Subchapter X - Renewal Communities

TITLE 26 - US CODE - PART I - DESIGNATION

26 USC 1400E - Designation of renewal communities

(a) Designation

(1) Definitions
For purposes of this title, the term renewal community means any area

(A) which is nominated by 1 or more local governments and the State or States in which it is located for designation as a renewal community (hereafter in this section referred to as a nominated area), and

(B) which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development designates as a renewal community, after consultation with

(i) the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, and the Treasury;^[1] the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and

(ii) in the case of an area on an Indian reservation, the Secretary of the Interior.

(2) Number of designations

(A) In general
Not more than 40 nominated areas may be designated as renewal communities.

(B) Minimum designation in rural areas
Of the areas designated under paragraph (1), at least 12 must be areas

(i) which are within a local government jurisdiction or jurisdictions with a population of less than 50,000,

(ii) which are outside of a metropolitan statistical area (within the meaning of section 143 (k)(2)(B)), or

(iii) which are determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, after consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, to be rural areas.

(3) Areas designated based on degree of poverty, etc.

(A) In general
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the nominated areas designated as renewal communities under this subsection shall be those nominated areas with the highest average ranking with respect to the criteria described in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of subsection (c)(3). For purposes of the preceding sentence, an area shall be ranked within each such criterion on the basis of the amount by which the area exceeds such criterion, with the area which exceeds such criterion by the greatest amount given the highest ranking.

(B) Exception where inadequate course of action, etc.
An area shall not be designated under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines that the course of action described in subsection (d)(2) with respect to such area is inadequate.

(C) Preference for enterprise communities and empowerment zones
With respect to the first 20 designations made under this section, a preference shall be provided to those nominated areas which are enterprise communities or empowerment zones (and are otherwise eligible for designation under this section).

(4) Limitation on designations

(A) Publication of regulations
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall prescribe by regulation no later than 4 months after the date of the enactment of this section, after consultation with the officials described in paragraph (1)(B)

(i) the procedures for nominating an area under paragraph (1)(A),

(ii) the parameters relating to the size and population characteristics of a renewal community, and

(iii) the manner in which nominated areas will be evaluated based on the criteria specified in subsection (d).

(B) Time limitations
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may designate nominated areas as renewal communities only during the period beginning on the first day of the first month following the month in which the regulations described in subparagraph (A) are prescribed and ending on December 31, 2001.

(C) Procedural rules
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall not make any designation of a nominated area as a renewal community under paragraph (2) unless

(i) the local governments and the States in which the nominated area is located have the authority

(I) to nominate such area for designation as a renewal community,

(II) to make the State and local commitments described in subsection (d), and

(III) to provide assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development that such commitments will be fulfilled,

(ii) a nomination regarding such area is submitted in such a manner and in such form, and contains such information, as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall by regulation prescribe, and

(iii) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines that any information furnished is reasonably accurate.

(5) Nomination process for Indian reservations
For purposes of this subchapter, in the case of a nominated area on an Indian reservation, the reservation governing body (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) shall be treated as being both the State and local governments with respect to such area.

(b) Period for which designation is in effect

(1) In general
Any designation of an area as a renewal community shall remain in effect during the period beginning on January 1, 2002, and ending on the earliest of

(A) December 31, 2009,

(B) the termination date designated by the State and local governments in their nomination, or

(2) Revocation of designation
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may revoke the designation under this section of an area if such Secretary determines that the local government or the State in which the area is located

(A) has modified the boundaries of the area, or

(B) is not complying substantially with, or fails to make progress in achieving, the State or local commitments, respectively, described in subsection (d).

(3) Earlier termination of certain benefits if earlier termination of designation
If the designation of an area as a renewal community terminates before December 31, 2009, the day after the date of such termination shall be substituted for January 1, 2010 each place it appears in sections 1400F and 1400J with respect to such area.

(1) In general
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may designate a nominated area as a renewal community under subsection (a) only if the area meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.

