Chapter 234

234.03(18m)(a)4. 4. Any other activity, relating to research or development or both, to help the business entity develop new products.

234.03(18m)(b) (b) To enter into an agreement with a business in which funds are invested under par. (a). Under that agreement, if the business earns a profit as a result of the investment it shall repay the authority, in the form of a royalty or otherwise, all or part of the amount invested plus interest.

234.03(18m)(c) (c) To give a preference, when investing in a business entity under par. (a), to a business entity engaging in the sale of a product with a demonstrated potential to be marketed outside this state.

234.03(19) (19) To consent, whenever it deems it necessary or desirable in the fulfillment of its corporate purpose, to the modification of any loan, contract or agreement of any kind to which the authority is a party.

234.03(20) (20) To adopt such rules and set such standards as are necessary to effectuate its corporate purpose with respect to financing economic development lending, mortgage lending, construction lending and temporary lending.

234.03(21) (21) To purchase and enter into commitments to purchase all or part of economic development loans and to lend funds to financial institutions agreeing to use the funds immediately to make economic development loans, if the authority determines that a conventional loan is unavailable on reasonably equivalent terms and conditions.

234.03(22) (22) To require and hold collateral to secure economic development loans and to require participating financial institutions to attest to the best of their ability to the value of the collateral.

234.03(23) (23) To establish other terms and conditions of economic development loans, including providing for prepayment penalties and providing for full repayment of principal and interest upon movement out of state of that part of the business operation financed by the economic development programs of the authority.

234.03(25) (25) To require certification from the local unit of government having jurisdiction over the location of an economic development project that the economic development project serves a public purpose and conventional financing is unavailable on reasonably equivalent terms and conditions.

234.03(26) (26) To establish and maintain a program within the authority, or to establish and maintain a corporation organized under ch. 180 or 181, to insure or guarantee economic development loans, collateral or bonds or notes issued under s. 234.65.

234.03(28) (28) To cooperate and enter into agreements with state agencies, partnerships, limited partnerships, and corporations organized under chs. 178 to 181 or limited liability companies organized under ch. 183 to promote economic development activity within this state.

234.03(28m) (28m) To apply for and receive grants from the department of transportation for the purpose of guaranteeing loans to disadvantaged businesses as specified in the disadvantaged business mobilization assistance program under s. 85.25.

234.03(30) (30) To provide administrative services for and use and pay for the use of the facilities and services of any corporation established and maintained by the authority.

234.03(31) (31) To purchase, sell or contribute voting stock or partnership interests from the community development finance company under s. 234.95.

234.03(32) (32) To accept gifts, contributions and grants made to the authority in connection with the community development finance company, as defined in s. 234.94 (3).

234.03 History History: 1971 c. 287; 1973 c. 208, 333; 1975 c. 221; 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 349 ss. 12, 32; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1622e to 1622m, 2202 (20); 1983 a. 81; 1983 a. 83 ss. 7, 8, 22; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 29 ss. 2242, 3200 (28); 1985 a. 334; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1993 a. 16, 112, 437; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 22, 75, 487; 2007 a. 125; 2009 a. 2; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 258.

234.032 234.032 Goals and accountability measures for economic development programs.

234.032(1) (1) In this section, “economic development program” means a program or activity having the primary purpose of encouraging the establishment and growth of business in this state, including the creation and retention of jobs, and that satisfies all of the following:

234.032(1)(a) (a) The program receives funding from the state or federal government that is allocated through an appropriation under ch. 20.

234.032(1)(b) (b) The program provides financial assistance, tax benefits, or direct services to specific industries, businesses, local governments, or organizations.

234.032(2) (2) The authority, in consultation with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, shall do all of the following for each economic development program administered by the authority:

234.032(2)(a) (a) Establish clear and measurable goals for the program that are tied to statutory policy objectives.

234.032(2)(b) (b) Establish at least one quantifiable benchmark for each program goal described in par. (a).

234.032(2)(c) (c) Require that each recipient of a grant or loan under the program submit a report to the authority. Each contract with a recipient of a grant or loan under the program shall specify the frequency and format of the report to be submitted to the authority and the performance measures to be included in the report.

234.032(2)(d) (d) Establish a method for evaluating the projected results of the program with actual outcomes as determined by evaluating the information described in pars. (a) and (b).

234.032(2)(e) (e) Annually and independently verify, from a sample of grants and loans, the accuracy of the information required to be reported under par. (c).

