New Home Tax Credits Available

From the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB):

The 2010 New Home/First Time Buyer tax credits are available for taxpayers who purchase a qualified principal residence on or after May 1, 2010, and before January 1, 2011. Additionally, these tax credits are available for taxpayers who purchase a qualified principal residence on or after December 31, 2010, and before August 1, 2011, pursuant to an enforceable purchase agreement executed on or before December 31, 2010. The purchase date is defined as the date escrow closes.

These tax credits are limited to the smaller amount of five percent of the purchase price or $10,000 for a qualified principal residence. Taxpayers must apply the total tax credit in equal amounts over three successive tax years (maximum of $3,333 per year) beginning with the tax year in which the home is purchased. The tax credits cannot reduce regular tax below tentative minimum tax (TMT). The tax credits are nonrefundable and the unused credits cannot be carried over.

The total amount of allocated tax credit for all taxpayers may not exceed $100 million for the New Home Credit and $100 million for the First-Time Buyer Credit.

COBRA Subsidy Eligibility Period Extended to May 31

From the IRS:

Workers who lose their jobs during April and May may qualify for a 65-percent subsidy on their COBRA health insurance premiums, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act established this subsidy to help workers who lost their jobs as a result of the recession maintain their employer sponsored health insurance.
The Continuing Extension Act of 2010, enacted April 15, reinstated the COBRA subsidy, which had expired on March 31. As a result, workers who are involuntarily terminated from employment between Sept. 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010, may be eligible for a 65-percent subsidy of their COBRA premiums for a period of up to 15 months. In some cases, workers who had their hours reduced and later lose their jobs may also be eligible for the subsidy.
Employers must provide COBRA coverage to eligible individuals who pay 35 percent of the COBRA premium. Employers are reimbursed for the other 65 percent by claiming a credit for the subsidy on their payroll tax returns: Form 941, Employers QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return, Form 944, Employer’s ANNUAL Federal Tax Return, or Form 943, Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees. Employers must maintain supporting documentation for the claimed credit.
There is much more information about the COBRA subsidy, including questions and answers for employers, and for employees or former employees, on the COBRA pages of IRS.gov.
Some people who are eligible for the COBRA subsidy also qualify for the health coverage tax credit (HCTC) and may want to choose the more generous HCTC benefit, instead. The HCTC pays 80 percent of health insurance premiums for those who qualify. See more at HCTC: Eligibility Requirements and How to Receive the HCTC.

More contractors are likely to perform stimulus funded work this year

From the Associated General Contractors of America:

Stimulus funded infrastructure projects are saving and creating more direct construction jobs than initially estimated, according to a new analysis of federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The analysis also found that more contractors are likely to perform stimulus funded work this year as work starts on many of the non-transportation projects funded in the initial package.

"The stimulus is one of the very few bright spots the construction industry experienced last year and is one of the few hopes keeping it going in 2010," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "The stimulus is saving construction jobs, driving demand for new equipment and delivering better and more efficient infrastructure for our economy."

Simonson noted that new federal reports show the $20.6 billion dollars worth of stimulus highway projects initiated over the past twelve months have saved or created nearly 280,000 direct construction jobs. That amounts to 15,000 jobs per billion dollars invested, well above pre-stimulus estimates that every billion invested in infrastructure projects would create 9,700 direct construction jobs.

The economist added that heavy and civil engineering construction employment was stable last month even as total construction employment declined by 75,000. Meanwhile, highway and road construction was one of the only areas to see an increase in spending last year even as total construction spending fell by $100 billion. The two figures are a clear sign the stimulus is having a significant, and stabilizing, impact on the industry, Simonson noted.

Simonson cited examples like Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle Construction Co as an indication of the benefits of investing in infrastructure. The company is hiring two new engineers and over 100 employees this spring just to perform $24 million worth of stimulus-funded projects this year.

It also is ordering new construction equipment to perform the work from Ripon, California-based Guntert and Zimmerman. As a result, the equipment maker saved 40 jobs on its assembly line. And thanks to its stimulus work, Golden Triangle decided to complete construction of its delayed headquarters, providing even more local construction jobs.