(2) Area requirements
A nominated area meets the requirements of this paragraph if

(A) the area is within the jurisdiction of one or more local governments,

(B) the boundary of the area is continuous, and

(i) has a population of not more than 200,000 and at least

(I) 4,000 if any portion of such area (other than a rural area described in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i)) is located within a metropolitan statistical area (within the meaning of section 143 (k)(2)(B)) which has a population of 50,000 or greater, or

(II) 1,000 in any other case, or

(ii) is entirely within an Indian reservation (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior).

(3) Eligibility requirements
A nominated area meets the requirements of this paragraph if the State and the local governments in which it is located certify in writing (and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, after such review of supporting data as he deems appropriate, accepts such certification) that

(A) the area is one of pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress,

(B) the unemployment rate in the area, as determined by the most recent available data, was at least 11/2 times the national unemployment rate for the period to which such data relate,

(D) in the case of an urban area, at least 70 percent of the households living in the area have incomes below 80 percent of the median income of households within the jurisdiction of the local government (determined in the same manner as under section 119(b)(2) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974).

(4) Consideration of other factors
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in selecting any nominated area for designation as a renewal community under this section

(A) shall take into account

(i) the extent to which such area has a high incidence of crime, or

(ii) if such area has census tracts identified in the May 12, 1998, report of the Government Accountability Office regarding the identification of economically distressed areas, and

(B) with respect to 1 of the areas to be designated under subsection (a)(2)(B), may, in lieu of any criteria described in paragraph (3), take into account the existence of outmigration from the area.

(d) Required State and local commitments

(1) In general
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may designate any nominated area as a renewal community under subsection (a) only if

(A) the local government and the State in which the area is located agree in writing that, during any period during which the area is a renewal community, such governments will follow a specified course of action which meets the requirements of paragraph (2) and is designed to reduce the various burdens borne by employers or employees in such area, and

(B) the economic growth promotion requirements of paragraph (3) are met.

(2) Course of action

(A) In general
A course of action meets the requirements of this paragraph if such course of action is a written document, signed by a State (or local government) and neighborhood organizations, which evidences a partnership between such State or government and community-based organizations and which commits each signatory to specific and measurable goals, actions, and timetables. Such course of action shall include at least 4 of the following:

(i) A reduction of tax rates or fees applying within the renewal community.

(ii) An increase in the level of efficiency of local services within the renewal community.

(iii) Crime reduction strategies, such as crime prevention (including the provision of crime prevention services by nongovernmental entities).

(iv) Actions to reduce, remove, simplify, or streamline governmental requirements applying within the renewal community.

(v) Involvement in the program by private entities, organizations, neighborhood organizations, and community groups, particularly those in the renewal community, including a commitment from such private entities to provide jobs and job training for, and technical, financial, or other assistance to, employers, employees, and residents from the renewal community.

(vi) The gift (or sale at below fair market value) of surplus real property (such as land, homes, and commercial or industrial structures) in the renewal community to neighborhood organizations, community development corporations, or private companies.

(B) Recognition of past efforts
For purposes of this section, in evaluating the course of action agreed to by any State or local government, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall take into account the past efforts of such State or local government in reducing the various burdens borne by employers and employees in the area involved.

(3) Economic growth promotion requirements
The economic growth promotion requirements of this paragraph are met with respect to a nominated area if the local government and the State in which such area is located certify in writing that such government and State (respectively) have repealed or reduced, will not enforce, or will reduce within the nominated area at least 4 of the following:

(A) Licensing requirements for occupations that do not ordinarily require a professional degree.

(B) Zoning restrictions on home-based businesses which do not create a public nuisance.

(D) Zoning or other restrictions that impede the formation of schools or child care centers.

(E) Franchises or other restrictions on competition for businesses providing public services, including taxicabs, jitneys, cable television, or trash hauling.

This paragraph shall not apply to the extent that such regulation of businesses and occupations is necessary for and well-tailored to the protection of health and safety.

(e) Coordination with treatment of empowerment zones and enterprise communities
For purposes of this title, the designation under section 1391 of any area as an empowerment zone or enterprise community shall cease to be in effect as of the date that the designation of any portion of such area as a renewal community takes effect.

