PHFA Now Accepting Bids for Purchase of Mixed-Use Development Tax Credits

Tax credit bid deadline is July 16

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency announced today that it is accepting bids for the purchase of $3 million in mixed-use development tax credits. The funds collected from successful bidders will be used for the construction or rehabilitation of mixed-use developments in Pennsylvania communities.  The deadline for bids is 2 p.m. on Friday, July 16.

These tax credits will be used by the winning bidders – which can be companies, organizations or individuals – to reduce their state tax liability. The intent of the bidding process is to raise as much funding as possible from the $3 million in tax credits being made available to provide for a significant investment in community revitalization projects in various communities. The projects to receive this funding will be selected during a competitive Request for Proposals process later this year.

This state tax credit program was created as part of the Commonwealth’s fiscal year 2016/2017 budget (implemented July 1, 2017), and PHFA was directed to administer the credits. PHFA was authorized to sell these tax credits through directed or negotiated sale to any qualified taxpayer. It is expected that the tax credit awards will be made within 90 days after bidding closes.  The credit awards will be made in 2021, but they are not effective for utilization until 2022 against a 2021 tax liability.

“We have had good success over the past few years with the mixed-use developments we’ve funded,” said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. “The retail and commercial portion of each project brings economic activity to the community where it’s located, and of course the affordable housing provided is always in great demand. Mixed-use projects bring a positive energy that is always appreciated in their communities.”

More information about the mixed-use development tax credit and the current bidding process is available on the PHFA website (scroll down). Program guidelines and bid criteria are posted there. Annual reports identifying projects awarded these tax credits in prior years are also available on that webpage. Interested organizations can learn more by contacting Bryce Maretzki at PHFA at (717) 780-1867 or by email at bmaretzki@phfa.org.

About PHFA

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated more than $15.2 billion of funding for more than 182,570 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 138,000 rental units, distributed approximately 191 million to support local housing initiatives, and saved the homes of nearly 50,400 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users, not by public tax dollars. The agency is governed by a 14-member board.

Media contact:
Scott Elliott
717-649-6522 (cell)
selliott@PHFA.org