Simonson cautioned however that overall declines in construction activity have, and likely will continue to overshadow the benefits of the stimulus. "The stimulus will keep a bad situation from deteriorating further," Simonson said. "That may not make for great headlines, but it is welcome news for construction workers anxious to continue receiving paychecks."

Read Ken Simonson's analysis of the impacts of the stimulus.

Tax Credit Helps Pay for Higher Education Expenses

The IRS provides the following information about the new credit for higher education... The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed in early 2009 and created the American Opportunity Credit. This educational tax credit – which expanded the existing Hope credit – helps parents and students pay for college and college-related expenses. Here are the top nine things the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this valuable credit and how you can benefit from it when you file your 2009 taxes. 1. The credit can be claimed for tuition and certain fees paid for higher education in 2009 and 2010. 2. The American Opportunity Credit can be claimed for expenses paid for any of the first four years of post-secondary education. 3. The credit is worth up to $2,500 and is based on a percentage of the cost of qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the taxable year for each eligible student. This is a $700 increase from the Hope Credit. 4. The term "qualified tuition and related expenses" has been expanded to include expenditures for required course materials. For this purpose, the term "course materials" means books, supplies and equipment required for a course of study. 5. Taxpayers will receive a tax credit based on 100 percent of the first $2,000 of tuition, fees and course materials paid during the taxable year, plus 25 percent of the next $2,000 of tuition, fees and course materials paid during the taxable year. 6. Forty percent of the credit is refundable, so even those who owe no tax can get up to $1,000 of the credit for each eligible student as cash back. 7. To be eligible for the full credit, your modified adjusted gross income must be $80,000 or less -- $160,000 or less for joint filers. 8. The credit begins to decrease for individuals with incomes above $80,000 or $160,000 for joint filers and is not available for individuals who make more than $90,000 or $180,000 for joint filers. 9. The credit is claimed using Form 8863, Education Credits, (American Opportunity, Hope, and Lifetime Learning Credits), and is attached to Form 1040 or 1040A. For more information about the American Opportunity Tax Credit visit the IRS Web site at IRS.gov/recovery.

New Year’s Resolutions for Small Business

WebCPA offers 10 tips for small businesses as we head into the new year.

1. Pay your employees first, they are your highest priority and don’t forget the IRS – keep current with payroll taxes.
2. Pay attention to the credit worthiness of your customers so you are confident your will get your money. Remember a sale is not a sale until you have been paid.
3. Limit the amount of business you do with any one customer so you aren’t left penniless if they run into trouble and are unable to pay.
4. Bad business is worse than no business. Customers who fail to pay their bills on time should not be your customer any longer.
5. If a customer becomes undependable, change the terms to COD (cash on delivery). That way you can keep the customer and avoid the uncertainly of payment.
6. Keep an accurate and complete audit trail. Don’t do business on a handshake when the future of your company could be at stake.
7. Keep management accounts and use financial reporting. Plan how you will pay your expenses, rather than paying bills based on how much is in your checking account at that moment.
8. Cash flow counts. Focus on shortening terms with your customers and structure the pricing to coincide with those terms. If you wait 90 days to be paid that means you are financing your customer’s business. Or, if you give extended terms, get paid more.
9. Think about establishing a lending relationship when you don’t need financing; that’s the best time to ask for money. Then follow the financial reporting requirements. Make it easy for the financial institution to lend you money.
10. Explore alternative lenders. You will probably be surprised to learn what’s out there. It can take time to find financing sources. Do your homework and get all of your questions answered ahead of time – before a crisis hits.