(f) Definitions and special rules
For purposes of this subchapter

(1) Governments
If more than one government seeks to nominate an area as a renewal community, any reference to, or requirement of, this section shall apply to all such governments.

(2) Local government
The term local government means

(A) any county, city, town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State, and

(B) any combination of political subdivisions described in subparagraph (A) recognized by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(3) Application of rules relating to census tracts
The rules of section 1392 (b)(4) shall apply.

(4) Census data
Population and poverty rate shall be determined by using 1990 census data.

(g) Expansion of designated area based on 2000 census

(1) In general
At the request of all governments which nominated an area as a renewal community, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may expand the area of such community to include any census tract if

(A)

(i) at the time such community was nominated, such community would have met the requirements of this section using 1990 census data even if such tract had been included in such community, and

(ii) such tract has a poverty rate using 2000 census data which exceeds the poverty rate for such tract using 1990 census data, or

(B)

(i) such community would be described in subparagraph (A)(i) but for the failure to meet one or more of the requirements of paragraphs (2)(C)(i), (3)(C), and (3)(D) of subsection (c) using 1990 census data,

(ii) such community, including such tract, has a population of not more than 200,000 using either 1990 census data or 2000 census data,

(iii) such tract meets the requirement of subsection (c)(3)(C) using 2000 census data, and

(iv) such tract meets the requirement of subparagraph (A)(ii).

(2) Exception for certain census tracts with low population in 1990
In the case of any census tract which did not have a poverty rate determined by the Bureau of the Census using 1990 census data, paragraph (1)(B) shall be applied without regard to clause (iv) thereof.

(3) Special rule for certain census tracts with low population in 2000
At the request of all governments which nominated an area as a renewal community, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may expand the area of such community to include any census tract if

(A) either

(i) such tract has no population using 2000 census data, or

(ii) no poverty rate for such tract is determined by the Bureau of the Census using 2000 census data,

(B) such tract is one of general distress, and

(4) Period in effect
Any expansion under this subsection shall take effect as provided in subsection (b).

[1] So in original. The semicolon probably should be a comma.

TITLE 26 - US CODE - PART II - RENEWAL COMMUNITY CAPITAL GAIN; RENEWAL COMMUNITY BUSINESS

26 USC 1400F - Renewal community capital gain

(a) General rule
Gross income does not include any qualified capital gain from the sale or exchange of a qualified community asset held for more than 5 years.

(b) Qualified community asset
For purposes of this section

(1) In general
The term qualified community asset means

(A) any qualified community stock,

(B) any qualified community partnership interest, and

(2) Qualified community stock

(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term qualified community stock means any stock in a domestic corporation if

(i) such stock is acquired by the taxpayer after December 31, 2001, and before January 1, 2010, at its original issue (directly or through an underwriter) from the corporation solely in exchange for cash,

(ii) as of the time such stock was issued, such corporation was a renewal community business (or, in the case of a new corporation, such corporation was being organized for purposes of being a renewal community business), and

(iii) during substantially all of the taxpayers holding period for such stock, such corporation qualified as a renewal community business.

(B) Redemptions
A rule similar to the rule of section 1202 (c)(3) shall apply for purposes of this paragraph.

(3) Qualified community partnership interest
The term qualified community partnership interest means any capital or profits interest in a domestic partnership if

(A) such interest is acquired by the taxpayer after December 31, 2001, and before January 1, 2010, from the partnership solely in exchange for cash,

(B) as of the time such interest was acquired, such partnership was a renewal community business (or, in the case of a new partnership, such partnership was being organized for purposes of being a renewal community business), and

(C) during substantially all of the taxpayers holding period for such interest, such partnership qualified as a renewal community business.

A rule similar to the rule of paragraph (2)(B) shall apply for purposes of this paragraph.