234.032(2)(f) (f) Establish by rule a requirement that the recipient of a grant or loan under the program of at least $100,000 submit to the authority a verified statement signed by both an independent certified public accountant licensed or certified under ch. 442 and the director or principal officer of the recipient to attest to the accuracy of the verified statement, and make available for inspection the documents supporting the verified statement. The authority shall include the requirement established by rule under this paragraph in the contract entered into by a grant or loan recipient.

234.032(2)(g) (g) Establish by rule policies and procedures permitting the authority to do all of the following if a recipient of a grant or loan or tax benefits under the program submits false or misleading information to the board or fails to comply with the terms of a contract entered into with the authority under the program and fails to provide to the satisfaction of the authority an explanation for the noncompliance:

234.032(2)(g)1. 1. Recoup payments made to the recipient.

234.032(2)(g)2. 2. Withhold payments to be made to the recipient.

234.032(2)(g)3. 3. Impose a forfeiture on the recipient.

234.032 History History: 2007 a. 125; 2011 a. 32.

234.034 234.034 Consistency with state housing strategy plan. Subject to agreements with bondholders or noteholders, the authority shall exercise its powers and perform its duties related to housing consistent with the state housing strategy plan under s. 16.302.

234.034 History History: 1981 c. 349; 1983 a. 81, 83; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (14); 1991 a. 39, 189; 2003 a. 33; 2011 a. 32.

234.04 234.04 Loans to eligible sponsors of housing projects and to or for persons and families of low and moderate income.

234.04(1) (1) The authority may make or participate in the making of construction loans to eligible sponsors of housing projects for the construction or rehabilitation of housing for persons and families of low and moderate income. Such loans shall be made only upon the determination by the authority that construction loans are not otherwise available from private lenders upon reasonably equivalent terms and conditions.

234.04(2) (2) The authority may make or participate in the making and enter into commitments for the making of long-term mortgage loans to eligible sponsors of housing projects for occupancy by persons and families of low and moderate income, or for the making of homeownership mortgage loans or housing rehabilitation loans or loans for the refinancing of qualified subprime loans under s. 234.592 to persons and families of low and moderate income, an applicant under s. 234.59 or 234.592, or other eligible beneficiaries as defined in s. 234.49. The loans may be made only upon the determination by the authority that they are not otherwise available from private lenders upon reasonably equivalent terms and conditions. The authority may not make a loan to a person whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the person provides to the authority a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a). The authority may employ, for such compensation as it determines, the services of any financial institution in connection with any loan.

234.04(3) (3) The authority may make or participate in the making and enter into commitments for the making of loans to any banking institution, savings bank, savings and loan association or credit union organized under the laws of this or any other state or of the United States having an office in this state, if the authority first determines that the proceeds of such loans will be utilized for the purpose of making long-term mortgage loans to persons or families of low and moderate income, or for the purpose of providing residential housing for occupancy by persons or families of low and moderate income, or for the purpose of making housing rehabilitation loans.

234.04(4) (4) A loan shall be secured in such manner and be repaid in such a period, not exceeding 50 years, as may be determined by the authority; and shall bear interest at a rate determined by the authority.

234.04 History History: 1971 c. 287; 1975 c. 221; 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 361 s. 113; 1981 c. 349; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27, 359; 1991 a. 221; 1995 a. 404; 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 2.

234.045 234.045 Workforce housing rehabilitation loan program.

234.045(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “eligible rehabilitation” means an improvement to housing to maintain the housing in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition or to restore it to that condition if the improvement is the removal of lead paint, asbestos, mold, or other internal environmental contamination in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations or constitutes a structural improvement, including any of the following:

234.045(1)(a) (a) Repairing or replacing a heating system, electrical system, internal plumbing system, interior wall or ceiling, roof, window, exterior door, or flooring.

234.045(1)(b) (b) Repairing the foundation.

234.045(1)(c) (c) Repairing or replacing insulation or siding.

234.045(2) (2) Workforce housing rehabilitation loans.

234.045(2)(a) (a) From the housing rehabilitation loan fund, the authority may make a loan to a person applying for the loan to pay for the cost of eligible rehabilitation to the applicant’s home if all of the following apply:

234.045(2)(a)1. 1. The applicant’s household annual income does not exceed 120 percent of the area median family income for the county in which the housing is located, adjusted for family size, as published annually by the federal department of housing and urban development.

234.045(2)(a)2. 2. The applicant’s home is a single-family residence that the applicant occupies as the applicant’s primary residence and that was constructed at least 40 years prior to the date of the applicant’s loan application.

234.045(2)(a)3. 3. The applicant agrees to the terms of the loan, including a requirement to repay the loan by making monthly principal and interest payments so that the loan, including all interest, is fully repaid within the loan term established under subd. 4., a requirement to repay the loan, including all interest, upon the applicant selling or otherwise transferring title to the residence to another person, and all other terms established by the authority.

