34:1B-251 Definitions relative to certain economic development projects.

10. a. For the purposes of this section:

"Authority" means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).

"Government entity" means the State government, a local unit of government, or a State or local government agency or authority.

"Providing public infrastructure" means undertaking and paying for the construction of public infrastructure; contributing money or paying debt service for the construction of public infrastructure; or deeding land to a government entity for use as public infrastructure.

"Public infrastructure" means: (1) buildings and structures, such as schools; fire houses; police stations; recreation centers; public works garages; and water and sewer treatment and pumping facilities; (2) open space with improvements such as athletic fields; playgrounds; planned parks; (3) open space without improvements; and (4) public transportation facilities such as train stations and public parking facilities. To qualify as public infrastructure under this section, the facilities, land, or both, shall have a minimum fair market value of $5 million; provided, however, that multiple lands and facilities, valued individually at less than $5 million, that are part of the same redevelopment project may be aggregated to achieve the minimum $5 million requirement. In the case of open space without improvements, the land shall have a minimum fair market value of at least $1 million prior to its dedication as open space. Sidewalks, streets, roads, ramps, and jug handles shall not be deemed public infrastructure for the purposes of this section.

"Tax credit" means a credit equal to 100 percent of the applicant's cost of providing public infrastructure for use to offset a tax liability.

"Tax liability" means a liability for the taxes imposed pursuant to the "Corporation Business Tax (1945)," P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.), and liability for basic, general, additional, and supplemental realty transfer fees imposed pursuant to P.L.1968, c.49 (C.46:15-5 et seq.), as amended and supplemented.

"Urban transit hub municipality" means an urban transit hub municipality, as defined in section 2 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-243).

b. Commencing with October 24, 2014, the effective date of P.L.2014, c.63 (C.34:1B-251 et al.), and ending on December 31 of the fifth complete year next following, an applicant that has agreed to, or has provided, public infrastructure may apply to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for a tax credit under the following conditions:

(1) The applicant or another entity by contract or development agreement either makes a new capital investment in an amount equal to or greater than $10,000,000 at any time during the term set forth in this subsection, or causes another entity by contract or development agreement to construct a building, complex of buildings or other similar structures or facilities, which relies on the completed public infrastructure and completes construction during the term set forth in this subsection.

(2) The applicant has not received a tax credit under the "Grow New Jersey Assistance Program" established by section 3 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-244).

(3) The applicant has not received a grant under a State or a local Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program pursuant to section 4 or section 5 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489d or C.52:27D-489e).

(4) The applicant is not a "Garden State Growth Zone Development Entity," as defined in section 23 of P.L.2013, c.161 (C.52:27D-489r).

(5) The applicant is not partnered with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority for the capital investment pursuant to this section.

c. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall grant an application for a tax credit if the government entity receiving the public infrastructure adopts a resolution and files it with the authority, consenting to the award of the tax credit and the ownership of the public infrastructure is transferred to that government entity, and either: (1) the construction commences after January 1, 2013; (2) the construction is completed, as evidenced by a certificate of occupancy or other certificate of completion, after January 1, 2013; (3) the first monetary or debt service payment occurs after January 1, 2013; or (4) the land is deeded to the government entity after January 1, 2013.

d. (1) (a) Except as provided in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph, the total amount of tax credits that may be awarded to an eligible applicant for a single project shall not exceed $5,000,000.

(b) In the case of an applicant engaged in a brownfields redevelopment project comprising park and infrastructure development within an urban transit hub municipality, the total amount of tax credits the authority may award to the applicant shall not exceed $2,000,000 cumulative of all applications submitted under this section by the applicant. As used in this subparagraph, "applicant" means an entity applying for a tax credit pursuant to subsection b. of this section and shall include its subsidiaries, its parent, affiliated entities, and common principal owners.

(c) The total value of all tax credits approved by the authority pursuant to this section shall not exceed $22,000,000.

(2) A tax credit granted pursuant to this section may be transferred in the same manner as tax credits are transferred pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-248) and utilized in the same manner as provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection c. of section 6 of P.L.2011, c.149 (C.34:1B-247).

(3) Except for the limitations set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, nothing in this section shall prohibit an applicant from applying for and being awarded multiple tax credit awards based on separate public infrastructure projects.

e. The chief executive of the authority, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, may adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

L.2014, c.63, s.10; amended 2015, c.217, s.2; 2017, c.313, s.3.