
Don’tKnow
Didnotanswer“Yes”toQuestion1

2

CD/EC Officials Survey



Theremainingquestionsfocusmorespecificallyoneconomicdevelopment—generally
definedaspublicorprivatesectoractivitiesintendedtoattract,retainorexpand
industrial,commercialorserviceenterprisesinalocation,encouragegrowth,andcreate
orretainjobs.

3. Sincetheyear2000,hasyourjurisdictionobtainedanyfundsfromFederal
governmentprogramsourcestoprovideeconomicdevelopmentassistancefor
variousactivities—includingactivitiesrunbygovernmentagenciesorprivate
businessesororganizations?PleaseconsiderfundsthatwentfromtheFederal
governmenttoeitherlocalgovernmentordirectlytobusinessesor
organizations.

Yes
No
DON’TKNOW


4. Sincetheyear2000,hasyourjurisdiction
obtainedanyfundsfromStategovernment
programsources—includingrevenueor
developmentbonds—toprovideeconomic
developmentassistanceforvariousactivities
undertakeneitherbylocalgovernmentagencies
orprivatebusinessesororganizations.Please
considerfundsthatwenttoeitherlocal
governmentordirectlytobusinessesor
organizations.
Don’t

Yes
No
Know
a.Governmentagencies



b.Privatebusinessesororganizations

5. Sincetheyear2000,hasyourjurisdictionprovidedanyeconomicdevelopment
fundsforvariousactivitiesusinglocalgovernmentrevenuesorrevenuebond
financingthatdidnotoriginatewithFederalorStategovernmentprograms?

Yes
No
DON’TKNOW


3

CD/EC Officials Survey


6. Sincetheyear2000,hasyourjurisdictionprovidedanyothertypeofsupportfor
economicdevelopmentpurposes—suchastaxabatements,concessions,
infrastructuresupport,etc.?

Yes,alotofsuchsupport
Yes,somesuchsupport
No
DON’TKNOW


7. Tothebestofyourknowledge,sincetheyear2000haveanyof
thegovernmentprogramslistedbelowbeenusedspecificallyfor
economicdevelopmentpurposesinyourjurisdiction?

a. TheCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)program

b. HUD’sSection108LoanGuarantee,EconomicDevelopment
Initiative(EDI),orBrownfieldsEconomicDevelopment
Initiative(BEDI)programs

c. HUD’sHOMEInvestmentPartnershiporHOPEVIprograms

d. TheEmpowermentZone/EnterpriseCommunities,
NeighborhoodRevitalizationZone,HUBzone,Renewal
Communities,orGulfOpportunityZoneprograms

e. TheEconomicDevelopmentAdministration’s(EDA’s)grantor
RevolvingLoanFundprograms

f. TheRehabilitation(orHistoric)TaxCreditprogram

g. TheNewMarketsTaxCreditProgram

h. SBA’sloanguaranteeorinvestmentprograms

i. USDA’sloanandgrantprograms

j. Other.Pleasespecify:     

k.Other.Pleasespecify:    

4

No

Don’t
know




































































Yes




CD/EC Officials Survey

8. [Ifyouanswered“Yes”toanyoftheprogramsinQuestion7]:Have
anyofthesegovernmentprogramsbeenusedforthefollowingkinds
ofactivitiesinyourjurisdiction?

Yes

a.
Loanstoorinvestmentsinbusinesses


b. Developmentorimprovementofpublicinfrastructurerelated
toretail,commercialorindustrialareas


c.
Developmentofpubliclyownedfacilities—suchasconvention
centers,libraries,etc.


d. Façadeimprovementorbeautificationprograms


e. Developmentorrehabilitationofcommunity,publicor
nonprofitfacilities—includingforcultural,educational,orsocial

serviceprovisionpurposes

f.
Developmentorrehabilitationofaffordablehousingorhousing
relatedfacilities


g.
Provisionoftechnicalassistanceandtrainingforbusiness

owners

h. Provisionofjobtrainingandotherworkforcedevelopment
activities


i. Other.Pleasespecify:     


5

Don’t
know


No

































CD/EC Officials Survey


9. [Ifyouanswered“Yes”toQuestion8a.(any
governmentprogramshavebeenusedforloanstoor
investmentsinbusinessesinyourjurisdiction]:Have
suchloansorinvestmentsinvolved:

a.
Microenterprises—whichgenerallyhavefewer
than5employees,oneofwhomistheowner

b. Smallretail,commercialorindustrial
establishments—whichgenerallyhavefewer
than25employees

c.
Largerretail,commercialorindustrial
enterprises


6

Yes


Don’t
know


No



















CD/EC Officials Survey



“Targeting”referstoeffortstodirectsomeoralleconomicdevelopmentactivitiesto
particulartypesof:persons;areasorneighborhoods;orbusinessesorinstitutions.

