§ 32-765 — Targeted brownfield development loan program.

(a) The Department of Economic and Community Development shall establish a targeted brownfield development loan program to provide low-interest loans for the eligible costs of brownfield remediation projects to potential brownfield purchasers and current brownfield owners who (1) have no direct or related liability for the conditions of the brownfield, and (2) seek to develop brownfields for purposes of reducing blight or for industrial, commercial, residential or mixed use development. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a current owner of a brownfield on which a manufacturing facility is located shall be eligible for a loan under this section, provided neither such owner nor any partner, member, officer, manager, director, shareholder, subsidiary or affiliate of such owner (1) is liable under section 22a-427 , 22a-432 , 22a-433 , 22a-451 or 22a-452 with respect to the property; (2) is otherwise responsible, directly or indirectly, for the discharge, spillage, uncontrolled loss, seepage or filtration of the hazardous substance, material or waste; (3) is a member, officer, manager, director, shareholder, subsidiary, successor of, or affiliated with, directly or indirectly, the person who is otherwise liable under section 22a-427 , 22a-432 , 22a-433 , 22a-451 or 22a-452 with respect to the property; or (4) has been found guilty of knowingly or wilfully violating any environmental law. (c) An applicant for a loan pursuant to this section shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development on forms provided by the commissioner and with such information the commissioner deems necessary, including, but not limited to: (1) A description of the proposed project; (2) an explanation of the expected benefits of the project in relation to the purposes of this section; (3) information concerning the financial and technical capacity of the applicant to undertake the proposed project; (4) a project budget; and (5) a description of the condition of the brownfield involved, including the results of any environmental assessment of the brownfield in the possession of or available to the applicant. The commissioner shall provide loans based upon project merit and viability, the economic and community development opportunity, municipal support, contribution to the community's tax base, past experience of the applicant, compliance history and ability to pay. For applications received on and after July 1, 2019, the commissioner shall give priority to proposed projects located in federally designated opportunity zones. (d) If a loan recipient is not subject to section 22a-134a , such recipient shall enter a program for remediation of the property pursuant to either section 22a-133x , 22a-133y , 32-768 or 32-769 , as determined by the commissioner, except if the loan funds are used for the abatement of hazardous building materials and such recipient demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of Economic and Community Development and Energy and Environmental Protection that such hazardous building materials represent the sole or sole remaining environmental contamination on the property. (e) Loans made pursuant to this section shall have such terms and conditions and be subject to such eligibility and loan approval criteria as determined by the commissioner. Such loans shall be for a period not to exceed thirty years. (f) If a loan recipient sells a property subject to a loan granted pursuant to this section before the loan is repaid, the loan shall be payable upon closing of such sale, according to its terms, unless the commissioner agrees otherwise. The commissioner may carry the loan forward as an encumbrance to the purchaser with the same terms and conditions as the original loan. (g) A loan recipient may be eligible for a loan of not more than four million dollars per year, subject to agency underwriting and reasonable and customary requirements to assure performance. If additional funds are required, the commissioner may recommend that the project be funded through other programs administered by the commissioner. (h) The commissioner may modify the terms of any loan made pursuant to this section to provide for forgiveness of interest, principal, or both, or delay in repayment of interest, principal, or both, when the commissioner determines such forgiveness or delay is in the best interest of the state from an economic or community development perspective. (i) The provisions of sections 32-5a and 32-701 shall not apply to loans provided pursuant to this section. See Sec. 32-22b re loan guarantee program.

Legislative History

(P.A. 13-308, S. 6; P.A. 14-88, S. 7; P.A. 15-193, S. 2; P.A. 18-85, S. 1; P.A. 19-54, S. 10.) History: P.A. 13-308 effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-88 amended Subsec. (h) by deleting “to a municipality or economic development agency” re modification of loan terms and by adding “from an economic or community development perspective” re forgiveness or delay, effective June 3, 2014; P.A. 15-193 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re exception to property remediation program if loan recipient used loan funds for the abatement of hazardous building materials, and amended Subsec. (g) by changing maximum loan amount from $2,000,000 per year to $4,000,000 per year and by deleting “for not more than two years,”, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 18-85 amended Subsec. (e) by increasing maximum loan period from 20 years to 30 years, effective July 1, 2018, and applicable to loans issued on or after July 1, 2018; P.A. 19-54 amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re commissioner to give priority to projects located in federally designated opportunity zones, effective July 1, 2019.