OAR 123-017-0020: Preference

(1) Except in the case of a loan made from the Oregon Targeted Development Account, the Finance Committee shall give preference to loan applications for projects that demonstrate an overall community benefit and that have one or more of the following characteristics: (a) Have a ratio of at least one projected job created or saved per $30,000 sought to be borrowed from the Oregon Business Development Fund. (b) Are operated by businesses with 100 or fewer employees; (c) Are located in rural or distressed areas of the state; (d) Are located in Enterprise Zones designated under ORS 285C.050 – 285C.250; (e) Employ displaced workers in the area; (f) Assist in the economic diversification of the area; (g) Contain a significant amount of owner equity capital. At least ten percent of the project costs for established companies (three years old or more) and 30 percent of project costs for start-ups (firms less than three years old, or firms making the transition from research and development to production) should come from equity or subordinated loans from the owners; (h) Maximize participation by financial institutions and local development groups; (i) Produce goods or services for the export market; (j) Encourage the flow of capital from outside the local area; and (k) Do not cause severe adverse competitive disadvantages to existing businesses. (2) The Finance Committee shall be the sole judge of the relative importance of each of the above factors for each individual loan application under consideration. Factors will not necessarily be assigned the same weights under all circumstances. (3) In the case of a loan made from the Oregon Targeted Development Account, the Finance Committee will strive to fund projects that will create or save at least one job for every $20,000 of Oregon Business Development Fund investment.