10. Inyourjurisdictionsincetheyear2000,havetherebeen
anyeconomicdevelopmentprojectsoractivitiesinvolving
governmentprogramsthathavebeenspecificallytargeted
Don’t
forthetypesofpersons,areasorentitieslistedbelow?
Yes
No know




a. Forlowincome,highpovertyneighborhoods?




b. Forcertaintypesofbusinessenterprises—suchasthose
ownedbyminorities,women,disabledveterans,etc.?




c. Forcertaintypesofbusinesses—suchasincubatorsor
startups?




d. Forneighborhoodcommercialareasinneedofretail
revitalization?




e. Forspecificindustrialtypesofbusinesssectors?




f. Forcommercialareas?




g. Forindustrialareas?




h. Forareasinneedofindustrialrevitalization?




i. ForBrownfieldssites?






7

CD/EC Officials Survey




Tothispointwehavebeenaskingaboutgovernmentprogramsrelatedtoeconomic
development.Nowwewouldliketofocusonattractingprivatecapital(loansor
investments)toyourjurisdictionforeconomicdevelopmentpurposes.Byprivate
capitalwemeanloansorinvestmentsfromaforprofitentity—suchasabank,finance
company,orequityinvestor—thatprovidesfundsforitsbusinesspurposes(notbecause
ithasaneconomicdevelopmentmission)withoutapublicsubsidy.

11. Sincetheyear2000butbeforethecurrenteconomicdownturnin2008,would
yousayitwasrelativelyeasyordifficulttoattractprivatecapitalforeconomic
developmentprojectsoractivitiestoyourjurisdiction?

Ithasbeenveryeasy
Ithasbeensomewhateasy
Ithasbeensomewhatdifficult
Ithasbeenverydifficult
DON’TKNOW

12. Sincetheeconomicdownturnin2008,hasitbeenrelativelyeasyordifficultto
attractprivatecapitalforeconomicdevelopmentprojectsoractivitiestoyour
jurisdiction?

Ithasbeenveryeasy
Ithasbeensomewhateasy
Ithasbeensomewhatdifficult
Ithasbeenverydifficult
DON’TKNOW


Tothispointwehavebeenaskingaboutyourentirejurisdiction.Nowwewouldliketo
focusonparticularareasorneighborhoodswithinyourjurisdiction.

13. Sincetheyear2000butbeforethecurrenteconomicdownturnin2008,have
therebeenspecificareasorneighborhoodswithinyourjurisdictionwhereithas
beenespeciallydifficulttoattractprivatecapitalforeconomicdevelopment? 

Yes,therearemanysuchareas
Yes,thereareseveralsuchareas
Yes,thereisoneparticulararea
No
DON’TKNOW

8

CD/EC Officials Survey


14. Areyouawareofanygovernmentprogram(s)thatcanhelptoattractprivate
capitaltoareasorneighborhoodswhereitisespeciallydifficulttoattractprivate
capitalforeconomicdevelopment?

Yes
No
DON’TKNOW

15. [Ifyouanswered“Yes”toQuestion14]:Sincetheyear2000,hasyourjurisdiction
usedanygovernmentprogram(s)toattempttoattractprivatecapitaltosuch
areasorneighborhoods?

Yes
No
DON’TKNOW
Didnotanswer“Yes”toQuestion14


16. AreyoufamiliarwiththeFederalgovernment’sNewMarketsTaxCredit(NMTC)
program?

Yes,Iamveryfamiliarwithit
Yes,Iamsomewhatfamiliarwithit
No,Iamnotfamiliarwithit
IDON’TKNOW

17. DoyouknowofothersinyourjurisdictionwhoarefamiliarwiththeNew
MarketsTaxCredit(NMTC)program?

Yes
No
DON’TKNOW

[Ifyouanswered“No”toQuestion16andQuestion17–thatis,neitheryounor
othersinyourjurisdictionarefamiliarwiththeNewMarketsTaxCreditprogram,
pleaseskiptoQuestion30.]

18. DoyouknowofanyuseoftheNMTCprograminyourjurisdiction?

Yes
No
DON’TKNOW

9

CD/EC Officials Survey


19. [Ifyouanswered“Yes”toQuestion18]:Abouthowmanyprojectsoractivitiesin
yourjurisdictionwouldyousayhaveinvolveduseoftheNewMarketsTaxCredit
program?

One
Two
Three
Four
Fivetoten
Morethanten
DON’TKNOW

20. [Ifyouanswered“Yes”toQuestion19]:Hasyouragency/organization/office,or
haveothereconomicdevelopmentagencies/organizations/officesinyour
jurisdictionbeeninvolvedwithanyuseofNewMarketsTaxCredits?

Yes,definitely
Yes,probably
No
DON’TKNOW

21. [Ifyouansweredto“Yes,definitely”or“Yes,probably”toQuestion20]:How
involvedhasyouragency/organization/office,orotherlocalagencies/
organizations/offices,been?

