**POSTPONED** HERO/PACE Seminar

Description

There seems to be some confusion and misguided information about the HERO program – (Home Energy Renovation Opportunity). In an effort to better understand just how the HERO program (residential focused) and PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) which is the commercial / industrial application version the Corona Chamber and City of Corona has invited Rick Bishop, Executive Director for WRCOG (Western Riverside Association Of Governments) to be our speaker on this subject. Mr. Bishop is executive director of the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), a joint powers authority consisting of 17 cities, the County of Riverside, the Eastern and Western Municipal Water Districts, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. He is responsible for developing and implementing programs in diverse areas such as transportation, energy, environment, growth, and the economy.
WRCOG’s HERO Program provides financing to property owners to implement a range of energy saving, renewable energy, and water conserving improvements to their homes and businesses.  Improvements must be permanently fixed to the property and must meet certain criteria to be eligible for financing.  Financing is paid back through a lien placed on the property tax bill.  The HERO Program was initiated in December 2011 and has been expanded (an effort called “California HERO”) to allow for jurisdictions throughout the state to join WRCOG’s Program and allow property owners in these jurisdictions to participate. 
 
All interested parties are invited to attend this presentation at the Corona Chamber, 904 E Sixth Street, Corona 92879. Registration is simple, log on to www.MyChamber.org or call 951-737-3350. It is a free seminar for Chamber members, Corona businesses and residents. Non-residents fee is $40.
HERO is a PACE program that provides financing for energy-efficient and renewable energy products. In the state of California, HERO provides these same financing options for water-saving and drought-resistant products.
HERO offers more consumers access to energy-efficient options because HERO is financed as an assessment on your property. The interest on these payments may be tax deductible (Property owners should consult their tax advisor regarding potential tax benefits). Approval for HERO is primarily based on the equity in your home and your debt payment history, rather than your credit score. HERO finances 100% of the cost to purchase and install eligible products, with fixed rates and flexible terms of 5-25 years, depending on the improvements you choose and the state in which you are located.
Should you decide to sell your property before your HERO assessment is paid in full, any remaining balance may be able to transfer to a new property owner (of course, with any situation, there are exemptions or rules and we encourage you to read the fine print on any paperwork).
Rick will provide the attendees an overview, as well provide answers to questions – some of the commonly asked ones are listed below.

• How is HERO financing paid through my property taxes?
• Are all contractors qualified to install eligible HERO products?
• What happens if a property is sold?
• What are the eligibility criteria for HERO?
• What products are eligible for HERO?
• If I owe more on my house than its market value, am I still eligible for HERO?
• Can a mobile home/manufactured home qualify for HERO?
• Does a condominium qualify for HERO?
• Can a property placed in a trust qualify for HERO?