§ 695. State development companies
(a)
Congressional finding and declaration of purpose
The Congress hereby finds and declares that the purpose of this subchapter is to foster economic development and to create or preserve job opportunities in both urban and rural areas by providing long-term financing for small business concerns through the development company program authorized by this subchapter.
(b)
Loans; obligations of development companies
The Administration is authorized to make loans to State development companies to assist in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. Any funds advanced under this subsection shall be in exchange for obligations of the development company which bear interest at such rate, and contain such other terms, as the Administration may fix, and funds may be so advanced without regard to the use and investment by the development company of funds secured by it from other sources.
(c)
Maximum loans to development companies
The total amount of obligations purchased and outstanding at any one time by the Administration under this section from any one State development company shall not exceed the total amount borrowed by it from all other sources. Funds advanced to a State development company under this section shall be treated on an equal basis with those funds borrowed by such company after August 21, 1958, regardless of source, which have the highest priority, except when this requirement is waived by the Administrator.
(d)
Eligibility for assistance
In order to qualify for assistance under this subchapter, the development company must demonstrate that the project to be funded is directed toward at least one of the following economic development objectives—
(1)
the creation of job opportunities within two years of the completion of the project or the preservation or retention of jobs attributable to the project;
(2)
improving the economy of the locality, such as stimulating other business development in the community, bringing new income into the area, or assisting the community in diversifying and stabilizing its economy; or
(3)
the achievement of one or more of the following public policy goals:
(E)
expansion of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, as defined in section
632
(q) of this title, especially service-disabled veterans, as defined in such section
632
(q) of this title,
(F)
enhanced economic competition, including the advancement of technology, plan retooling, conversion to robotics, or competition with imports,
(H)
business restructuring arising from Federally mandated standards or policies affecting the environment or the safety and health of employees,
(J)
increased use of sustainable design, including designs that reduce the use of greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels, or low-impact design to produce buildings that reduce the use of non-renewable resources and minimize environmental impact, or
(K)
plant, equipment and process upgrades of renewable energy sources such as the small-scale production of energy for individual buildings or communities consumption, commonly known as micropower, or renewable fuels producers including biodiesel and ethanol producers.
In subparagraphs (J) and (K), terms have the meanings given those terms under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard for green building certification, as determined by the Administrator.
If eligibility is based upon the criteria set forth in paragraph (2) or (3), the project need not meet the job creation or job preservation criteria developed by the Administration if the overall portfolio of the development company meets or exceeds such job creation or retention criteria.
(e)
Creation or retention of jobs
(1)
A project meets the objective set forth in subsection (d)(1) of this section if the project creates or retains one job for every $65,000 guaranteed by the Administration, except that the amount is $100,000 in the case of a project of a small manufacturer.
(2)
Paragraph (1) does not apply to a project for which eligibility is based on the objectives set forth in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (d) of this section, if the development company’s portfolio of outstanding debentures creates or retains one job for every $65,000 guaranteed by the Administration.
(3)
For projects in Alaska, Hawaii, State-designated enterprise zones, empowerment zones and enterprise communities, labor surplus areas, as determined by the Secretary of Labor, and for other areas designated by the Administrator, the development company’s portfolio may average not more than $75,000 per job created or retained.
(4)
Loans for projects of small manufacturers shall be excluded from calculations under paragraph (2) or (3).
(5)
Under regulations prescribed by the Administrator, the Administrator may waive, on a case-by-case basis or by regulation, any requirement of this subsection (other than paragraph (4)). With respect to any waiver the Administrator is prohibited from adopting a dollar amount that is lower than the amounts set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).