Veryinvolved
Somewhatinvolved
Notinvolved
DON’TKNOW
Answered“No”or“DON’TKNOW”toQuestion20

10

CD/EC Officials Survey


22. [Ifyouanswered“Veryinvolved”or“Somewhatinvolved”toQuestion21]:Didyour
agency/organization/officeoranyotheragency/organization/officedoanyofthe
followingwithrespecttouseofNewMarketsTaxCreditsinyourjurisdiction?
(Pleaseplacea“—”totheleftofeachthinganagency/organization/officedid.)

 a. We/theyinitiatedordesignedoneormoreproject/activity

 b. We/theyactivelyencouragedand/orfacilitatedoneormore

 c. We/theybroughttogetherkeypartiesforoneormore

 d. We/theyprovideddirectfinancialsupporttooneormore—includingusing
localrevenues,CDBGorotherlocalgovernmentprogramresources

 e. We/theyprovidedothertypesofsupporttooneormore—suchas
infrastructureimprovements,taxabatements,waivers,etc.

 f. We/theywereinvolvedineminentdomainorcondemnationproceedings
relatedtooneormore

 g. We/theyprovidedreferralstootheragencies,organizationsorofficesfor
oneormore

 h. We/theywerenotactivelyinvolvedbut(passively)approvedofoneormore

 i. We/theyopposedoneormore

 j. Other(s).Pleasespecify:




11

CD/EC Officials Survey

23. [Ifyourjurisdictionhasacomprehensive/strategiceconomicorcommunity
developmentplan,asdiscussedinQuestion1]:HasuseofNewMarketsTax
Creditsbeenconsistentorinconsistentwithyourjurisdiction’s
comprehensive/strategiceconomicorcommunitydevelopmentplan?

Veryconsistent
Somewhatconsistent
Itdepends—someusesconsistentandothersinconsistent
Somewhatinconsistent
Veryinconsistent
DON’TKNOW
Wehavenocomprehensive/strategiceconomicorcommunity
developmentplan

24. AreyouinapositiontojudgewhethertheuseofNewMarketsTaxCreditshas
providedanytangiblebenefitstoyourjurisdiction?

Yes
No
DON’TKNOW

25. (Ifyouanswered“Yes”toQuestion24]:HowbeneficialwouldyousayNMTCs
havebeentoyourjurisdiction?

Verybeneficial
Somewhatbeneficial
Notverybeneficial
Itdepends—someuseshavebeenbeneficialandothershavenot
DON’TKNOW
Didnotanswer“Yes”toQuestion24

26. AreyouawareofanynegativeconsequencesassociatedwithuseofNew
MarketsTaxCreditsinyourjurisdiction?

Yes,I’mawareofmanynegativeconsequences
Yes,I’mawareofsomenegativeconsequences
No,I’mnotawareofanynegativeconsequences(skiptoQuestion30)
DON’TKNOW(skiptoQuestion30)


12

CD/EC Officials Survey

27. [Ifyouanswered“Yes”toQuestion26]:Briefly,whatnegativeconsequences
havebeenassociatedwiththeuseofNMTCsinyourjurisdiction?

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________


28. [Ifyouanswered“Yes”toquestion26]:Tothebestof
yourknowledge,haveanyofthefollowingbenefits
occurredasadirectresultofuseofNewMarketsTax
Don’t
Creditsinyourjurisdiction?
Yes
No know




a. Jobswerecreatedorretained




b. Businesseswerestartedorexpanded




c. Infrastructurewasexpandedorimproved




d. Beautificationoccurred




e. Realestatedevelopmentorrehabilitationoccurred




f. Accesstoretailserviceswereexpanded




g. Accesstosocial/humanserviceswasexpanded




h. Communityfacilitiesweredeveloped,expandedor



rehabilitated

i. Serviceswereinitiated,improvedorexpanded




j. Taxrevenueswereincreased




k. Otherbenefitsoccurred.Pleasespecify:







13

CD/EC Officials Survey


29. [Ifyouanswered“Yes:toanyofthebenefitslistedinQuestion28]:Asbestyou
canjudge,wouldthesebenefitslikelyhaveoccurredifNMTCshadnotbeen
used?

Yes,verylikelytohaveoccurredwithoutNMTCs
Yes,somewhatlikelytohaveoccurredwithoutNMTCs
No,unlikelytohaveoccurredwithoutNMTCs
Itdepends.Pleaseexplain:_____________________
______________________________________________
DON’TKNOW
Didnotanswer“Yes”toanyofthebenefitslistedinQuestion28

30. Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyouragency,organizationoroffice?
(Pleasecheckallthatapply.)

Acommunitydevelopment,orcombinedcommunityandeconomic
development,agency/office—partoflocalgovernment
Aseparateeconomicdevelopmentdepartment,agency/office—partof
localgovernment
Anindependent(quasigovernment)economicdevelopmentor
redevelopmentauthority
Aprivate,nonprofitorganizationorconsortium
Aprivate,forprofitbusinessorconsortium
Someothertypeofagency,office,organizationorbusiness(specify)
Other(specify)     

31. Howlonghaveyoubeeninvolvedineconomicorcommunitydevelopmentwork
inyourcurrentjurisdiction?

Lessthan1year
13years
46years
79years
10yearsormore

32. Whatisyourtitle/position:

Agency/organizationDirector
Agency/organizationDeputyDirector
Otheragency/organizationseniorofficial
Otheragency/organizationstaffmember
Other:    

14