COSCDA Program Managers Training Conference 2015

RSA 162-L Created in 1983, the Community Development Finance Authority (“CDFA”) supports affordable housing and economic development activities that benefit low-and moderate-income citizens in New Hampshire (*) CDFA was created by NH legislature as a body corporate and politic and as a nonprofit corporation. We’re charged with encouraging affordable housing, economic development, and job creation/retention. And we work with and provide funding to community development organizations: nonprofits, cooperatives, certain municipal entities. CDFA was established by legislation (RSA 162-L) in 1983 to address issues of affordable housing and economic opportunity for low and moderate income New Hampshire residents.

CDFA Programs TAX CREDIT PROGRAM Also known as the Community Development Investment Program (CDIP) the Tax Credit Program brings together worthy nonprofit projects and conscientious businesses to foster community development by giving a 75% state business tax credit against a donation made to any approved project. Annual Tax Credit Authority of $5 Million.

CDFA brings worthy nonprofit projects and conscientious businesses together to foster community development. CDFA made 15 awards in FY 14 This was the only major program that CDFA ran until 2003 when -----

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CDFA Programs COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CDBG has Housing and Public Facilities , Economic Development, Microcredit, Planning and Emergency components.

2014 Allocation $8 million CDBG Application Workshop – December 4, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM CDFA Programs NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM 25 Million Dollars – Closed out  

ENTERPRISE ENERGY FUND MUNICIPAL ENERGY REDUCTION FUND CDFA Programs BETTER BUILDINGS ENTERPRISE ENERGY FUND MUNICIPAL ENERGY REDUCTION FUND Better Buildings – 3 year demonstration ARRA funded energy efficiency improvements for homes and businesses in targeted communities (completed) Enterprise Energy Fund (EEF) – $3.5 Million – Revolving Loan Fund – for Business and non-profits Municipal Energy Reduction Fund (MERF) – 1.5 Million RLF for Municipalities

Challenges Small Staff Program personnel cross train and work on multiple programs CDBG administration is easily most staff intensive of all CDFA programs Much of the technical and administrative support for CDBG was lost in the move to CDFA in 2003 CDFA programs had complementary goals vastly different administrative systems and procedures * Merger left small staff for all of these programs and each had different processes. Staff cross trains no try not to silo too much Currently at 13 for all programs includes all back office staff as well. * Our goal has been to as much as possible merge processes, procedures, funding where possible – no silos * A lot of institutional memory was lost over time after the merger * The progran

Challenges CDBG was the largest challenge CDBG tracking system was severely out of date As of 2008 CDBG was still using a DOS based Foxpro database to track basic information for CDBG System crashes, loss of personnel familiar with the system, and no IT staff making system unusable CDFA was drowning in paper for applications, claims, contracts, monitoring, correspondence with insufficient storage capacity CDBG largest challenge – takes up most administrative time State archives was destroying stored project files before long term benefit was achieved

Solutions Fix the current DOS based system Replace current database with a new one Team formed to research options While researching other states we found there were “off the shelf” customizable web based Grants Management Systems that could replace our current database and address other administrative challenges we were experiencing Couldn’t find anyone that could fix our existing database So we decided to research options to develop a new database Staff team was formed Research looked at other states including MA, VT, Utah Ultimately considered Agate and Dulles

Grants Management System GMS is a more efficient way to manage grants and streamline processes that benefit internal, and external users Reduce use of paper and need for storage Increase staff productivity and accuracy Reduce redundant activities Generate customized reports Advantages if using GMS

Grants Management System CDFA Uses Contact lists – people and organizations Grant applications Resource links Application Scoring Document storage Monitoring Correspondence Status Reports Auto generated notifications Annotations Can access from anywhere How CDFA uses GMS.

CDFA Grants Management System CDFA Web Grants CDFA Grants Management System For More Information: Lori Wamser 603-717-9119 lwamser@nhcdfa.org

Questions Problems – can’t link to IDIS or our financial system. Saved about 2 FTE’s Cost 75,000 - $1,200 per month. CDBG Application Workshop – December 4, 2014

Thank you CDBG Application Workshop – December 4, 2014