For our upcoming 25th Anniversary Video, we are asking for your help in showing the world the many faces of HAND. We invite you and your team to show your HAND spirit by submitting a “We Are HAND!” clip for our 25th Anniversary!
Send us a short video of you (or you and your team), smile into the camera and say: “We are (name of your organization) of (state) and we are HAND!”
Just that simple…and you could be featured in the HAND 25th Anniversary video premiering at our 2016 Annual Meeting & Housing Expo on June 21st!
For more information and a short ‘how-to’, click here!
On Wednesday, April 6, 2016 from 2:00- 4:00PM, Liz Bramlet Consulting, LLC will host a webinar to help attendees learn how to apply the 45-day grace period,and the IRS’s rules governing the LIHTC rent floor to insure you implement your income limits correctly while generating maximum revenue. We will also address how to apply these new limits at blended properties including LIHTC projects receiving assistance through the Section 8, Section 236, HOME and RAD programs.
Down the Section 8/Section 236 income limit at Section 8 Income Limits.
Q: Tell us about CohnReznick.
A: As one of the leading accounting, tax, and advisory firms in the country, CohnReznick also has one of the largest and most technically savvy affordable housing practices in our industry. More than 750 experienced professionals in 26 offices provide our clients with value-added services at each stage in the life cycle of a project—from pre-application to Year 15 to the post-tax credit period. In doing this, we draw upon the knowledge of dedicated practice groups in tax credit advisory, real estate development, construction, renewable energy, valuations, and transactions to provide clients with an integrated, one stop resource that helps our clients succeed. Our Office of Governmental Affairs provides a direct connection to the federal and state legislative initiative impacting project development, grant applications, and transactional activity.
Q: Share a key program or initiative that CohnReznick championed recently.
A: Many of the Firm’s contributions to the Affordable Housing industry revolve around preserving the low income housing tax credit (LIHTC). Last fall, CohnReznick brought together state leaders in affordable housing to form the first national board of independent state associations, Council of Independent State Housing Associations (CISHA). Since LIHTC was created, many states have formed statewide associations which are strong advocates for housing policy and provide feedback to their respective state governing bodies. By coming together, CISHA can amplify voices in Washington, DC area to strengthen support and funding for the tax credit program and link associations together to share operational commonalities and best practices.
Also, as part of a series of periodic reports issued by CohnReznick that address the economic performance of properties financed with federal low-income housing tax credits and of the investments that financed their development, CohnReznick released its fourth report “The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program at Year 30: Recent Investment Performance (2013-2014)” that provides a detailed analysis of the performance of housing credit properties and the latest performance trends observed across the national housing tax credit portfolio consisting of 20,000 properties. The report found that the LIHTC program, which reaches its 30th anniversary in 2016, has consistently delivered strong results for tax credit housing investors.
Q: How has being a HAND member supported your overall efforts?
Collaboration amongst organizations can simplify the path toward achieving our goals and can also lead to unexpected opportunities. CohnReznick’s membership in HAND helps us stay in front of organizations with similar goals and support the industry upon which our Firm was built. As a service provider of assurance, tax and advisory services to the affordable housing industry, our long-standing relationship with HAND enables us to stay current with the issues that affect HAND members as well as the clients we serve.
A 25th Anniversary and 2016 Annual Meeting & Housing Expo sponsor, HAND is pleased to spotlight the CohnReznick as a member who certainly contributes to our organization’s COLLABORATION, INNOVATION and TRANSFORMATION within the metropolitan area!
The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) announced today that, for the second year in a row, the District of Columbia metropolitan area has earned the #1 ranking in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most ENERGY STAR® certified buildings. This is the second year in a row the District has received the recognition.
“The District is honored to top EPA’s 2016 Top Cities list,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We continue to be a national leader in energy efficiency and green building – and these efforts by the private sector are critical to achieving our goal of cutting carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Building a sustainable and equitable city are a core values of the District. We remain committed to lowering our energy costs, creating healthier neighborhoods, and giving more DC residents a fair shot through good-paying jobs in the green economy.”
“EPA is pleased to recognize Washington, DC among America’s top cities paving the path toward a more energy-efficient economy,” said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial program. “DC and the other top cities continue to demonstrate the economic, public health, and environmental benefits of simple, cost-effective reductions in energy use.”
The Top Cities list ranks metropolitan areas according to the number of buildings earning ENERGY STAR certification in 2015. To qualify, a building must outperform 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide by earning an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on a 100-point scale. Since 2009, Los Angeles, California held the number one spot until the District took the title last year. The DC area boasts 686 local buildings that earned an ENERGY STAR rating in 2015, an increase of 200 buildings more than 2014. Last year, DC’s ENERGY STAR buildings helped the District save $179 million in total energy costs.
“As the first jurisdiction in the nation to pass a benchmarking law, we recognize the importance of performance data as the foundation for all energy efficiency,” said DOEE Director Tommy Wells. “Buildings consume the most energy and are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the District, but as property owners continue to track their energy and water use, they are taking steps to reduce energy consumption. Through innovative regulatory policies, renewable energy programs, and incentives, we will continue to push the envelope on energy efficiency and green building.”
District of Columbia law requires buildings over 50,000 gross square feet to annually measure and report their energy and water performance for public disclosure; key data for each building is then published online. 2014 benchmarking data for 1,500 public and private buildings is now available on DOEE’s website and on the District’s open data portal.
As of December 2015, more than 27,000 buildings in the United States have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings saved more than $3.8 billion and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual energy consumption of nearly 2.6 million homes. For more information about the 2016 ENERGY STAR Top Cities list, visit www.energystar.gov/TopCities. For more information about the District’s energy benchmarking program, visit http://doee.dc.gov/energybenchmarking.
On Thursday, April 21, 2016 from noon to 1:00 PM, CohnReznick will host a webinar to discussdiscuss the current not-for-profit environment, as well as changes to look for in 2016, relating to tax considerations. Included in this discussion will be important updates regarding impact from the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, updates to the 2015 Form 990 and IRS recommendations, potential “hidden traps” relating to state taxes, registration requirements for soliciting donation and Value-added tax (VAT) and permanent establishment (PE) issues arising out of holding conferences and selling materials outside the United States.This webinar is anticipated to qualify for 1 CPE credit. Register here!
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Payments: Orders placed on the event registration page are not confirmed until payment is received. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address listed in your registration. If you paid by credit card, a receipt will be sent to the email address listed in your registration. If you mail a check, all payments must be received within seven days of completing your registration form. Checks should be remitted to: HAND, PO Box 48386, Washington, DC 20002
Guest List & Dietary Preference: If your registration includes a luncheon table or multiple guests, please submit guest names and menu choices by May 1, 2020. Submit guest names here.
Housing Expo: Plan to exhibit? Download the Housing Expo FAQs here.
Omni Shoreham Hotel Room Block: For attendees looking to secure overnight accommodations on May 25th, HAND has secured a rate starting at $189 for conference attendees. There are a limited amount of rooms available, so visit this link today to reserve your room. May 10th is the last day to secure a room at the discounted rate.
Ad Submission: The artwork for advertisements should be submitted to annualmeeting@handhousing.org. You can download the ad spec sheet here. Deadline for ad submission is April 13, 2020.
Cancellations & Changes: If you wish to cancel or change your registration for the Annual Meeting & Housing Expo, please send a request in writing to annualmeeting@handhousing.org. All cancellation requests made prior to April 27th will receive a 50% refund. For cancellation requests made after April 27th, no refund will be provided.
Door Prizes: Are you interested in donating a door prize to this year’s Annual Meeting? Email annualmeeting@handhousing.org to coordinate with our team.
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