Newly Extended & Expanded Homebuyer Credit

On November 6, the President signed into law H.R. 3548, the ''Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009.'' The new law extends and generally liberalizes the tax credit for first-time homebuyers. The following is a summary of these tax provisions. Homebuyer credit basics. Before the new law was enacted, the homebuyer credit was only available for qualifying first-time home purchases after April 8, 2008, and before December 1, 2009. The top credit for homes bought in 2009 is $8,000 ($4,000 for a married individual filing separately) or 10% of the residence's purchase price, whichever is less. Only the purchase of a main home located in the U.S. qualifies. Vacation homes and rental properties are not eligible. The homebuyer credit reduces one's tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, and if the credit is more than the tax you owe, the difference is paid to you as a tax refund. For homes bought after Dec. 31, 2008, the homebuyer credit is recaptured (i.e., paid back to the IRS) if a person disposes of the home (or stops using it as a principal residence) within 36 months from the date of purchase. Before the new law, the first-time homebuyer credit phased out for individual taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (AGI) between $75,000 and $95,000 ($150,000 and $170,000 for joint filers) for the year of purchase. Revised homebuyer credit. The new law makes four important changes to the homebuyer credit: (1) Extension. The homebuyer credit is extended to apply to a principal residence bought before May 1, 2010. The homebuyer credit also applies to a principal residence bought before July 1, 2010 by a person who enters into a written binding contract before May 1, 2010, to close on the purchase of the principal residence before July 1, 2010. In general, a home is considered bought for credit purposes when the closing takes place. So the extra two-months (May and June of 2010) helps buyers who find a home they like but can't close on it before May 1, 2010. They can go to contract on the home before May 1, 2010, close on it before July 1, 2010, and get the homebuyer credit (if they otherwise qualify). Note that certain service members on qualified official extended duty service outside of the U.S. get an extra year to buy a qualifying home and get the credit; they also can avoid the recapture rules under certain circumstances. (2) Expansion of qualifying homes. The homebuyer credit may be claimed by existing homeowners who are “long-time residents.” For purchases after November 6, 2009, you can claim the homebuyer credit if you (and, if married, your spouse) maintained the same principal residence for any 5-consecutive year period during the 8-years ending on the date that you buy the subsequent principal residence. For example, if you and your spouse are empty nesters who have lived in your suburban home for the past ten years, you are potentially eligible for the credit if you “move down” and buy a smaller townhome. There's no requirement for your current home to be sold in order to qualify for a homebuyer credit on the replacement principal residence. Thus, the replacement residence can be bought to beat the new deadlines (explained above) before the old home is sold. For that matter, you can hold on to your prior principal residence in the hope of achieving a better selling price later on. The maximum allowable homebuyer credit for qualifying existing homeowners is $6,500 ($3,250 for a married individual filing separately), or 10% of the purchase price of the subsequent principal residence, whichever is less. (3) Expansion of eligible taxpayers. The homebuyer credit is available to higher income taxpayers. For purchases after November 6, 2009, the homebuyer credit phases out over much higher modified AGI levels, making the credit available to a much bigger pool of buyers. For individuals, the phaseout range is between $125,000 and $145,000, and for those filing a joint return, it's between $225,000 and $245,000. (4) Limit on home price. For purchases after Nov. 6, 2009, the homebuyer credit cannot be claimed for a home if its purchase price exceeds $800,000. It's important to note that there is no phaseout mechanism. A purchase price that exceeds the $800,000 threshold by even a single dollar will cause the loss of the entire credit. The new purchase price limitation applies whether you are buying a first-time principal residence or are a qualifying existing homeowner purchasing a replacement principal residence. Other homebuyer credit changes. The new law includes a number of new anti-abuse rules to prevent taxpayers from claiming the homebuyer credit even though they don't qualify for it. The most important of these are as follows:

• Beginning with the 2010 tax return, the homebuyer credit can't be claimed unless the taxpayer attaches to the return a properly executed copy of the settlement statement used to complete the purchase of the qualifying residence.
• For purchases after Nov. 6, 2009, the homebuyer credit can't be claimed unless the taxpayer has attained 18 years of age as of the date of purchase (a married person is treated as meeting the age requirement if he or his spouse meets the age requirement).
• For purchases after Nov. 6, 2009, the homebuyer credit can't be claimed by a taxpayer if he can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer for the tax year of purchase. It also can't be claimed for a home bought from a person related to the buyer or the spouse of the buyer, if married.
• Beginning with 2009 returns, the new law makes it easier for the IRS to go after questionable homebuyer credit claims without initiating a full-scale audit.

