606 CMR 15.00:EARLY EDUCATION AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIMECAPITALFUND PROGRAM
Section
15.01: Scope, Purpose,andApplicability 15.02: Definitions
15.3: Eligible Facilities
15.4: Types of Grants, Grant Terms, Grant Conditions 15.05: Waiver Provisions
15.1Scope, Purpose,andApplicability
(1)TheEarlyEducationand OutofSchoolTime(EEOST)CapitalFund(Fund)wascreated byAnActFinancingtheProductionandPreservationofHousingforLowandModerateIncome Residents,St.2013,c.129,§§2(BudgetLineItem3000-0400)and3.Thestatuteauthorizes the Department of EarlyEducation and Care (EEC) toadminister upto$45million in general obligationbondfundsforgrantstodevelopeligiblefacilitiesforuseaslicensedLargeGroupand SchoolAgeChildCareProgramsasdefinedin606CMR7.00:StandardsfortheLicensureor ApprovalofFamilyChildCare;SmallGroupandSchoolAgeandLargeGroupandSchoolAge Child Care Programs.
(2)TheEEOSTCapitalFundprovidesgrantstotax-exemptnon-profitcorporationsor organizationsinwhichanon-profitcorporationhasacontrollinginterest,whichshallusesuch grantfundstodevelopand/orrehabilitateeligiblefacilitiesinwhichatleast25%oftheslotsin the facilityshall servelowincome families who are eligible forpublicsubsidy.
15.2: Definitions
Thefollowingdefinitionswill applytotheEEOSTCapitalFundprogram:
Application.AnapplicationforanEEOSTGrant,intheformatspecifiedbytheEEOSTFund Guidelines,whichshallinclude,amongotherthings,adescriptionofaproposedEligibleProject andallproposedfinancingsourcesanduses.
CEDAC.Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, established by
M.G.L.0H.
EEC. The Department of EarlyEducation and Care.
EEOSTFundGuidelines.GuidelinesissuedbyEECsettingout,clarifyingandfurtherexplainingEEOSTCapitalFundprogrampoliciesandprocedures.TheEEOSTCapitalFundGuidelines shallapplytoallEEOSTGrants.
EEOSTGrant.AdirectgrantofcapitalfundstoanEligibleOrganizationforpaymentor reimbursementofthecostsofanEligibleProject.
EligibleFacility.Abuildingorstructurethatis,orwillbe,ownedorleasedbyoneormore Eligible Organizations and licensed byEEC, provided, that
(a)at least25%oftheslotsin thefacilityshallserveLow-incomeFamilies;
(b)aleasedfacilityshallbeleasedfromabonafidethirdparty,notfromanentityaffiliated
(MA REG. #1266, Dated8-1-14)
inanywaywiththeEligibleOrganizationandshallhavealeasetermthatisconsistentwith thescaleofthecapitalinvestmentbutnotbelessthan15yearsfromthedateofcompletion of the Eligible Project; and
(c)the facilityshall meet all of the requirements of 606 CMR 15.03.
15.2: continued
EligibleOrganization.Anon-profitcorporationformedunderM.G.L.c.180andexemptfrom federalincometaxunderSection501(c)(3)oftheInternalRevenueCodeof1986,asamended, oranorganizationinwhichanon-profitcorporationhasacontrollingfinancialormanagerial interest,anditsapprovedsuccessorsandassigns.Inallorganizationswheremorethanoneparty hasabeneficialinterest,thenamesandaddressesofallindividualsorentitiesholdingany beneficial interest must be disclosed, as wellthe percentage of beneficial interest held byeach interest holderand each interest holder’s status as either anon-profit or for-profit corporation, individualorothertypeofentity.Inaddition,theorganizationaldocumentsofanyEligible Organizationthatisnotanon-profitcorporationmustbeprovided,alongwithanarrative describingthemannerinwhichanon-profitcorporationhasacontrollingfinancialormanagerial interest.AnEligibleOrganization mustalsodemonstrate, tothesatisfactionofEEC:
(a)thecapabilityofmanagingallofitsresponsibilitiesincarryingouttheEligibleProject
and operatingthe Eligible Facilityand
(b)thatnoneofitsmembers,shareholders,officers,employeesormembersofitsboardof directors can profit, in anyway, from EEOST Capital Fund assistance.