(4) Qualified community business property

(A) In general
The term qualified community business property means tangible property if

(i) such property was acquired by the taxpayer by purchase (as defined in section 179 (d)(2)) after December 31, 2001, and before January 1, 2010,

(ii) the original use of such property in the renewal community commences with the taxpayer, and

(iii) during substantially all of the taxpayers holding period for such property, substantially all of the use of such property was in a renewal community business of the taxpayer.

(B) Special rule for substantial improvements
The requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as satisfied with respect to

(i) property which is substantially improved by the taxpayer before January 1, 2010, and

(ii) any land on which such property is located.

The determination of whether a property is substantially improved shall be made under clause (ii) of section 1400B (b)(4)(B), except that December 31, 2001 shall be substituted for December 31, 1997 in such clause.

(1) In general
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the term qualified capital gain means any gain recognized on the sale or exchange of

(A) a capital asset, or

(B) property used in the trade or business (as defined in section 1231 (b)).

(2) Gain before 2002 or after 2014 not qualified
The term qualified capital gain shall not include any gain attributable to periods before January 1, 2002, or after December 31, 2014.

(3) Certain rules to apply
Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of section 1400B (e) shall apply for purposes of this subsection.

(d) Certain rules to apply
For purposes of this section, rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) of subsection (b), and subsections (f) and (g), of section 1400B shall apply; except that for such purposes section 1400B (g)(2) shall be applied by substituting January 1, 2002 for January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2014 for December 31, 2012.

(e) Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations to prevent the abuse of the purposes of this section.

26 USC 1400G - Renewal community business defined

For purposes of this subchapter, the term renewal community business means any entity or proprietorship which would be a qualified business entity or qualified proprietorship under section 1397C if references to renewal communities were substituted for references to empowerment zones in such section.

TITLE 26 - US CODE - PART III - ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES

26 USC 1400H - Renewal community employment credit

(a) In general
Subject to the modification in subsection (b), a renewal community shall be treated as an empowerment zone for purposes of section 1396 with respect to wages paid or incurred after December 31, 2001.

(b) Modification
In applying section 1396 with respect to renewal communities

(1) the applicable percentage shall be 15 percent, and

(2) subsection (c) thereof shall be applied by substituting $10,000 for $15,000 each place it appears.

26 USC 1400I - Commercial revitalization deduction

(a) General rule
At the election of the taxpayer, either

(1) one-half of any qualified revitalization expenditures chargeable to capital account with respect to any qualified revitalization building shall be allowable as a deduction for the taxable year in which the building is placed in service, or

(2) a deduction for all such expenditures shall be allowable ratably over the 120-month period beginning with the month in which the building is placed in service.

(b) Qualified revitalization buildings and expenditures
For purposes of this section

(1) Qualified revitalization building
The term qualified revitalization building means any building (and its structural components) if

(A) the building is placed in service by the taxpayer in a renewal community and the original use of the building begins with the taxpayer, or

(B) in the case of such building not described in subparagraph (A), such building

(i) is substantially rehabilitated (within the meaning of section 47 (c)(1)(C)) by the taxpayer, and

(ii) is placed in service by the taxpayer after the rehabilitation in a renewal community.

(2) Qualified revitalization expenditure

(A) In general
The term qualified revitalization expenditure means any amount properly chargeable to capital account for property for which depreciation is allowable under section 168 (without regard to this section) and which is

(i) nonresidential real property (as defined in section 168 (e)), or

(ii) section 1250 property (as defined in section 1250 (c)) which is functionally related and subordinate to property described in clause (i).

(B) Certain expenditures not included

(i) Acquisition cost In the case of a building described in paragraph (1)(B), the cost of acquiring the building or interest therein shall be treated as a qualified revitalization expenditure only to the extent that such cost does not exceed 30 percent of the aggregate qualified revitalization expenditures (determined without regard to such cost) with respect to such building.

(ii) Credits The term qualified revitalization expenditure does not include any expenditure which the taxpayer may take into account in computing any credit allowable under this title unless the taxpayer elects to take the expenditure into account only for purposes of this section.

