Project Administration

  • Project Administration

The Project Administration team oversees developments receiving Low Income Housing Tax Credits (HTC) and Housing Development Assistance Program (HDAP) funds during the construction phase of the development. Project Administration is responsible for ensuring that the development progresses according to schedule and that the recipient fulfills all terms of the funding agreements and related policies.

Analysts also review and approve requests for HDAP funds, conduct periodic site visits during construction, process the paperwork to close out HDAP requests and complete the requests for the 8609 forms.

OHFA recently updated policies on monitoring of progress throughout construction. For more details please review Updates to OHFA Multifamily Construction Monitoring.

E-Signature Policy

OHFA now offers the ability for partners to submit Eligible Program Documents with electronic signatures. In order to do so, Projects Sponsors and Partners must receive initial approval from OHFA and a recertification on an annual basis thereafter. Please review the E-Signature Policy below and submit the Partner Certification for Use of Electronic Signatures (Appendix A of the policy) to the OHFA e-signature mailbox at mfesignature@ohiohome.org. OHFA will notify the Participating Sponsor and Partner of its approval by email.

HDAP Information (OHTF, NHTF, HOME)

Environmental Review

All projects receiving funding through OHTF, NHTF, 811, or HOME must go through an environmental review process once awarded and before construction may commence. Projects will be assigned to a contractor following the award announcement. Once the review is completed, project contacts will receive an Environmental Review Clearance letter from OHFA that must be signed and returned, acknowledging any mitigations that must be completed before, during, or after construction. The project will then be required to provide evidence of mitigations in order to proceed with construction and/or close out the project.

The Environmental Review Standards for each program can be found on the Guidelines, Applications, and Forms page.

Prevailing Wage

Developments receiving funding from OHFA may be subject to the Davis-Bacon Act or Ohio's prevailing wage law. Triggers set forth by the applicable laws determine when the laws apply.

The applicant will be responsible for compliance with any state and federal wage rates that may be applicable to the project. Appropriate wage rates must be factored into the applicant's construction budget.

State Prevailing Wage

Ohio prevailing wage law may apply if the project receives funding through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund or the National Housing Trust Fund. The ownership and number of units in the project will determine if the state prevailing wage law applies.

Questions regarding the applicability of state prevailing wages should be referred to Department of Commerce (Bureau of Wage & Hour Administration) at 614.644.2223. Applicants may submit a request to the Ohio Department of Commerce to determine if prevailing wage law applies to their development.

Davis-Bacon Act

The Davis-Bacon Act may apply if the project receives HOME funding. Twelve or more HOME-assisted units in a development trigger federal Davis-Bacon wage rates.

Questions regarding the applicability of federal prevailing wages (Davis-Bacon) should be referred to the ODSA's Office of Community Development.

Loan Closing

Owners must have a fully executed Funding Agreement and/or commitment letter from the Office of Planning, Preservation, and Development before submitting the required documentation for closing.

Requests for Payment

HDAP developments requesting a draw of funds must use the Request for Payment form provided below. Please note that all draws must be on an OHFA draw form and accompanied by the appropriate supporting documents.

In order to draw funds, your project must have closed with Legal, and you must have submitted an ACH Authorization, Signature Certification, and Signature Card to OHFA. Please note that the two signatures displayed on the card must match the individuals submitting a request for payment through DevCo.

Quarterly Construction Monitoring Report

Submission of the OHFA Quarterly Construction Monitoring Form is required for 9% and 4% Housing Tax Credit projects and HDAP projects. The Report must be submitted on a quarterly basis, beginning the first quarterly reporting period following OHFA Board approval, through 100% construction completion. Reports are due January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year until the project is placed in to service. Outstanding submissions may impact a project's ability to receive future award funding and to be reimbursed on a timely basis.

Additional Documentation required for HOME and NHTF

Starting with 2021 awards, all HOME and NHTF awards must complete documentation to comply with Section 3 requirements. Documentation, at minimum, includes: a) identifying the total hours, Section 3 hours and Section 3 targeted hours for all contractor employees working on the project on the Monthly Section 3 Utilization Report, b) identification of if the contractor has Section 3 business concern status, and c) to the greatest extent feasible, meet or exceed the following benchmark goals:

  1. Section 3 workers are 25% or more of the total number of labor hours worked by all workers on a Section 3 project.
  2. Targeted Section 3 workers are 5% or more of the total number of labor hours worked by all workers on a Section 3 project.

Please note that contractors also have to submit Section 3 Worker Status Certification forms (for each worker) and a Contractor Workforce Section 3 Certification form to OHFA with the first Monthly Section 3 Utilization Report. Review Policy 21-04 for details on compliance including when the benchmarks aren't met to complete "Qualitative efforts."

For additional details on all Section 3 requirements review the Ohio Department of Development resource page. All Section 3 submissions to OHFA can be attached to the OHFA Quarterly Construction Monitoring Form. Contact your Project Administration Analyst with any questions.

Notice of Contract Award

Projects which have been funded with HOME dollars through HDAP will be required to submit a Notice of Contract Award (NOCA) and a Semi-Annual Labor Standards Enforcement Report. Recipients should contact OHFA to obtain the form.

Final Performance Report

All HDAP recipients must complete a Final Performance Report. The deadline for this report is noted in the funding agreement. However, housing credit projects which are completed in advance of the deadline must submit the Final Performance Report with their 8609 request.

Tax Credit Information

10% Test
Rent Election
Quarterly Construction Monitoring

Submission of the OHFA Quarterly Construction Monitoring Form is required for 9% and 4% Housing Tax Credit projects and HDAP projects. The Report must be submitted on a quarterly basis, beginning the first quarterly reporting period following OHFA Board approval, through 100% construction completion. Reports are due January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year until the project is placed in to service. Outstanding submissions may impact a project's ability to receive future award funding and to be reimbursed on a timely basis.

Additional RC Documentation
8609 Request

Questions?

Sally Mitchell – Project Administration Analyst
Jim Evans – Project Administration Analyst
Nigel Simpson – Project Administration Analyst
Rachel Nelson – Project Administration Manager

Ohio Housing Finance Agency
2600 Corporate Exchange Dr.
Columbus, OH 43231
614.387.1668

Multifamily Housing Development Programs