EligibleProject.Theacquisition,design,construction,repair,renovation,recoveryfroma naturalorman-madedisaster,rehabilitation,orothercapitalimprovementordeferred maintenanceofanEligibleFacility.EligibleProjectsshallreflectcost-effectivedesign,material andfinishdecisionsconsistentwithgoodarchitecturalandengineeringpractice,highquality construction,andshallsatisfytherequirementsofEEC.
FinancialIntermediary.Aquasi-publicornon-profitorganization,including,butnotlimitedto, CEDAC,selected byEECtoadminister theEEOSTCapitalFund programinaccordancewith
M.G.L.5D, § 18(c).
FinanciallyFeasibleProject.AnEligibleProjectthatislikelytosecurebindingfinancial commitmentsfromotherfunding sources which, together with theEEOSTGrantdescribed in theFinancingCommitment,totaltheamountreflectedintheestimatedbudgetnecessaryto develop,repairorrenovatetheEligibleFacility(asapprovedbyEECand/ortheFinancial Intermediary).
FinancingCommitment.AbindingwrittencommitmentfromEECand/ortheFinancial IntermediarytofundanEEOSTGrant.
LandUseRestriction.Arestrictionenteredintobytheownerortenant,asapplicable,ofan EligibleFacilityforthebenefitofEECand/oritsFinancialIntermediaryrestrictingsuchEligible FacilitytouseasanEEClicensedearlyeducationoroutofschooltimeprograminwhichatleast 25%oftheslotsshallserveLow-incomeFamilies.Suchagreement,asfurtherdescribedin 606CMR15.04(2)(e)ortheEEOSTFundGuidelines,shallincludesuchtermsandconditions asarerequiredtobeimposedunderM.G.L.c.15D,§18,EEOSTFundGuidelinesoranyother EECpoliciesorrequirements.TheLandUseRestrictionshallberecordedand/orregisteredin theRegistryof Deedsand/orRegistryDistrictoftheLandCourtwheretheEligibleFacilityis located.
Low-incomeFamily. A familythat meets one ofthe followingcriteria:
(a)thefamilymeetsEECsubsidizedchildcareincomeeligibilityguidelinesof50%toup to85%ofstatemedian income(SMI),dependingonactivityrequirements;
(b)the familymeets Head Start income eligibilityguidelines; or
(c)thefamilyisreceivingTransitionalAidtoFamilieswithDependentChildren(TAFDC), Supplemental Security IncomeBenefits (SSI) or anyotherPublicSubsidy.
15.2: continued
ProgramDesign.Adocumentthatadesigner/architectmayusetocreatethedesignorplansfor thedesignofanEligibleFacility.Itshallincludebutnotbelimitedtotypeof facility;number ofclassroomsandotherlicensedactivityareas,includinginformationonthenumberofchildren andagegroupsusingaparticularspaceandthedesignrequirementsforeachclassroomandother licensedareas;alistofspecializedclassroomandsupportareasincludingbutnotlimitedto bathrooms,kitchenorotherfoodpreparationarea,teachers’break area, and storage areas; and thesecuritymeasurestosafeguardthefacilityanditsoccupants,thehoursofoperation;andany publicaccessorcommunityuse.TheProgramDesignshallalsoincludethegrossandnetsquare footageoftheEligibleFacilityand,inthecaseofanexpansion,thegrossandnetsquarefootage oftheexistingfacilityandtheproposedexpansion.TheProgramDesignshallcomplywithall applicableEECphysicalspacerequirementsfoundin606CMR7.00:Standardsforthe LicensureorApprovalofFamilyChild Care;SmallGroupandSchoolAgeandLargeGroup andSchoolAgeChildCareProgramsandpoliciesadoptedthereunderandwith780CMR:The Massachusetts State Building Code.