Please feel free to contact us if you think you may benefit from the homebuyer credit.

California Governor announces 5 new stimulus projects

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s California Recovery Task Force announced this month that $53 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding has been allocated by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to five additional transportation projects in California, located in:

• San Luis Obispo County
• Santa Barbara County
• Santa Clara County
• Alpine County
• Inland Empire

A comprehensive list of all projects that received allocations of this funding is available here.

Tax Credits Help Homeowners Winterize their Homes

The IRS reminds taxpayers of tax credits available for energy-saving improvements. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), enacted earlier this year, expanded two home energy tax credits: the nonbusiness energy property credit and the residential energy efficient property credit. (1) Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit: This credit equals 30 percent of what a homeowner spends on eligible energy-saving improvements, up to a maximum tax credit of $1,500 for the combined 2009 and 2010 tax years. The cost of certain high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and stoves that burn biomass all qualify, along with labor costs for installing these items. In addition, the cost of energy-efficient windows and skylights, energy-efficient doors, qualifying insulation and certain roofs also qualify for the credit, though the cost of installing these items does not count. By spending as little as $5,000 before the end of the year on eligible energy-saving improvements, a homeowner can save as much as $1,500 on his or her 2009 federal income tax return. Due to limits based on tax liability, other credits claimed by a particular taxpayer and other factors, actual tax savings will vary. These tax savings are on top of any energy savings that may result. (2) Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit: Homeowners going green should also check out a second tax credit designed to spur investment in alternative energy equipment. The residential energy efficient property credit, equals 30 percent of what a homeowner spends on qualifying property such as solar electric systems, solar hot water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, wind turbines, and fuel cell property. Generally, labor costs are included when calculating this credit. Also, no cap exists on the amount of credit available except in the case of fuel cell property. Not all energy-efficient improvements qualify for these tax credits. For that reason, homeowners should check the manufacturer’s tax credit certification statement before purchasing or installing any of these improvements. The certification statement can usually be found on the manufacturer’s website or with the product packaging. Normally, a homeowner can rely on this certification. The IRS cautions that the manufacturer’s certification is different from the Department of Energy’s Energy Star label, and not all Energy Star labeled products qualify for the tax credits. Eligible homeowners can claim both of these credits when they file their 2009 federal income tax return.

New Publication for Unemployed

The IRS has released a new publication titled "Tax Impact of Job Loss," which discusses tax issues connected to severance pay, unemployment compensation, pension plans, job search expenses and moving costs. If you or someone you know is dealing with unemployment, you may find some useful information in the publication, available online here.

SBA training on winning federal contracts

The SBA has released its newest online course for women small business owners, titled: Winning Federal Contracts: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs. This training is free and includes numerous resources. The SBA also has an online training program related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, titled Recovery Act Opportunities: How to Win Federal Contracts. This program is also free, and includes resources to help you understand and engage in the government’s contracting process. The program is fully automated and indexed so you can review all or only the parts you are interested in.

Subcontracting to Snag Stimulus Dollars

From the Wall Street Journal last week: For small business owners trying to find a way into the lucrative market for federal contracts, subcontracting can provide a back door. With billions of extra federal dollars being offered though the economic stimulus package, many small business owners have set their sights on winning contracts directly from federal agencies. For those with no previous experience, this may be aiming too high. By subcontracting, business owners can boost their profits and learn about the many requirements of government work without the requirement to meet all of them. At the same time, they can provide the prime contractor with expertise and resources they may lack. Attending meet-and-and greets held by federal agencies, trade shows, conferences and other networking events, such as those sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and industry-related associations, can help get in front of prime contractors and decision makers at federal agencies. Entrepreneurs can also post their profiles online and network with contractors through Web sites such as the Federal Contracting Network at www.tfcn.us and at www.mySBX.com. (Some charge fees, although basic services and listings are often free.) Small businesses can also sign up with large prime contractors through their corporate Web sites. Browsing sites, such as the SBA's Subcontracting Network (www.sba.gov/subnet), where prime contractors post opportunities, can be a way to identify key players.