(c) Dollar limitation
The aggregate amount which may be treated as qualified revitalization expenditures with respect to any qualified revitalization building shall not exceed the lesser of

(1) $10,000,000, or

(2) the commercial revitalization expenditure amount allocated to such building under this section by the commercial revitalization agency for the State in which the building is located.

(d) Commercial revitalization expenditure amount

(1) In general
The aggregate commercial revitalization expenditure amount which a commercial revitalization agency may allocate for any calendar year is the amount of the State commercial revitalization expenditure ceiling determined under this paragraph for such calendar year for such agency.

(2) State commercial revitalization expenditure ceiling
The State commercial revitalization expenditure ceiling applicable to any State

(A) for each calendar year after 2001 and before 2010 is $12,000,000 for each renewal community in the State, and

(B) for each calendar year thereafter is zero.

(3) Commercial revitalization agency
For purposes of this section, the term commercial revitalization agency means any agency authorized by a State to carry out this section.

(4) Time and manner of allocations
Allocations under this section shall be made at the same time and in the same manner as under paragraphs (1) and (7) of section 42 (h).

(e) Responsibilities of commercial revitalization agencies

(1) Plans for allocation
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the commercial revitalization expenditure amount with respect to any building shall be zero unless

(A) such amount was allocated pursuant to a qualified allocation plan of the commercial revitalization agency which is approved (in accordance with rules similar to the rules of section 147 (f)(2) (other than subparagraph (B)(ii) thereof)) by the governmental unit of which such agency is a part, and

(B) such agency notifies the chief executive officer (or its equivalent) of the local jurisdiction within which the building is located of such allocation and provides such individual a reasonable opportunity to comment on the allocation.

(2) Qualified allocation plan
For purposes of this subsection, the term qualified allocation plan means any plan

(A) which sets forth selection criteria to be used to determine priorities of the commercial revitalization agency which are appropriate to local conditions,

(B) which considers

(i) the degree to which a project contributes to the implementation of a strategic plan that is devised for a renewal community through a citizen participation process,

(ii) the amount of any increase in permanent, full-time employment by reason of any project, and

(iii) the active involvement of residents and nonprofit">nonprofit groups within the renewal community, and

(f) Special rules

(1) Deduction in lieu of depreciation
The deduction provided by this section for qualified revitalization expenditures shall

(A) with respect to the deduction determined under subsection (a)(1), be in lieu of any depreciation deduction otherwise allowable on account of one-half of such expenditures, and

(B) with respect to the deduction determined under subsection (a)(2), be in lieu of any depreciation deduction otherwise allowable on account of all of such expenditures.

(2) Basis adjustment, etc.
For purposes of sections 1016 and 1250, the deduction under this section shall be treated in the same manner as a depreciation deduction. For purposes of section 1250 (b)(5), the straight line method of adjustment shall be determined without regard to this section.

(3) Substantial rehabilitations treated as separate buildings
A substantial rehabilitation (within the meaning of section 47(c)(1)(C)) of a building shall be treated as a separate building for purposes of subsection (a).

(4) Clarification of allowance of deduction under minimum tax
Notwithstanding section 56 (a)(1), the deduction under this section shall be allowed in determining alternative minimum taxable income under section 55.

(g) Termination
This section shall not apply to any building placed in service after December 31, 2009.

26 USC 1400J - Increase in expensing under section 179

(a) In general
For purposes of section 1397A

(1) a renewal community shall be treated as an empowerment zone,

(2) a renewal community business shall be treated as an enterprise zone business, and

(3) qualified renewal property shall be treated as qualified zone property.

(b) Qualified renewal property
For purposes of this section

(1) In general
The term qualified renewal property means any property to which section 168 applies (or would apply but for section 179) if

(A) such property was acquired by the taxpayer by purchase (as defined in section 179 (d)(2)) after December 31, 2001, and before January 1, 2010, and

(B) such property would be qualified zone property (as defined in section 1397D) if references to renewal communities were substituted for references to empowerment zones in section 1397D.

(2) Certain rules to apply
The rules of subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 1397D shall apply for purposes of this section.