PublicSubsidy.Economicassistanceprovidedtolowincomefamiliesbyanyfederal,state,or localgovernmententityoranyquasi-governmental entity.Publicsubsidiesmaytakethe form ofdirectmonetarypayments,vouchers,services,taxcreditsorotherbenefitsthatassistin provisionofnecessities,includingbutnotlimitedto,food,housing,health care,child care,or education.
Slots. The numberof children who maybeenrolledin the care of an earlyeducation or out of schooltimeprogram licensedbyEEC.
TotalDevelopmentCosts.TotalhardandsoftcostsofdevelopinganEligibleProject,including the coststoacquire (including siteacquisition),design,construct,renovate and/orrehabilitate andfinancetheEligibleProject.
15.3: Eligible Facilities
AnEEOSTGrantmayonlybemadefordevelopmentofaFinanciallyFeasibleProjectthat willresultinanEligibleFacilitythatshallbeusedorisusedcurrentlyasalicensedLargeGroup and School Age Child Care centeras defined byEEC and which:
(1)complies with M.G.L. c.15D and all regulations and policies adopted thereunder;
(2)complieswithallotherapplicableFederal,Stateandlocalstatutes,regulations,and ordinances,includingtheAmericanswithDisabilitiesActand780CMR:MassachusettsState Building Code; and
(3)(a)meets a need fora Large Group and School Age Child Care center;
(b)benefits the affected community;
(c)has a need forfinancial assistancein the form of such a grant; and
(d)has local support,allasdemonstratedbytheproponentofsuchproject.
Preferencemaybegiventoprojectsthathavesufferedpartialorcompletedamagetoan Eligible Facilityfrom a natural or man-made disaster.
15.4: Type of Grants, Grant Terms, Grant Conditions
(1)GrantTypes.EligibleProjectsmayreceiveEEOSTGrantsforfiveuses:acquisition, design,construction,repair,andrenovationofanEligibleFacility.EligibleOrganizationsshall completetheapplicationprocessinaccordancewiththeEEOSTFundGuidelines.
(2)GrantTerms.AllgrantsundertheEEOSTCapitalFundprogramshallbemadeuponthe termsincludedintheEEOSTFundGuidelinesand/ortheEEOSTGrantdocuments,including but not limited totheFinancingCommitment,aswellas thefollowingterms:
(a)GrantProceeds. TheproceedsoftheEEOSTGrantshallbeusedsolelyforthe
developmentoftheEligibleProject,asapprovedbyEECoritsFinancialIntermediary,and as setforthin theFinancingCommitment.
15.4: continued
(b)GrantAmount.TheamountofanEEOSTCapitalGrantProgramshallbeestablished byEECaccordingtotheEEOSTFundGuidelines.EECmayestablishamaximum percentageoftheTotalDevelopmentCostanddollarlimits,bothbytotalorbycategoryor both,towhich theGrantwouldalsobesubject.
(c)GrantPeriod.TheoriginaltermofanEEOSTGrantshallbeatleastaminimumof25 yearsforgrantee-ownedEligibleFacilities.Theoriginaltermof anEEOSTGrantshallbe at leastaminimum of15yearsforgrantee-leasedfacilities.
(d)GrantRecapture.IfforanyreasontheEligibleOrganizationdoesnotcomplywithEEC commitmentsandrequirements,EECoritsFinancialIntermediarymayrecapturethegrant funds accordingto the schedules in 606 CMR15.04(2)(d)1. and 2.
1.Forproperties owned bythe Eligible Organization (25 year grant term):
a.ifthenoncomplianceoccurswithinnineyearsofthemakingoftheEEOSTGrant, repayment of 100% is due;
b.ifthenoncomplianceoccursbetweennineyearsand16yearsafterthemakingof the EEOST Grant, repayment of 67% is due;
c.if the noncompliance occurs between 16 years and 25 yearsafter the making of theEEOSTGrant,repaymentof33%isdue;
d.ifthenoncomplianceoccursmorethan25yearsafterthemakingoftheEEOST Grant, the grant funds will no longerbe subject to recapture.
