17-6-318. Job credit interest rate reduction for small business loan participations. (1) A borrower who uses the proceeds of a small business loan participation funded under the provisions of this part to create jobs employing Montana residents is entitled to a job credit interest rate reduction for each job created over a 2-year period to employ a Montana resident. A borrower who used the proceeds of a loan made pursuant to 17-6-309(2) to create jobs is entitled to a job credit interest rate reduction for each job created in the 4-year period provided for in 17-6-311(4)(a). The date of the formal written interim or permanent loan application to the financial institution will be used as a beginning date for counting the number of jobs created. The job credit interest rate reduction may not apply to a loan participation of more than 1% of the total of the permanent coal tax trust fund determined at the end of the last-completed fiscal year. The job credit interest rate reduction is equal to 0.05% for each job created to employ a Montana resident, up to a maximum interest rate reduction of 2.5%.
     (2) If the salary or wage of the job created:
     (a) exceeds the average weekly wage, as defined in 39-71-116, the amount of the job credit interest rate reduction may be increased proportionately for each increment of 25% above the average weekly wage to a maximum of two times the average weekly wage; or
     (b) is less than the average weekly wage, as defined in 39-71-116, the job credit interest rate reduction is reduced proportionately for each 25% increment below the average wage.
     (3) A job credit interest rate reduction may not be allowed for a job created by the borrower using the proceeds of the loan for which the salary or wage is less than the minimum wage provided for in 39-3-409.
     (4) A job credit may not be given unless one whole job is created.
     (5) To qualify for the job credit interest rate reduction, the borrower shall provide satisfactory evidence of the creation of jobs and make application in writing, through its financial institution, to the board when the loan is delivered to the board or not later than 45 days after the applicable anniversary dates of the loan.

     History: En. Sec. 17, Ch. 589, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 98, L. 1997.