1. COSCDA Program Managers Training Conference 2015

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 -----

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

6. 2014 Allocation $8 million
CDBG Application Workshop – December 4, 2014

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. CDFA Grants Management System
CDFA Web Grants
CDFA Grants Management System
For More Information:
Lori Wamser

15. 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

16. Thank you
CDBG Application Workshop – December 4, 2014