FAQ
If a company’s investment exceeds the amount needed to max out the award, must the company report all investments and have them attested to?
It is recommended. If the company is working toward the $5M threshold to unlock a second $100,000, then the company would need to have reported all expenses with the first application. If the company only reports $2M of a $4M project, it may not go back and report those additional expenses if it makes later investments that would put it over the $5M threshold. In addition, reporting the full QRPI allows DHCD to collect a more accurate picture of how much investment is being leveraged through the grants.
If a company received a CO in 2017, but some of the expenses were incurred in 2016. Are they eligible?
Grants and eligible expenses are based on the year of the Placed-In-Service documents, and not necessarily on the year of the expense. If the expenses incurred in 2016 contributed toward the project that received the CO in 2017, then the expenses may qualify.
If expenses were incurred in 2017, but the CO was issued in 2018, can a company qualify for 2017?
It may qualify, but not for grant year 2017. Applications must be submitted for the GY in which they received their final Placed-In-Service documents. Therefore, the applicant in this example would need to apply for GY 2018.
If a company received a CO in 2017, but received invoices in 2018, do they qualify?
These expenses may still qualify. But the invoice documents should indicate the work was completed prior to the CO date, and the CPA should ensure these expenses meet all other qualifications.
What if a company received two COs on the same property in the same Calendar Year?
Expenses incurred under COs received in the same calendar year can be submitted on the same application. Expenses incurred under COs received in different calendar years may not, and will need to meet the threshold separately. Applications must always be submitted for the calendar year in which the Placed-In-Service documentation is received. Applications and expenses may not carry over into a later grant year.
What if a company received two COs on the different properties in the same calendar year?
Grant caps are based on the property, not the investor. An investor may qualify for a grant for more than one property in the same grant year.
What if a single investor owns multiple properties that are adjacent in a downtown area, and they are operated as separate buildings with separate tenants?
They would be considered separate buildings. Facility status is not only determined by proximity, but also by building use, management, and association.
What if an investor owns two adjacent properties that he is redeveloping into offices for a single company?
This would be considered a single facility, because the buildings are associated by management, use, and proximity. They are effectively being used as a single office facility.
Do parking decks qualify?
Yes, they are commercial.
Do hotels and bed & breakfasts qualify?
Yes, hotels do qualify. B&Bs can qualify so long as they are not in a residential home. If there is a permanent resident/innkeeper at the B&B, contact DHCD to discuss qualification.
Is Form EZ-RPIG-Multiple Owner required if the applicant is an entity that has multiple owners?
Most likely not. This form is required when the subject property is owned by multiple people or entities – not when the applicant (i.e., LLC) is owned by multiple people or entities.
What if a company constructed a new building at an existing facility?
This would be considered an expansion of the facility, not new construction.
What if a company demolished an existing building to rebuild?
This would most likely be considered new construction, unless a usable portion of the demolished building remained on the site.
Are architecture and engineering costs eligible?
These are considered soft costs and therefore are not eligible expenses – even when required by the locality.
How would utilizing Historic Tax Credits impact a company’s qualification?
HTCs are not mutually exclusive with RPIG. They do not impact the investor’s eligibility or otherwise eligible expenses.
Can the contractor on the project complete the third-party inspection?
The contractor on the project is not a third party due to their involvement. The locality will determine who can do the inspections, and it will typically be a Class A or B contractor.
If RPIG is prorated below 100%, can a company reapply to capture what’s remaining below the $100,000 cap?
Caps are based on funds received, not funds requested. Therefore, if the investor received $73,000 in Year 1. They would still be eligible for $27,000 between Years 2-5. However, they would need to re-qualify and meet the threshold with new expenses in Years 2-5.
Will awards be prorated in GY 2017?
DHCD predicts that RPIG awards will be subject to proration during this application cycle, but has no way of predicting the depth of the proration. Proration is based on the total allocation, the number of applications, and the size of the requests.
Is there an e-signature option?
There is no e-signature option for EZ grant applications.
Are hardcopies still required to be mailed in?
Hardcopies with original signatures are still required and should be mailed to the DHCD office. Included with the application should be the RPIG supplemental forms (if applicable), W-9, and the Attestation Report (or JCG Worksheet if exempt).
If you have additional questions, submit them to ezone@dhcd.virginia.gov.
Source: Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development