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PR26-0252 • 2025

USBC Economic Development Corporation Revenue Bonds Project Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

USBC Economic Development Corporation Revenue Bonds Project Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
at the request of the Mayor
Last action
2025-07-11
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not explicitly state that it requires expedited approval, but implies it through mentioning economic uncertainty in financial markets.

Emergency Bond Issuance for USBC Economic Development

This resolution declares an emergency to allow the issuance of up to $37.5 million in revenue bonds to assist the U.S. Black Chambers Economic Development Corporation with project financing.

What This Bill Does

  • Declares that there is an emergency situation requiring immediate action for issuing bonds.
  • Allows the District of Columbia to issue up to $37.5 million in revenue bonds to assist USBC Economic Development Corporation.
  • Permits the loan of bond proceeds to cover costs related to acquiring property and equipment, as well as other expenses like credit enhancement and issuance fees.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The U.S. Black Chambers Economic Development Corporation
  • Investors who may purchase the bonds issued by the District of Columbia

Terms To Know

Revenue Bonds
Bonds that are repaid with income generated from a specific project or source.
Emergency Circumstances
Conditions requiring immediate action to address urgent needs, as determined by the Council of the District of Columbia.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not specify how the bond proceeds will be used beyond general project costs.
  • It is unclear what specific economic uncertainties are affecting the financial markets and impacting this decision.

Bill History

  1. 2025-07-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0161, Effective from Jul 01, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 007722

  2. 2025-07-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on PR26-0252 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  3. 2025-07-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development

  4. 2025-07-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  5. 2025-07-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0161

  6. 2025-06-26 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0252 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

USBC Economic Development Corporation Revenue Bonds Project Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-161

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

July 1, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to authorize and provide for the
issuance, sale, and delivery in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $37.5 million of
District of Columbia revenue bonds in one or more series, and to authorize and provide for
the loan of the proceeds of such bonds to assist U.S. Black Chambers Economic
Development Corporation in the financing, refinancing, or reimbursing of costs associated
with an authorized project pursuant to section 490 of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “USBC Economic Development Corporation Revenue Bonds Project
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. (a) USBC Economic Development Corporation is a nonprofit corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the District of Columbia (the “Borrower”), which seeks
to have District of Columbia revenue bonds issued and receive a loan of the proceeds from the sale
thereof for the financing, refinancing, or reimbursing of all or a portion of the Borrower’s costs of
the following project (“Project”):
(1) Acquisition of the fee simple interest of 1301 W Street, NE, Washington, DC,
and the acquisition of a leasehold interest of 1900 W Place, NE, 1235 W Street, NE, and Parcel C,
a 1.73 acre parking lot (Square 142, Lots 133, 134, 125, and 123) to be partially renovated by the
Borrower and be used by the Borrower as its headquarters facility (collectively, the “Facility”);
(2) Purchase and installation of certain equipment and furnishings for the Facility,
together with other property, real and personal, functionally related and subordinate thereto;
(3) Funding any credit enhancement costs, liquidity costs, capitalized interest or
debt service reserve fund relating to the bonds; and
(4) Paying issuance costs and other related costs to the extent permissible.
(b) The planned financing will make available funds critically needed to finance, refinance,
or reimburse the Borrower for costs of the Project.
(c) Due to the current economic uncertainty in the financial markets, it is important for the
Council to expedite the process for the issuance of the bonds and avoid any delay that may
adversely affect the ability of the Borrower to market the bonds to investors or to obtain an interest
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

2

rate within the range contemplated by the Project budget.
(d) Council approval of the emergency bond resolution authorizing the issuance of up to
$37.5 million of District of Columbia revenue bonds would permit the revenue bonds to be issued
promptly to provide maximum savings for the Borrower and enable the Project described in
subsection (a) of this section to be completed.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 hereof constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the
USBC Revenue Bonds Project Emergency Approval Resolution of 2025 be adopted on an
emergency basis.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.