BOND FINANCING
Checking your eligibility or exploring your financing options? START HERE:
Creditworthy manufacturing companies, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations, and exempt facilities in New Jersey may be eligible for long-term financing under the Bond Financing Program.
$500,000 to $10 million in tax-exempt bonds for for-profit companies, up to 20 years for real estate and 10 years for equipment
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$500,000 with no dollar limit in tax-exempt bonds for qualified not-for-profit organization
Longer terms
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Lower cost
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Fixed or variable interest rate
Capital improvements and expansions
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Land and building acquisitions, new construction and renovations, and equipment purchases
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Projects owned and operated for local, county and state government bodies
NJEDA issues conduit tax-exempt private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used to provide financing.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Through a federally authorized program, the NJEDA issues conduit tax-exempt private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used to provide financing.
Taxable bonds are also available for a wide variety of businesses, such as manufacturing, commercial, warehouse, and distribution, etc. Taxable bonds offer similar flexibility in structuring rates and terms but are not subject to the restrictions placed on tax-exempt financing under the IRC.
Bonds are sold via direct purchase or public offering. A financial intermediary, typically a bank, will directly purchase bonds from the NJEDA once it has performed a credit review on the applicant’s project. The bank sets the interest rate, terms and other financial details. In a public offering, bonds are purchased by an underwriter and sold to private investors in the public marketplace and may be structured with a bank’s commitment to provide a letter of credit (LOC) or a municipal bond insurance policy. Market conditions will determine the interest rate, while the bond’s terms and other financial details are set by the LOC provider.
ELIGIBILTY
Borrowers must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in order to qualify for tax-exempt bond financing, including:
- Manufacturing/processing facilities
- Governmentally owned public airports, docks, wharves
- Facilities that furnish water, electric, and gas; sewer facilities; and solid waste disposal, including certain recycling facilities
- Certain facilities for governmental bodies, which qualify as tax-exempt governmental obligations
- Certain not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entities, including service organizations, educational institutions and health care facilities
- Certain assisted living facilities, which qualify as residential rental projects
Please be advised: New Jersey State law prohibits most cannabis license and certification holders from receiving or continuing to receive an economic incentive from the NJEDA. If the applicant, or any person who controls the applicant or owns or controls more than one percent of the stock of the applicant, has applied for or received a license or a certification from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), the applicant is ineligible for this program and should not proceed with an application. If an application is received from an applicant that meets this criteria, the application will be declined and the application fee will not be refunded.
FEES
- Application Fee: $1,000
- Application Fee for Bond w/ Guarantee: $2,000
- Closing Fee for tax-exempt bonds: 0.5% of tax-exempt bond amount of up to first $15 million; 0.375% of the next $10 million and 0.5% of the bond amount in excess of $25 million
- Closing Fee for taxable bonds: one half of the closing tax-exempt bond fee noted above
- Closing Fee for nonprofits and governmental bodies: 0.5% of tax-exempt bond amount up to $10 million and 0.25% above this amount
- Closing Fees for conduit bond transactions, except for conduit bond transactions that support multi-jurisdictional, interstate projects: capped at $300,000
- Guarantee Fee: if required, will be up to 0.5% sized to percentage guarantee required, not to exceed 0.5% (For example, 25% guarantee will require a 0.25% fee, 50% guarantee will require a 0.5% fee.)
TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
Division of Taxation Tax Clearance Certificate required. Certificates may be requested through the State of New Jersey’s Premier Business Services (PBS) online portal.
- Under the Tax & Revenue Center, select Tax Services, then select Business Incentive Tax Clearance
- If the applicant’s account is in compliance with its tax obligations and no liabilities exist, the Business Incentive Tax Clearance can be printed directly through PBS.
- Additional, instructions detailing how to secure your tax clearance certificate are available for download.
Please be advised: It is the applicant/client’s responsibility to maintain a current and clear tax clearance certificate. If a current and clear certificate is not evidenced to NJEDA at time of closing, NJEDA will not proceed with closing.
PREVAILING WAGE
Projects utilizing NJEDA financial assistance for construction related costs are subject to state prevailing wage requirements.
Effective April 1, 2020, all construction contracts in which prevailing wage applies must provide proof of valid NJ Department of Labor Construction Registration Certification. Please email PWCR@dol.nj.gov if you have any questions about this requirement. Please be advised that a valid Contractor Registration Certificate is required to perform construction on this NJEDA financially assisted project.
QUESTIONS
Connect directly with your area’s NJEDA Business Banking Representative
Select Your County Below to Get Started
Additionally, for more information or to ask a specific question, please send an email to BusinessBanking@njeda.gov and a team member will reach out to you.



