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r MARBOOK 91 PAGE 92#8 Director Keating explained that the term partnership in this context refers to a process rather than to a group or an organization. He emphasized that staff met with representatives of various financial institutions and will be meeting with representatives of the Press Journal and the Board of Realtors. Staff is trying to set up a meeting with the Builders' Association. A home buyers education program is being developed to inform people about the affordable housing incentive plan. There have been 26 loans approved to date, and staff hopes to approve 4 more loans this week. We have the $250,000 a year SHIP program, and we have received several million dollars in grants from the Florida Community Trust Program during the last few months. We have obtained an Economic Development Grant. David Petroni, executive director of the Community Housing Initiative Trust, announced that the Community Housing Initiative Trust is a non-profit organization which is actively involved in the affordable housing program in Brevard County. He stated that Brevard County has a policy of expediting permits for affordable housing because timing can be important in obtaining grant money. Nancy Offutt, from the Vero Beach -Indian River County Board of Realtors, felt that the private sector should have an opportunity to participate in purchases of surplus county land at below-market prices for the purpose of developing affordable housing. She pointed out that the State legislation provides for the private sector to be the primary participants in the project, and she did not understand why the County would make surplus property available to non-profit agencies but not to for-profit groups at less than market value. It was determined that no one else wished to be heard and the Chairman closed the public hearing. Commissioner Macht suggested using the language of the original statement 2 instead of the revised language. Commissioner Bird suggested that the property be made available to the private sector as well as to non-profit organizations. Commissioner Eggert suggested we omit the entire phrase having to do with selling the property at below market prices. Commissioner Adams pointed -out that the key issue is whether the developers or the people who rent the property benefit. Attorney Collins advised that when County -owned property is offered for sale, it must be sold to the highest bidder, unless the Commission determines that it is in the interest of the community to sell it to a non-profit organization for a below-market price: 26