1.    Each city with a designated renaissance zone may establish a renaissance fund organization, if the detailed plan for such an organization is clearly established in the development plan and approved with the plan, or is submitted at a later date to the department of commerce division of community services for approval after the designation of a renaissance zone.

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2.    The purpose of a renaissance fund organization is solely to raise funds to be used to finance zone projects and other projects located in designated renaissance zones. A renaissance fund organization may provide financing to projects undertaken by individuals, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and public entities. The financing may include any combination of equity investments, loans, guarantees, and commitments for financing. The amount of financing is not limited by this chapter.

3.    A renaissance fund organization is exempt from any tax imposed by chapter 57-38. An exemption under this section may be passed through to any shareholder, partner, and     owner if the renaissance fund organization is a passthrough entity for tax purposes. A corporation entitled to the exemption provided by this subsection shall file required returns and report income to the tax commissioner as required by the provisions of chapter 57-38 as if the exemption did not exist. If an employer, this subsection does not exempt a renaissance fund organization from complying with the income tax withholding laws.

4.    A credit against state tax liability as determined under section 57-38-30 or 57-38-30.3 is allowed for investments in a renaissance fund organization. The amount of the credit is fifty percent of the amount invested in the renaissance fund organization during the taxable year. Any amount of credit which exceeds a taxpayer’s tax liability for the taxable year may be carried forward for up to five taxable years after the taxable year in which the investment was made.

5.    The total amount of credits allowed under this section may not exceed, in the aggregate, ten million five hundred thousand dollars for investments in renaissance fund organizations. A renaissance fund organization that has received investments that qualify for the credits under this subsection shall use those investments to finance projects within a renaissance zone. If the total amount of credits allowed under this section have been claimed, the renaissance fund organization allowance must terminate and additional credits may not be made available for investments in a renaissance fund organization.

6.    Income to a renaissance fund organization derived from the sale or refinancing of zone properties financed wholly or in part by the organization may be disbursed as annual dividends equal to the income, minus ten percent, derived from all sources and proportional to the investment. In the event of a loss to the fund resulting in a temporary diminishment of the fund below the original principal amount, no annual dividend may be paid until the fund is restored.

7.    Income to a renaissance fund organization derived from interest or the temporary investment of its funds in certificates of deposit, bonds, treasury bills, or securities may be used for administration.

8.    If an investment in a renaissance fund organization which is the basis for a credit under this section is redeemed by the investor within ten years of the date it is purchased, the credit provided by this section for the investment must be disallowed, and any credit previously claimed and allowed with respect to the investment must be paid to the tax commissioner with the appropriate return of the taxpayer covering the period in which the redemption occurred. When payments are made to the tax commissioner under this section, the amount collected must be handled in the same manner as if no credit had been allowed.

9.    A renaissance fund organization shall secure an annual audit of its financial records, prepared by an independent certified public accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The audit report must include a statement of the percentage of annual investments received by the organization which have been invested by the organization in investments permitted under this chapter, including the use of investments, distinguishing between organization investments made in renaissance zones and outside renaissance zones. A renaissance fund organization shall file a copy of each audit of its financial records under this subsection with the governing body of the city in which it was established, the department of commerce division of community services, and the tax commissioner. The department of commerce division of community services shall provide an annual report to the budget section of the legislative management showing the conclusions of audit reports filed under this subsection.

10.    Renaissance fund organization officers and employees may be actively involved in the enterprises in which the renaissance fund organization invests but the renaissance fund organization may not invest in any enterprise if any one renaissance fund organization officer or employee owns more than forty-nine percent of the ownership interest in the enterprise. A renaissance fund organization may not invest in an enterprise if renaissance fund organization officers and employees collectively own    more than forty-nine percent of the ownership interests, either through direct ownership or through ownership of interest in a passthrough entity.