Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 234 - Wisconsin housing and economic development authority.
234.01 - Definitions.

234.01 Definitions. In this chapter:
(1) “Authority" means the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
(2) “Authority cost" means any costs incurred by the authority in carrying out and administering any of its powers, duties and functions including, but not limited to, costs of financing by the authority, service charges, insurance premiums and administrative and operating costs of the authority.
(3) “Business incubator" means a facility designed to encourage the growth of new businesses, if at least 2 of the following apply:
(a) Space in the facility is rented at a rate lower than the market rate in the community.
(b) Shared business services are provided in the facility.
(c) Management and technical assistance are available at the facility.
(d) Businesses using the facility may obtain financial capital through a direct relationship with at least one financial institution.
(3m) “Collateral" means a 3rd-party note, mortgage, guaranty, insurance policy, bond, letter of credit, security agreement or other instrument securing the repayment of an economic development loan or a mortgage loan.
(4) “Development costs" mean the costs which have been approved by the authority as appropriate expenditures including but not limited to:
(a) Payments for options to purchase properties on the proposed housing project site, deposits on contracts of purchase, or with the prior approval of the authority, payments for the purchase of such properties;
(b) Legal, organizational and marketing expenses, including payment of attorney fees, project manager and clerical staff salaries, office rent, and other incidental expenses;
(c) Payment of fees and preliminary feasibility studies and advances for planning, engineering and architectural work;
(d) Expenses for surveys as to need and market analyses;
(e) Necessary application and other fees to federal and other government agencies; and
(f) Such other expenses incurred by the eligible sponsor as the authority deems appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
(4m) “Economic development loan" means an advance of moneys, supported by a written promise of repayment, to finance an economic development project.
(4n) “Economic development project" means any of the following:
(a) Land, plant or equipment for any of the following:
1. Facilities for manufacturing or commercial real estate activities.
2. National or regional headquarters facilities.
3. Facilities for the storage or distribution of products of manufacturing activities, materials, components, or equipment.
3m. Facilities for the retail sale of goods or services.
4. Facilities for research and development activities.
5. Recreational and tourism facilities serving to attract visitors to this state.
6. Facilities for the production, packaging, processing or distribution of raw agricultural commodities.
7. Facilities for engaging in the business of operating a railroad.
8. Facilities for recycling as defined in s. 287.13 (1) (h).
(b) Activities of a long-term nature, such as research and development or long-term working capital.
(c) Equipment, materials or labor used to make an energy-conserving improvement to a commercial or industrial facility.
(5) “Eligible sponsor" means any housing corporation, limited-profit entity or nonprofit corporation or any other entity meeting criteria established by the authority and which is organized to provide housing for persons and families of low and moderate income.
(5k) “Financial institution" means a bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, insurance company, finance company, mortgage banker licensed under s. 224.72, community development corporation, small business investment corporation, pension fund or other lender which provides commercial loans in this state.
(5m) “Homeownership mortgage loan" has the meaning given under s. 234.59 (1) (f).
(6) “Housing corporation" means a corporation organized under s. 182.004 and whose articles of incorporation, in addition to other requirements of law, provide that, if the corporation receives any loan or advance from the authority under this chapter, it may enter into an agreement with the authority providing for regulation with respect to rents, profits, dividends, and disposition of property or franchises.
(7) “Housing project" means a specific work or improvement within this state undertaken primarily to provide dwelling accommodations, including land development and the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of buildings and improvements thereto, for residential housing, and such other nonhousing facilities as may be determined by the authority to be either necessary for the economic viability thereof, required by law or by a master plan, or incidental or appurtenant thereto.
(7m) “Housing rehabilitation loan" means a low interest housing rehabilitation loan as defined in s. 234.49 (1) (f) and (fm).
(8) “Limited-profit entity" means any person or trust whose articles of incorporation or comparable documents of organization or whose written agreement with the authority provides that, as a condition of acceptance of a loan or advance under this chapter, the limited-profit entity shall enter into an agreement with the authority providing for limitations of rents, profits, dividends, and disposition of property or franchises.
(9) “Nonprofit corporation" means:
(a) A nonprofit corporation incorporated under ch. 181 whose articles of incorporation, in addition to other requirements of law, provide all of the following:
1. The corporation has as its major purpose the providing of housing facilities for persons and families of low and moderate income.
2. All income and earnings of the corporation shall be used exclusively for corporation purposes and no part of the net income or net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit or profit of any private person.
3. The corporation is in no manner controlled or under the direction or acting in the substantial interest of private persons seeking to derive profit or gain therefrom or seeking to eliminate or minimize losses in any dealing or transactions therewith.
4. If the corporation receives any loan or advance from the authority, it shall enter into an agreement with the authority providing for limitations on rents, profits, dividends, and disposition of property or franchises.
(b) Any authority established pursuant to s. 66.1201 or 66.1213.
(10) “Persons and families of low and moderate income" means persons and families who cannot afford to pay the amounts at which private enterprise, without federally-aided mortgages or loans from the authority, can provide a substantial supply of decent, safe and sanitary housing and who fall within income limitations set by the authority in its rules. In determining such income limitations the authority shall consider the amounts of the total income of such persons available for housing needs, the size of the family, the cost and condition of available housing facilities, standards established for various federal programs and any other factors determined by the authority to be appropriate in arriving at such limitations. Among low- or moderate-income persons and families, preference shall be given to those displaced by governmental action.
History: 1971 c. 287; 1975 c. 221, 421; 1977 c. 418, 447; 1979 c. 361 ss. 112, 113; 1981 c. 349; 1983 a. 81 ss. 2, 11; 1983 a. 83 ss. 5, 20; 1985 a. 29 ss. 2116, 3202 (14); 1985 a. 334; 1987 a. 27, 359; 1987 a. 403 s. 256; 1989 a. 281; 1989 a. 335 s. 89; 1991 a. 37, 221; 1995 a. 27, 227; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 104; 2005 a. 75, 253, 418; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32, 214; 2017 a. 277; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.
“Limited-profit entity" has meaning only with reference to WHEDA's loan to the entity. The entity terminates when the loan is satisfied and nothing remains to be done except to dispose of what remains in the hands of the entity. WHEDA v. Bay Shore Apartments, 200 Wis. 2d 129, 546 N.W.2d 480 (Ct. App. 1996), 93-1825.

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