Grant & Loan Programs: SILF
Strategic Industries Loan Fund Guidelines
The following guidelines are designed to assist applicants in submitting complete OneGeorgia Authority Strategic Industries Loan Fund program applications that meet the intent of the program. For further information about program intent, eligible activities and the rating and selection process, please read the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Regulations, the application forms, as well as the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Completeness Checklist and the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Scoring Summary included with this application guide. Note that these guidelines are not meant to duplicate in their entirety the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Regulations; rather, these guidelines are designed to highlight important program requirements and emphasize critical steps in the application process.
Guidelines for All Strategic Industries Loan Fund Applicants
- Please follow all application instructions and fill out all forms as completely as possible. The Strategic Industries Loan Fund Scoring Summary provided in this guide is not to be filled out by the applicant. While for internal use, it is provided as a guide to the kinds of criteria that may cause projects to be more competitive under the Strategic Industries Loan Fund program, and applicants should include any information that would enhance their application based on the criteria. The rating and selection system is used only as a guide to the OneGeorgia Authority in making its funding decisions. Other factors unique to a specific application may also be considered.
- Note that the application form also includes an Application Completeness Checklist that should not be filled out nor submitted by the applicant. The Checklist is for internal review purposes, but the information it contains may assist the applicant in preparing as complete an application as possible. For any item requested in the application, supporting documentation will strengthen the application, and if not provided, may be requested by the reviewer if deemed necessary to arrive at a recommendation.
- The Strategic Industries Loan Fund program is designed to be a flexible community and economic development tool: however, resources for the program are limited. All applicants are urged to consider using Strategic Industries Loan Fund monies only when other funding is not available or not sufficient to address project needs. When other public or private funding is available, the other available funding should be used to the maximum extent feasible. All potential applicants should seek the advice of the OneGeorgia Authority or their agent prior to submitting a Strategic Industries Loan Fund application. If the OneGeorgia Authority has advised a potential applicant to pursue another source of funding, the application may not be competitive, or the OneGeorgia Authority and its agent will not consider a Strategic Industries Loan Fund application for the same project.
- All applicants should carefully read the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Regulations and the Statement of General Conditions. In addition to the Statement of General Conditions, an award may be subject to additional special conditions at the discretion of the OneGeorgia Authority. All award recipients are subject to audit by the Department of Audits and to audits or monitoring by the OneGeorgia Authority or its agent. In addition, Strategic Industries Loan Fund monies are required to be included in recipient’s annual independent financial audit or report of agreed upon procedures.
- The initiation of project activities prior to an award could endanger Strategic Industries Loan Fund funding. While the Strategic Industries Loan Fund program is flexible, initiation of project activities prior to award may indicate that Strategic Industries Loan Fund monies are not needed. Please check with the OneGeorgia Authority as soon as it appears that such a situation may occur.
- All attached budget forms identify source and use of funds. The specific use of Strategic Industries Loan Fund monies should be clearly identified as well as the use of all other funds. All sources of funds should be identified. Sources of funds must equal uses. Prior to drawdown of funds or upon audit or monitoring of the Strategic Industries Loan Fund project, documentation will be required showing how Strategic Industries Loan Fund and other project funds have been spent.
- Eligible activities are listed in the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Regulations that are part of this guide. Generally, activities are eligible if they are listed in the regulations and if they assist an eligible applicant in carrying out its responsibilities under state law. Nonetheless, if activities other than public infrastructure are being planned, please contact the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Coordinator to verify that the proposed activities are eligible. Private ownership of state funded project assets is not eligible under the Strategic Industries Loan Fund program. (See the Regulations and Statement of Conditions for further information.) Generally, the OneGeorgia Authority will require that leases of project assets to private users be at least twenty years in duration. Copies of lease agreements must be submitted to the OneGeorgia Authority for review prior to an award or drawdown of funds.
- A) Conflicts of Interest - In general, no person who is an elected or appointed official, employee, agent, consultant, officer or any person serving in a similar capacity with any participating public agency that exercises or has exercised any functions or responsibilities with respect to any Strategic Industries Loan Fund activities can benefit from an Strategic Industries Loan Fund project. Those persons who are in a position to participate in a decision-making process or gain inside information regarding Strategic Industries Loan Fund proposed or related activities, who may obtain a personal, financial interest, or benefit from the project, or have any interest in any contract, subcontract or agreement with respect to any Strategic Industries Loan Fund project are also prohibited from benefiting from the project. The prohibitions against benefiting from a Strategic Industries Loan Fund project would apply to the covered individuals or those with whom they have family or business ties, for one (1) year following their tenure in the covered position.
B) Exceptions -Upon written request, the agent may grant an exception to the provisions of paragraph A above, on a case-by-case basis, before funds are expended. Exceptions can only be granted when the agent determines that the exception will serve to further the purposes of the Strategic Industries Loan Fund Program. To seek an exception, a written request for an exception must be submitted by the applicant to the agent which:- Fully discloses the conflict or potential conflict of interest, prior to the applicant undertaking any action which results or may result in a conflict of interest, real or apparent; and
- Describes how the conflict of interest was publicly disclosed; and
- Includes a written opinion of the applicant's attorney that the interest for which the exception is sought would not violate state or local law.
- Under certain circumstances and with the advance approval of the OneGeorgia Authority, OneGeorgia may grant pre-agreement cost approvals (PACA) for certain expenditures and allow other funds to be used on an interim basis to finance a project for which Strategic Industries Loan Fund monies are being sought. Strategic Industries Loan Fund monies, if awarded and once all grant conditions have been met, may then be used to fund the project on a permanent basis. Nonetheless, all Strategic Industries Loan Fund requirements must be met for any interim expenditure, and the applicant must demonstrate that Strategic Industries Loan Fund monies are necessary to the project. In addition, the recipient will be required to document the source and use of all funds used in the project, including interim funds. All Strategic Industries Loan Fund applications must include sufficient information about any interim financing to allow the OneGeorgia Authority to determine the eligibility of the proposed interim financing arrangements.
- Other guidelines or requirements may be established by the OneGeorgia Authority in order to further the purposes of the Strategic Industries Loan Fund.