Backup Documents 03/10/2009 Item #16D 5
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Board of Collier County Commissioners
Donna Fiala
District 1
Frank Halas
District 2
Tom Henning
District 3
Fred W. Coyle
District 4
Jim Coletta
District 5
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-lonyeu-teday 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 farrnworker 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,Protit 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
W. Harmon Turner Building' 3301 East Tamiami Trail' Naples, Florida 34112' 239.252-8097' FAX 239-252.3602
16D5
Services, Inc. has been successful in obtaining a $2,700,000 grant and a
$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,
1?t.,)).,;r.
Don a Fiala
Chairman