Agenda 03/10/2009 Item #16D 5
Iter!'! ~~o_ 'j 605
r/i3iCh 10,2009
1of4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves, and authorizes the
Chairman to sign, the attached letter of support for Esperanza Place - Phase One, a forty
eight (48) unit mnlti-family affordablc housing project being developed by Florida Non-
Profit Services, Inc.
OBJECTIVE: That the Board of County Commissioners approves, and authorizes the
Chairman to, sign, the attached letter of support for Espcranza Place - Phase One, a forty eight
(48) unit multi-family affordable housing project being developed by Florida Non-Profit
Services, Inc.
CONSIDERATIONS: In March 2008, wlder Request j~)f Proposal 2007-10, Florida Non-
Profit Services, Inc. was awarded a 55,000,000 grant from Florida Housing Finance
Corporation. The purpose of the grant was to construct a forty eight (48) unit multi-family
affordable housing project in Immokalee. The project is to benefit faml workers eammg
between 50'1<, and 60% local area median income.
Recently, section 47 of special session budget bill SB-002A commanded Florida Housing
Finance Corporation retum to the state treasury 5190,000,000 of "unexpended funds" from any
monies appropriated to the Corporation by June 1,2009, without regard to the year in which the
funding was appropriated.
Florida Housing Financc Corporation must rctum funds for which it had made preliminary
commitments to projects if they are to meet the mandated return of 5190,000,000. As such,
Esperanza Place - Phase One is at risk of having the $5,000,000 award "de-obligated", or
rescinded.
Esperanza Place - Phase One is a "shovel ready" affordable housing project. All requisite
Collier County and Southwest Florida Watcr Management District approvals have been
obtaine(~ as well as additional funding sources to ensure the project is successful.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no general fund dollars associated with this project.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This project is consistent with the Growth
Management Plan.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed and approved by the County
Attorney's Office. This item is not quasi judicial, and as such ex p3l1e disclosure is not
required. This item reqUires majority vote only. This item is legally sufficient for Board
approval. - CMG
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners approves and
authorizes the Chainnan to slgn the attached letter of support for Esperanza Place - Phase One,
a forty eight (48) unit multi-family aff(Jrdable housing project being developed by Florida Non-
Profit Services, Inc.
PREPARED BY: Frank Ramsey, Housing Manager, Housing and Human Services
Ao~':n(]a item r'~o. 1605
- f"iarch '10,2009
PClJe 2 of 4
March 10, 2009
VIA EMAIL AND FIRST CLASS MAIL
Mr. Steve Auger
Executive Director
Florida Housing Finance Corporation
227 North Bronough Street; Ste. 5000
Tallahassee, FL 32301-1329
Re: Esperanza Place
Immokalee, Florida
RFP 2007-10
Dear Mr. Auger:
I write to you today in my role as Chairman of the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners. The members of this Commission were very disappointed to learn of
the Legislature's recent decision to sweep $190,000,000 from the State Housing Trust
Funds which are used to finance affordable housing. We are particularly concerned
about the subject property, since it involves a 501(c)(3) organization which is preparing
to develop farmworker housing in our County.
It is the collective opinion of our Commission that Esperanza Place should be given the
highest priority in your funding allocation for the following reasons:
. Esperanza Place - Phase I is a proposed 48 unit multifamily project for
families of farmworkers earning between 50% - 60% of AMI.
. Esperanza Place will be wholly owned by Florida Non-Profit Services, Inc.,
a 501(c)(3) organization.
. Florida Non-Profit Services, Inc. was the successful applicant for RFP
2007-10. A $5,000,000 award was made by the Board of Florida Housing
Finance Corporation in March 2008.
. As a condition of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation award, Florida
Non-Profit Services, Inc. was required to make application to USDA Rural
Development under their #514/#516 programs. Florida Non-Profit
Services, Inc. has been successful in obtaining a $2,700,000 grant and a
i:SrTi 1\;0. -l6D5
L.'i irch 10. 2009
?age 3 of 4
$300,000, 33 year, 1% loan from USDA. This $3,000,000 in USDA
financing will be lost if Florida Housing Finance Corporation does not
honor its $5,000,000 commitment.
. The Immokalee CRA has approved a grant of $100,000 per year for the
next three (3) years for installation of infrastructure.
. All requisite Collier County and SFWMD approvals have been granted.
. All site, architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing and HVAC plans and
specifications have been completed.
. Esperanza Place is a "shovel ready" project which would generate in
excess of $7,000,000 of income in 2009 for the construction workers and
suppliers of Southwest Florida.
. To date, Florida Non-Profit Services, Inc. has, in good faith, spent, or
committed, $400,000 of borrowed funds to satisfy the funding conditions of
the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and USDA awards. Unless
Esperanza Place is funded by Florida Housing Finance Corporation they
will go bankrupt as there is no alternative source of financing.
Thank you for the opportunity to present our comments.
Very truly yours,
Donna Fiala
Chairman
Page I of I
item :\)0 <__ 5
1\'Larch Hl 2C,n9
P2ge 4 Of 4
COLLIER COUNTY
SOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number:
Item Summary:
16D5
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approves. and authorizes the
Chairman 10 sign. the attached letter of support for Esperanza Place Phase One, a forty eight
(48) unit multi-family affordable housing project being developed by Florida Non-Profit
Services. Inc.
Meeting Date:
3/10/200990000 AM
A pprovcd By
Marcy Krumbine
Director
Date
Public Services
Housing & Human Services
314/20098:40 AM
Approved B}'
Marla Ramsey
Public Services Administrator
Date
Public Services
Public Services Admin.
3/4i2009 9:11 AM
Approved By
Colleen Greene
Assistant County Attorner
Date
County Attorney
County Attorney Office
3:41200910:50 AM
Approved By
Sherry Pryor
Milnagement & Budget Analyst
Date
County Manager's Office
Office (,f Management & Budget
3i4/2009 11 :53 AM
Approved By
James V. Mudd
County Manager
Date
Board of County
Commissioners
County r-..~ai1ager's Office
3/4/2009,2:00 PM
t~lp"//r.\ 6 n-pn~qTp<c1\P"nrwt\ '')''_?\!f'_,rr,hO/^ ")nl () O/^') n') nnO\ 1 {.. OIn')nrnl\.l~]:,1\.rTOIn')nAn]:,l\.ln A \ 1
1/;l/")nno