Year after year, we strive to give our attendees a new experience at our annual conference. We move from one exciting city to another. We serve local cuisine and visit local hotspots. We fashion smiles in the form of puppy parties or photo booths.
What stays consistent is our quality content and expert instruction — our meat and potatoes! We combine instruction, client case studies, panel discussions with industry experts and hands-on activities.
Our team has put together a great lineup of instruction for our 19th Annual Travois Indian Country Affordable Housing & Economic Development Conference! In our two days together, we will introduce the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) programs, highlight client developments, hear from veteran developers, explore new opportunities with impact investing, explain important asset management and compliance rules, get creative with our design team and plan future possibilities for growth and development in your community.
Read on to see what information we’ll feast on in Miami!
Let us know you’re coming, so we save you a seat.
Investing in and growing your affordable housing stock: LIHTC as a strategy for success
Bryan Schuler and Mike Price will introduce the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program with specific focus on understanding the financial considerations and compliance, reporting and inspection requirements. Learn how your tribe can leverage tax credits to build new housing or rehabilitate existing housing in your community, reduce waiting lists and provide homes for your tribal members. Developments can be tailored to provide housing for low-income, extremely low-income, families, elders, workforce, special needs populations and students, and at the same time, can fund community buildings and amenities.
How to move from inspiration to design to construction to completed homes and structures
Ashley Bland will share inspiration photos and talk about how to dream big and then apply those dreams to reality. We’ll examine a number of tribal affordable housing projects and talk about how the initial architectural design process informs the final output. Many experienced project developers will be in the room and can provide feedback on their experience using tax credits to create efficient, beautiful and quality housing. This session will close with a discussion on project delivery methods, with introduction and discussion of the construction management format.
How the Tohono O’odham Nation is building dreams: Spotlight on TOKA Homes #3 and its 38 new homes and amenities
Black Mountain (aka TOKA Homes #3) is the Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki Association (TOKA)’s third LIHTC development and its first LIHTC development in the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation in Tucson, AZ. At the groundbreaking ceremony, TOKA Board Chairwoman Kimberly Mull spoke about how pleased she was to see the development beginning construction. “This is what I dreamed about, this is what I prayed about,” she said. “I am so glad that I see it, I see it with my eyes.” The 38-unit development is moving forward thanks to an award of LIHTCs from the Arizona Department of Housing and a $900,000 Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) grant from the United States Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. In addition to new homes, the development is also building a community center, playground, barbecue area and a basketball court. This session will give an overview of how this much-needed development, including its inspired design, came to fruition.
Build consensus and gain momentum: Strategies for assessing needs, defining goals and master planning for developments
The morning sessions focused on the power and flexibility of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program for structuring, financing and designing developments. Now, let’s step back and take a look at the bigger picture. Scarce resources and abundant housing needs (and no shortage of opinions) are common, and combined, can make it challenging to decide where to start. Assessing your community’s needs, defining and articulating community goals, and prioritizing and creating a master plan are critical steps to take before initiating a development. This session will give an overview of strategies and tools to help drive decision-making, build credibility, support and excitement and help you move forward.
Myth or fact? Answering your burning questions about sustaining operations after an award of credits
Mike Price, Crystal Banks-Mann and a panel of seasoned professionals discuss asset management and compliance best practices, construction, 8609s, final pays and everything in between. Learn important action items to keep your development running smoothly from start to finish and even after it reaches year 15.
Small-group sessions – Affordable housing development brainstorming & opportunities
Do you want to know what a 32-unit new construction project may look like financed with tax credits? Do you have an idea for a renovation project that you’d like to discuss? Or do you simply want more detail on the LIHTC program? Use this time as an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a Travois team member to model a development and brainstorm opportunities.
Filling financing gaps to move economic development forward: Using New Markets Tax Credits
Michel Bland will cover the essential components of New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) developments, which can be used to finance health care facilities, government and administration buildings, manufacturing centers, renewable energy systems, and other infrastructure, essential services and businesses. We’ll discuss what to keep in mind regarding project location, eligibility of projects, investor requirements and many more details.
Economic opportunities beyond tax credits: Impact investing
Eva Schulte will explain opportunities to attract impact investors who can bring financial resources to Indian Country for new economic, housing and community development. She’ll cover the different types of investors and how to find them, what kinds of developments they are interested in and more. In addition, she will give an overview of how tribes can use an environmental, social and governance framework to more powerfully position projects with investors. She’ll explain the long-term benefits and why tribal organizations might want to include impact investments as a blended value with tax credit projects or flexible financing for priority developments.
NMTC development case study with Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
Red Lake Inc., an economic development enterprise of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, and its subsidiary, Red Lake Retail, are building a new grocery store to better serve the Red Lake Reservation and surrounding community. The store, directly across the street from the existing Red Lake Trading Post, will increase store space to about 2.5 times current space, add a Subway restaurant, expand produce, dairy, meat and grocery options, and will help realize substantial energy savings. Phil Glynn will discuss the Red Lake grocery store with a panel of industry partners. He will describe the steps that were taken, the hurdles the development overcame, and the benefits of using New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) for this highly impactful Indian Country project.
Accounting practices and hot topics: Be prepared for your LIHTC audit
Finance experts will discuss preparation, what to expect for your first audit, ways to minimize your audit risks and other hot topics. By putting accounting practices in place early, you can avoid some of the most common audit flags. We will discuss the importance of creating a chart of accounts that will designate the type of transaction: asset, liability, equity, revenue or expense. Plan ahead, be prepared and pass with flying colors!
Beyond the credit: Conversion to homeownership
Mike Price will discuss homeownership opportunities offered through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. He will review the process – what to consider when applying for LIHTCs and up through the conversion process – to show how units can be transferred to homeowners after Year 15. Mike will also highlight successful developments and developers who have experience with the process.
Updates from The Hill
Join us to hear how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affects affordable housing and economic development in Indian Country and beyond and created Opportunity Zones, a new community development program to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide. We will hear from an accounting expert to help us understand the pros and cons and what it all means for your organization.
Small-group sessions: Economic development and impact investments brainstorming & opportunities
Do you have an idea for economic development that’s needed in your community? Let’s talk through whether the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) or impact investments are an option for financing it. Do you need additional ideas for financing sources you could combine to move your development forward? Use this time to meet in small groups with a Travois team member to brainstorm opportunities.
Find session times and a full agenda on our website.
Haven’t registered yet? Join us in Miami!