Top Financial Tools

Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit Program (RITC) 
The Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit Program (RITC) provides owners of "certified historic structures" the opportunity to apply for a federal income tax credit equal to 20% of the rehabilitation cost. Only income-producing properties are eligible to participate in the program and the National Park Service must certify the rehabilitation in order to receive the credit.

State Historic Preservation Tax Incentives 
The Georgia State Income Tax Credit Program for Rehabilitated Historic Property allows eligible participants to apply for a state income tax credit equaling 25% of qualifying rehabilitation expenses capped at $100,000 for personal, residential properties, and $300,000 for income-producing properties. The credit is a dollar for dollar reduction in taxes owed to the State of Georgia and is meant to serve as an incentive to those who own historic properties and wish to complete a rehabilitation.  The Georgia Preferential Property Tax Assessment Program for Rehabilitated Historic Property allows eligible participants to apply for an 8-year property tax assessment freeze. This incentive program is designed to encourage rehabilitation of both residential and commercial historic buildings by freezing property tax assessments for eight and one-half years.

DCA Downtown Development Revolving Loan (DDRLF)
The purpose of the Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund (DD RLF) is to assist cities, counties and development authorities in their efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by providing below-market rate financing to fund capital projects in core historic downtown areas and adjacent historic neighborhoods where DD RLF will spur commercial redevelopment.

A Cities Foundation Revolving Loan Fund (GCFRLF)
Applications are evaluated based on leadership, accountability, long-term sustainability, and potential for private investment. Projects should encourage spin-off development, add jobs, promote downtown housing, or add to the cultural enrichment of the community. Each application must also undergo credit underwriting.  Eligible Projects include real estate acquisition, building rehabilitation, new construction, green space and parks.  Ineligible uses of funds are operating expenses and administration, local revolving loan funds, public infrastructure projects, streetscapes, and facade projects.

Georgia Cities Foundation Green Communities Fund
Made possible through a grant from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA), the Green Communities Fund will provide low interest financing to business and/or property owners for energy efficient and sustainable improvements to their downtown commercial properties. As with the Foundation’s downtown loan program, the Green Communities Fund program will target downtown buildings. These low interest loans will range in loan size from $10,000 to $250,000.

Local Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) 
Local Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) are potential sources of funding for new or expanding businesses in select areas throughout Georgia. The goal of each RLF is the creation of job opportunities, primarily for low- and moderate-income persons. Funds for each RLF are capitalized with a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Employment Incentive Program (EIP) grant that is loaned to a private business or a Redevelopment Fund (RDF) loan(s). As loan repayments are made, the RLF is capitalized by the local government that was the recipient of the initial CDBG EIP or RDF award. RLF loan applications are received and reviewed by the local RLF committee and government that operate the RLF.

Enterprise Zones 
The State Enterprise Zone program intends to improve geographic areas within cities and counties that are suffering from disinvestment, underdevelopment, and economic decline, encouraging private businesses to reinvest and rehabilitate such areas. The Enterprise Zone area must meet at least three of five criteria: 1) Pervasive poverty established using the most current United States decennial census prepared by the U. S. Bureau of Census; 2) Unemployment Rate (average for preceding yr.) at least 10% higher than State or significant job dislocation; 3) Underdevelopment evidenced by lack of building permits, licenses, land disturbance permits, etc. lower than development activity within local body's jurisdiction; 4) General distress and adverse conditions (population decline, health and safety issues etc.); and 5) General Blight evidenced by the inclusion of any portion of the nominated area in an urban redevelopment area.

New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) 
The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program permits taxpayers to receive a credit against Federal income taxes for making qualified equity investments in designated Community Development Entities (CDEs). Substantially all of the qualified equity investment must in turn be used by the CDE to provide investments in low-income communities. The credit provided to the investor totals 39 percent of the cost of the investment and is claimed over a seven-year credit allowance period.