How to Win Federal Contracts

Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) launched a new online training course titled "How to Win Federal Contracts." From the press release:

“Government contracts can play a key role in helping small businesses turn the corner in terms of expansion and job creation,” SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said. “But make no mistake, the benefits the government receives are equally as impressive – working with small businesses allows the federal government to work with some of the most innovative companies in America, often with direct contact with the CEO.” “The SBA online training course can help businesses access the federal purchasing system and position themselves to compete for the commercial opportunities offered by government contracting,” Mills continued.

The course is available at the SBA website.

6 Tips to Speed up SBA Loan Approval

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reminded small business owners that time is running out to get fee-free SBA loans.

Barring another act of Congress, SBA-backed loans will revert to their pre-Recovery Act status by the end of November or December. November is more than two months away, but given that the SBA loan approval process can take as long as 120 days, applicants had better get cracking, says Dave Mulcahy, the director of the Small Business Development Center at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

The article recommends the following 6 tips to speed up the loan approval process:

• Update your financials
• Tax a preferred lender
• Ensure the lender is the right fit
• Hedge your bets with a backup lender
• Offer more backup with your application
• Get help

Recovery Funded Ultra-Low Interest Loans

Here's an excerpt from a press release yesterday from the Office of the Governor: Public Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy Projects Eligible The California Recovery Task Force today announced that one percent interest loans funded through $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds are available for eligible public energy efficient and renewable energy projects in California. Available through the California Energy Commission, the loans will help local jurisdictions stimulate their economies and job growth while investing in energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions - all in a cost effective manner. Cities, counties, special districts, public schools, colleges and universities, public care institutions, and public hospitals are eligible to apply. For more information and criteria about low interest loan programs or other energy-related Recovery Act funding and programs go to the California Energy Commission’s Recovery page at http://energy.ca.gov/recovery/index.html

Where is all of Obama’s stimulus money going?

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Act explicitly lists the following five purposes of the Act:

• To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery.
• To assist those most impacted by the recession.
• To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health.
• To invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits.
• To stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases.

Federal, state, county, and city resources are now dedicated to ARRA opportunities (all of the websites noted below use the term "opportunities" to describe projects funded by ARRA).

Federal business opportunities are available at FBO.gov, which provides extensive search options to find Federal contracts. A simple search for California opportunities as of today resulted in 160 projects that many of our clients may be interested in bidding on. Opportunities that are funded by ARRA are noted as such.

California's governor and the city of San Francisco have created dedicated agencies and websites that provide information about the impact of ARRA. Contra Costa County and local cities have also added links and information to their existing websites about ARRA opportunities.

Governor Schwarzenegger has created the California Recovery Task Force, which will be tracking ARRA funds. The Task Force's website provides information so that Californians can access the stimulus money. The site includes information on how to bid for contracts, apply for grants, and get some tax relief . We highly recommend that you check out this site.

San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development provides information for small businesses owners. Its website is jam-packed with business assistance information such as tax credits and incentives, construction development in the pipeline, neighborhood revitalization projects, and workforce development. The site has links to other city resources that may be helpful to you and your business.

Contra Costa County has expanded its website to provide information about ARRA. For the most part, the site encourages you to search for local opportunities at FedBizOpps.gov and Grants.gov. However, we found that individual cities in Contra Costa County, such as Walnut Creek, are predominately displaying RFPs for ARRA projects on their homepages, rather than making you go search for them.

If you become aware of other resources that provide local ARRA opportunities, please email them to lsilva@ty-llp.com and we will get them posted for all of our readers to explore.

Builder confidence on the rise?

