1. (a) Adoption of financial tools that incentivize the development of workforce housing shall not be required for a municipality to receive HC designation. However, the points awarded under this section shall count towards the total HC designation score.
2. (b) Applicants may receive a maximum of 10 points based on the adoption of qualifying financial tools that incentivize the development of workforce housing, with each qualifying financial tool valued at 5 points each.

3. (c) Qualifying financial tools that incentivize the development of workforce housing shall be as follows:

   1. (1) Adoption of community revitalization tax relief incentive, pursuant to RSA 79-E by the municipality’s local governing body pursuant to RSA 79-E:3 which shall include:

      1. a. Designation of at least one district where RSA 79-E applies in a downtown, town center, central business district, or village center, or, where no such designation has been made, in a geographic area which, as a result of its compact development patterns and uses, is identified by the governing body as the downtown, town center, or village center;
      2. b. Adoption of guidelines which extend the period of tax relief for 2 years if a project results in new residential units pursuant to RSA 79-E:5, II; and
      3. c. Adoption of guidelines which extend the period of tax relief for 4 years if a project includes affordable housing pursuant to RSA 79-E:5, II;

   2. (2) Adoption of municipal revitalization and economic development districts, pursuant RSA 162-K by the municipality’s local governing body which shall include:

      1. a. Establishment of at least one development district pursuant to RSA 162-K:5;
      2. b. Establishment of a development program which includes within its purpose acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, altering, extending, operating, maintaining, or promoting residential developments aimed at increasing the available housing stock within the municipality pursuant to RSA 162-K:6, III(j);
      3. c. Establishment of a development program which includes within its purpose the acquisition of real property to construct housing units which meet the definition of workforce housing contained in RSA 674:58, IV, whether or not such construction results from private development or private commercial enterprise; and
      4. d. Establishment of a tax increment financing plan pursuant to RSA 162-K:9-10;

   3. (3) Acquisition or sale of real property by the municipality for the development of workforce housing which shall include:

      1. a. Acquisition of land or buildings as enabled by statute, such as through RSA 41:14-a, RSA 80:76, or RSA 162-G, which is intended for the development of workforce housing in the 6 years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation;
      2. b. Acquisition of state-owned real property which has been declared as surplus by the state pursuant to RSA 4:40, which is intended for the development of workforce housing in the 6 years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation;
      3. c. Sale of municipally owned land or buildings as enabled by statute, such as through RSA 80:76, RSA 162-G, or RSA 162-K, which is intended for the development of workforce housing in the 6 years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation; or
      4. d. The publishing of a request for proposals for the development of workforce housing on municipally owned land in the 6 years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation;

   4. (4) Adoption of affordable housing revolving fund, pursuant to RSA 31:95-h by the municipality’s local governing body which shall include:

      1. a. The adoption of an affordable housing revolving fund for the purpose of creating affordable housing and facilitating transactions relative thereto pursuant to RSA 31:95-h, I(d);
      2. b. The establishment of such a fund with a restriction that the fund be used for the purchase of land for the development of workforce housing or to offset the cost incurred by a developer for the development of workforce housing and associated infrastructure; or
      3. c. The depositing of revenues from fees, charges, or other income derived from the activities or services supported by the fund, and any other revenues approved by the legislative body for deposit into the fund pursuant to RSA 31:95-h, II during the 5 years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation; or

   5. (5) Establishment of a non-capital reserve trust fund by a city pursuant to RSA 34:1-a or establishment of a non-capital reserve trust fund by a town, village district, or county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places pursuant to RSA 35:1-c which shall include:

      1. a. The establishment of a trust fund with the distinctly specific public purpose of providing funding for affordable or workforce housing;
      2. b. The establishment of such fund with a restriction that the fund only be used for the purchase of land for the development of workforce housing or to offset the cost incurred by a developer for the development of workforce housing and associated infrastructure;
      3. c. For a city the appropriation, payment, or transfer of funds approved by the city council pursuant to the limitations on appropriations stated in RSA 34:3, I and RSA 34:4 into the trust fund during the 5 years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation; or
      4. d. For a town, village district, or county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places, the appropriation, payment, or transfer of funds approved by a special warrant article pursuant to the limitations on appropriations stated in RSA 35:5 and RSA 35:8 into the trust fund during the 5 years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation.
4. (d) The department shall make additional bonus points available based on department priorities and best practices which shall be publicized prior to the commencement of each application round.

Source. #14043, eff 8-8-24