2.Forproperties leased bythe Eligible Organization (15 year grant term):
a.ifthenoncomplianceoccurswithinfiveyearsofthemakingoftheEEOSTGrant, repayment of 100% is due;
b.ifthenoncomplianceoccursbetweenfiveyearsandtenyearsafterthemakingof the EEOST Grant, repayment of 67% is due;
c.ifthenoncomplianceoccursbetweentenyearsand15yearsafterthemakingof theEEOSTGrant,repaymentof33%isdue;
d.ifthenoncomplianceoccursmorethan15yearsafterthemakingoftheEEOST Grant, the grant funds will no longerbe subject to recapture.
(e)LandUseRestriction.TheEligibleOrganizationshallrecordattheappropriateRegistry ofDeedsorRegistryDistrictoftheLandCourt,orboth,aLandUseRestriction.TheLand UseRestriction,andthemortgagereferredtoin606CMR15.04(2)(e)2.,shallonlybe released:
1.uponrepaymentinfullofallamountsdueundertheGranttermsorattheendofthe term of the Grant if all terms and conditions of the Grant havebeen fulfilled; or
2.uponforeclosureofabonafidefirstprioritymortgageontheEligibleFacilitybythe holderthereof,orwithEEC’sconsenta bonafidemortgagethatwasseniortothelien oftherecordedLandUseRestrictionandmortgageatthetimeoftheclosing,ortowhich the EEOST Land UseRestriction has been dulysubordinated.
(f)MortgageLien.TheEEOSTGrantshallbesecuredbyamortgagelieninfavorofEEC and/oritsFinancialIntermediaryonthefeesimpletitletotheEligibleFacility,ifownedby theEligibleOrganization,orontheEligibleOrganization’sleaseholdinterest,iftheEligible Facilityisleased.Themortgageshallbejunioronlytoabonafidefirstprioritymortgageor such seniormortgageliens as arepermitted byEEC orits Financial Intermediary.
(g)Refinancing.RefinancingofEligibleProjectscompletedundertheEEOSTCapital Fundprogramwillbeallowedifsuchrefinancingprotectstheinterestsofthe Commonwealthandeitherisnecessarytoeffectextraordinaryrepairsormaintenancewhich havebeenapprovedbyEECoritsFinancialIntermediaryorstabilizesorbenefitstheEligible Projectthatisbeingrefinanced,asdeterminedbyEECoritsFinancialIntermediary.Any newloanmustbedueandpayableonorafterthematurity dateoftheEEOSTGrant.All refinancingissubjecttothepriorwrittenapprovalofEECand/oritsFinancialIntermediary.
(h)ApplicationProcess.ApplicationproceduresforEEOSTGrantsarespecifiedinthe EEOST Fund Guidelines.EECreservestheright tohold competitive grant award funding roundsforEEOSTGrants.
(i)GoodStanding.All EEOSTGrant awardswill requirethateachEligible Organization receivinganEEOSTGrantand allprogramsand facilitiesthatit operatesmustbelicensed byandingoodstandingwithEECandbefreeofanypendinginvestigationsoranypending orpastlegalactions,including butnotlimitedtoDeficiencyCorrectionOrders,Sanctions Orders,SuspensionOrders,RevocationOrders,Finesorotheractionsthatcallintoquestion theEligibleOrganization'scapacitytocareforchildreninamannerthatensurestheirsafety.
15.5: Waiver Provisions
Ifanyprovisionsof606CMR15.00wouldprecludeuseoffederalorotherfundsthatwould assistinmeetingthegoalsoftheEEOSTFund,theBoardofEarlyEducationandCare authorizestheEECCommissionertomodify,waive,ornegotiatesuchmodificationsto 606CMR15.00asmayberequiredtoallowtheuseofsuchfunds;provided,however,thatthe interests of the Commonwealth shall remain protected.
REGULATORY AUTHORITY
606CMR15.00:St.2013,c.129,§2(budgetlineitem3000-0400)and§3;M.G.L.c.15D,§18.