234.045(2)(a)4. 4. The loan term does not exceed 15 years.

234.045(2)(a)5. 5. The amount of the loan does not exceed $50,000 or 100 percent of the appraised value of the residence after completion of the eligible rehabilitation, whichever is less.

234.045(2)(a)6. 6. The applicant does not have another loan under this section pending with the authority at the time of application.

234.045(2)(a)7. 7. The applicant’s home has not been the subject of a claim for a state or federal historic rehabilitation tax credit, as determined by the authority.

234.045(2)(a)8. 8. The applicant’s home has not received financial assistance from tax increments generated by an active tax incremental district.

234.045(2)(b) (b) The authority may establish an interest rate for any loan made under par. (a) at or below the market interest rate or may charge no interest.

234.045(2)(c) (c) If a loan recipient’s home contains lead paint, asbestos, or mold, the authority’s loan agreement with the recipient shall require the recipient to remediate the hazardous material or condition as required by and in accordance with local, state, and federal laws or regulations.

234.045(3) (3) Policies and procedures. The authority shall establish policies and procedures to administer the housing rehabilitation loan fund and the program under this section. The policies and procedures shall, to the extent practicable, do all of the following:

234.045(3)(a) (a) Incorporate the authority’s policies and procedures for establishing credit underwriting guidelines.

234.045(3)(b) (b) Establish loan repayment requirements.

234.045 History History: 2021 a. 221; 2023 a. 17.

234.05 234.05 Housing development fund; establishment; payments into fund.

234.05(1) (1) There is established under the jurisdiction and control of the authority a revolving fund to be known as the “housing development fund”.

234.05(2) (2) There shall be paid into the housing development fund:

234.05(2)(a) (a) Any moneys which the authority receives as interest on or in repayment of temporary loans made from the housing development fund;

234.05(2)(b) (b) Any moneys transferred by the authority to the housing development fund from other funds or sources; and

234.05(2)(c) (c) Any other moneys which may be made available to the authority for the purpose of the housing development fund from any other source.

234.05 History History: 1971 c. 287.

234.06 234.06 Use of moneys held in housing development fund; temporary loans; grants.

234.06(1) (1) The authority may, as authorized in the state housing strategy plan under s. 16.302, use the moneys held in the housing development fund to make temporary loans to eligible sponsors, with or without interest, and with such security for repayment, if any, as the authority determines reasonably necessary and practicable, solely from the housing development fund, to defray development costs for the construction of proposed housing projects for occupancy by persons and families of low and moderate income. No temporary loan may be made unless the authority may reasonably anticipate that satisfactory financing may be obtained by the eligible sponsor for the permanent financing of the housing project.

234.06(2) (2) The proceeds of the temporary loan may be used only to defray the development costs of the housing project. Each temporary loan shall be repaid in full by the eligible sponsor to the authority concurrent with the receipt by the eligible sponsor of the proceeds of the permanent financing.

234.06(3) (3) The authority may, as authorized in the state housing strategy plan under s. 16.302, use the moneys held in the housing development fund to establish and administer programs of grants to counties, municipalities, and eligible sponsors of housing projects for persons of low and moderate income, to pay organizational expenses, administrative costs, social services, technical services, training expenses, or costs incurred or expected to be incurred by counties, municipalities, or sponsors for land and building acquisition, construction, improvements, renewal, rehabilitation, relocation, or conservation under a plan to provide housing or related facilities, if the costs are not reimbursable from other private or public loan, grant, or mortgage sources.

234.06 History History: 1971 c. 287; 1981 c. 349; 1985 a. 29 ss. 2118, 3202 (14); 1991 a. 39; 2003 a. 33; 2011 a. 32.

234.07 234.07 Limited-profit entity; distributions.

234.07(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), a limited-profit entity which receives loans from the authority may not make distributions, other than from funds contributed to the limited-profit entity by stockholders, partners, members or holders of beneficial interest in the limited-profit entity, in any one year with respect to a project financed by the authority in excess of 6 percent of its equity in such project on a cumulative basis. The equity in a project shall consist of the difference between the amount of the mortgage loan and the total project cost. Total project cost shall include construction or rehabilitation costs including job overhead and a builder’s and sponsor’s profit and risk fee, architectural, engineering, legal and accounting costs, organizational expenses, land value, interest and financing charges paid during construction, the cost of landscaping and off-site improvements, whether or not such costs have been paid in cash or in a form other than cash. With respect to every project the authority shall, pursuant to rules adopted by it, establish the entity’s equity at the time of making of the final mortgage advance and, for purposes of this section, that figure shall remain constant during the life of the authority’s loan with respect to such project. Upon the dissolution of the limited-profit entity any surplus in excess of the distributions allowed by this section shall be paid to the authority. For this purpose surplus shall not be deemed to include any increase in net worth of any limited-profit entity by reason of a reduction of mortgage indebtedness, by amortization or similar payments or by reason of the sale or disposition of any assets of a limited-profit entity to the extent such surplus can be attributed to any increase in market value of any real or tangible personal property accruing during the period the assets were owned and held by the limited-profit entity.

