§41-10-44.3. Additional powers of authority.

In addition to the powers granted to it in Section 41-10-26 and in Sections 41-10-37 through 41-10-43, the authority shall have the following powers:

(1) To adopt and alter bylaws for the regulation and conduct of its affairs and business;

(2) To borrow money and to issue project obligations, whether or not the interest thereon is excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes, for the purpose of financing project costs, and to provide for the rights of the purchasers, holders or owners of its project obligations;

(3) To execute and deliver mortgages, security agreements and trust indentures and other forms of agreements for the purpose of securing its project obligations, and in connection therewith, to mortgage, pledge or assign the revenues, receipts and other property of the authority received, and the financing agreements entered into by the authority in connection with, the financing of projects under this Article 2A;

(4) To purchase promissory notes, mortgages, security interests or participations in promissory notes evidencing loans executed to provide financing for projects and to enter into contracts and agreements in that regard;

(5) To make loans to any approved company for project costs, which loans may be evidenced or secured by loan agreements, promissory notes, mortgages, security agreements, assignments, letters of credit, guaranties, surety bonds, insurance policies or such other instruments, or upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors shall determine to be reasonable. In entering into any financing agreement, the authority shall have the right and power to require the inclusion therein of such provisions or requirements for guaranties of obligations, insurance, construction, use, operation, maintenance, management and financing of a project, and such other terms and conditions, as the authority may deem desirable and appropriate;

(6) To arrange for various forms of security or credit enhancement for its project obligations including letters of credit, guaranties, policies of insurance, surety bonds and the like;

(7) To sell mortgages and security interests at public or private sale, to negotiate modifications or alterations in mortgage and security interests, to foreclose on any mortgage or security interest in default or commence any action to protect or enforce any right conferred upon it by any law, mortgage, security agreement, contract, or other agreement, and to bid for and purchase property which was the subject of such mortgage or security interest at any foreclosure or at any other sale, to acquire or take possession of any such property, and to exercise any and all rights as provided by law for the benefit or protection of the authority or the holders of project obligations;

(8) To collect such fees and charges in connection with its loans, project obligations and financing agreements, including, but not limited to, reimbursement of costs of financing, as the authority shall determine to be reasonable;

(9) To make and execute contracts for the servicing of loans made by the authority and mortgages acquired by the authority and to pay the reasonable value of services rendered to the authority pursuant to such contracts;

(10) To accept gifts, grants, loans, appropriations and other forms of aid from the federal government, the state or any state agency, or any political subdivision of the state, or any person or corporation, foundation, or legal entity, and to agree to and comply with any conditions attached to federal and state financial assistance not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article 2A;

(11) To invest moneys of the authority not required for immediate use, including proceeds from the sale of any project obligations, in such manner as the board of directors shall determine;

(12) To establish accounts in one or more depositories;

(13) To appoint, employ, contract with and provide for the compensation of, such employees and agents, including engineers, attorneys, contractors, consultants, accountants, fiscal advisors, trustees, paying agents, investment bankers and underwriters as the board of directors shall deem necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the authority; provided, however, that when hiring investment bankers and underwriters, the board of directors shall retain the firm(s) requested by an approved company unless there is a compelling reason to the contrary, and provided further that when hiring investment bankers, underwriters, or attorneys, they shall retain a firm(s) whose principal office is located in the state;

(14) To make, enter into and execute financing agreements and such other contracts, agreements or other instruments and to take such other actions as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish any purpose for which the authority was organized or to exercise any power granted to it;

(15) To establish one or more tax increment funds with respect to a project as provided in Section 41-10-44.8;

(16) To exercise any power granted by the laws of the state to public or private corporations which is not in conflict with the public purpose of this article; and

(17) To adopt and promulgate administrative regulations necessary or appropriate to effectuate its purposes and to administer the program authorized herein.

(Acts 1993, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 93-851, p. 79, §1.)