52:27D-489i - Certain grant agreements permitted
52:27D-489i Certain grant agreements permitted.
9. a. The authority is authorized to enter into a redevelopment incentive grant agreement with a developer for any redevelopment project located within a qualifying economic redevelopment and growth grant incentive area that does not qualify as such area solely by virtue of being a transit village.
b.The decision whether or not to enter into a redevelopment incentive grant agreement is solely within the discretion of the authority and the State Treasurer, provided that they both agree to enter into an agreement.
c.The Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the State Treasurer shall negotiate the terms and conditions of any redevelopment incentive grant agreement on behalf of the State.
d.The redevelopment incentive grant agreement shall specify the amount of the incentive grant to be awarded the developer, the frequency of payments, and the length of time, which shall not exceed 20 years, during which that reimbursement shall be granted. Except for redevelopment incentive grant agreements with a municipal redeveloper, in no event shall the combined amount of the reimbursements under redevelopment incentive grant agreements with the State or municipality exceed 20 percent of the total cost of the project. For the purposes of calculating the total cost of all projects, the cost of infrastructure improvements in the public right-of-way and publicly owned facilities shall not be included. The amount of the redevelopment incentive grant for a municipal redeveloper may include the total cost of such infrastructure improvements and publicly owned facilities.
e.The authority and the State Treasurer may enter into a redevelopment incentive grant agreement only if they make a finding that the State revenues to be realized from the redevelopment project will be in excess of the amount necessary to reimburse the developer for its project financing gap. This finding may be made by an estimation based upon the professional judgment of the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the State Treasurer.
f.In deciding whether or not to recommend entering into a redevelopment incentive grant agreement and in negotiating a redevelopment agreement with a developer, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall consider the following factors:
(1)the economic feasibility of the redevelopment project;
(2)the extent of economic and related social distress in the municipality and the area to be affected by the redevelopment project;
(3)the degree to which the redevelopment project will advance State, regional and local development and planning strategies;
(4)the likelihood that the redevelopment project shall, upon completion, be capable of generating new tax revenue in an amount in excess of the amount necessary to reimburse the developer for project costs incurred as provided in the redevelopment incentive grant agreement;
(5)the relationship of the redevelopment project to a comprehensive local development strategy, including other major projects undertaken within the municipality;
(6)the need of the redevelopment incentive grant agreement to the viability of the redevelopment project; and
(7)the degree to which the redevelopment project enhances and promotes job creation and economic development.
g. (1) A developer that has entered into a redevelopment incentive grant agreement with the authority and the State Treasurer pursuant to this section may, upon notice to and consent of the authority and the State Treasurer, pledge and assign as security or support for any loan or bond, any or all of its right, title and interest in and to such agreements and in the incentive grants payable thereunder, and the right to receive same, along with the rights and remedies provided to the developer under such agreement. Any such assignment shall be an absolute assignment for all purposes, including the federal bankruptcy code.
(2)Any pledge of incentive grants made by the developer shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made and filed in the records of the authority. The incentive grants so pledged and thereafter received by the developer shall immediately be subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the developer irrespective of whether the parties have notice thereof. Neither the redevelopment incentive grant agreement nor any other instrument by which a pledge under this section is created need be filed or recorded except with the authority.
L.2009, c.90, s.9; amended 2010, c.10, s.9.