234.07(2) (2) If a limited-profit entity agrees to provide housing for low-income and moderate-income persons until the end of the maximum term of a mortgage that the limited-profit entity gives the authority, a limited-profit entity that receives a loan from the authority may not make distributions, other than from funds contributed to the limited-profit entity by stockholders, partners, members or holders of a beneficial interest in the limited-profit entity, in any one year with respect to a project financed by the authority in excess of 12 percent of its equity in the project on a cumulative basis.

234.07 History History: 1971 c. 287; 1989 a. 346.

234.07 Annotation “Limited-profit entity” has meaning only with reference to WHEDA’s loan to it. The entity terminates when the loan is satisfied and nothing remains to be done except to dispose of what remains in the hands of the entity, the surplus in excess of allowed distributions under sub. (1), which must be returned to WHEDA. WHEDA v. Bay Shore Apartments, 200 Wis. 2d 129, 546 N.W.2d 480 (Ct. App. 1996), 93-1825.

234.07 Annotation The determination of the mortgagor’s equity under sub. (1) is set at closing and may not be changed subsequently if additional costs to the owner are discovered. The limitation of distributions beyond 6 percent of equity prevents distribution of interest on escrowed funds where the limit would be exceeded. Messner Manor Associates v. WHEDA, 204 Wis. 2d 492, 555 N.W.2d 156 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-2642.

234.08 234.08 Notes and bonds; issuance; status.

234.08(1) (1) The authority may issue its negotiable notes and bonds in such principal amount, as, in the opinion of the authority, is necessary to provide sufficient funds for achieving its corporate purposes, including the purchase of certain mortgages and securities and the making of secured loans for low- and moderate-income housing, for the rehabilitation of existing structures and for the construction of facilities appurtenant thereto as provided in this chapter; for the making of secured loans to assist eligible elderly homeowners in paying property taxes and special assessments; for the payment of interest on notes and bonds of the authority during construction; for the establishment of reserves to secure such notes and bonds; for the provision of moneys for the housing development fund in order to make temporary loans to sponsors of housing projects as provided in this chapter; and for all other expenditures of the authority incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes and powers.

234.08(2) (2) The authority may issue renewal notes, issue bonds to pay notes and whenever it deems refunding expedient, refund any bonds by the issuance of new bonds, whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured, and issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other purpose. The refunding bonds shall be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption or payment of the bonds to be refunded.

234.08(3) (3) Except as may otherwise be expressly provided by the authority, every issue of its notes or bonds shall be general obligations of the authority payable out of any revenues or moneys of the authority, subject only to any agreements with the holders of particular notes or bonds pledging any particular receipts or revenues.

234.08(4) (4) All notes or bonds shall be negotiable investment securities under ch. 408.

234.08(5) (5) This section does not supersede or impair the power of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to carry out its program responsibilities relating to economic development which are funded by bonds or notes issued under this section.

234.08(6) (6) The authority may reimburse the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation its operating costs to carry out its program responsibilities relating to economic development which are funded by bonds or notes issued under this section.

234.08(7) (7) The authority may, by resolution before issuance, declare any issue of its bonds or notes to be subject to federal income taxation.

234.08 History History: 1971 c. 287; 1981 c. 349; 1983 a. 81, 83; 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 2005 a. 487; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32.

234.09 234.09 Same; authorization; terms. The notes and bonds shall be authorized by resolution of the members of the authority; shall bear such date or dates, and shall mature at such time or times, in the case of any note, or any renewal thereof, not exceeding 5 years, from the date of issue of such original note, and in the case of any bond not exceeding 50 years from the date of issue, as the resolution provides. The notes and bonds shall bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denominations of $1,000 or more, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place and be subject to such terms of redemption as the resolution provides. The bonds may be issued as serial bonds payable in annual installments or as term bonds or as a combination thereof. The notes and bonds of the authority may be sold by the authority, at public or private sale, at the price determined by the authority.