BusinessWeek reports that "U.S. homebuilders seem to be coming out of hibernation as the gloom over the housing market begins to lift. " A National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index reported a slight increase in builder confidence, as the index measuring builder confidence in the current market for newly built single-family homes rose 3 points. Another index measuring the traffic of prospective buyers rose 1 point.

This level of confidence is the highest it's been since September 2008, so perhaps things really are starting to turn around. We can certainly hope.

CA home buyer credit going, going...

As we posted in March and April, California offered a tax credit for new home purchases between March 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010. (More info on the credit is available on our website.) The credit is first-come, first-served. As predicted, the money is running out fast -- and may actually have run out. The FTB updated their website today with the following information: "We have reached $100 million in new home credit applications. Because many of these are duplicates, revised, or invalid, we plan to receive 12,000 applications. This will ensure we have more than enough valid applications to allocate the full $100 million. These additional applications will be subject to the availability of remaining credits." As of Wednesday, the FTB had received10,633 applications claiming $102,638,616. Builders have asked the state to increase funding for the credit. We'll see how that goes.

Interest-free SBA Loans

The Small Business Administration has begun offering interest-free loans of up to $35,000 to small businesses through SBA-approved lenders. The loans are made under the America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program ("ARC"), and can be used to make payments on one or more existing, qualifying small business loans for up to six months. ARC loans carry a 100 percent guaranty from the SBA to the lender, and require no fees paid to SBA. Eligibility information from the SBA website includes the following:

ARC loans are available to viable, for-profit small businesses in the U.S. that have qualifying small business loans and are experiencing immediate financial hardship.

Your small business must be:

• an established business
• have financial statements demonstrating it was profitable in one of the past two years, and
• be able to project sufficient cash flow to meet current and future loan payments over a two-year period from loan approval.

If your business does not meet these criteria, you can discuss your eligibility with your lender. ARC loans are not designed for start-up businesses.

ARC loans are designed to help businesses experiencing immediate financial hardship for reasons such as:

• Loss/reduction of customer base
• Increase in cost of doing business
• Loss/reduction of working capital and/or loss/reduction of short term credit facilities
• Inability to restructure existing debts due to credit restrictions
• Loss/reduction of employees (intellectual capital)
• Loss/reduction of major suppliers (major suppliers out of business)

For more information on the program, please visit the SBA website.

Estate Tax Planning – Time is Right!

Many experts in the estate planning arena feel that there is no better time than now for estate planning. The experts are calling the current economic climate, the "estate planning triple witching hour" because of the convergence of three events which have created a terrific opportunity for individuals to make the most of their estate planning. The three events are:

1. A favorable interest rate environment
2. Depressed asset values, and
3. A potentially limited timeframe to continue getting high valuation discount

As the economy improves the benefits of the lower interest rates and assets values will diminish. Also, there is already a house bill (H.R. 36) in the works which may take away the benefit of valuation discounts if passed.

If you haven't completed your estate planning, now may be the perfect time to contact your estate tax planner to take advantage of the current environment.

California to start 5,000+ infrastructure projects

Governor Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that the state would restart more than 5,000 infrastructure projects, which had been on hold since December 2008. The state has begun the process of selling $6.85 billion in bonds, of which $5.2 billion are backed by the federal government as part of the economic recovery act passed in February. California is the first state to issue these federally-backed Build America Bonds.

According to the governor's website, the funding will be allocated as follows:

• $1.7 billion for the state’s taxable general obligation bonds to fund stem cell research and stem cell related projects, various housing programs, and additional needs for High Speed Rail.
• $5.2 billion on projects for California State University, the University of California, California Community Colleges, Caltrans and the Department of Water Resources, school construction projects, environmental and park projects, grant programs to support clean air (engine retrofits and clean port projects), wastewater treatments projects, improvements to drinking water infrastructure, children’s hospitals, public safety grants and local library grant projects.

(If you're a math wiz, you probably noticed this adds up to $.05 billion more than the total bond proceeds of $6.85 billion. Did they think we wouldn't notice an extra $50 million in spending?)

The press relates announced that a complete list of the more than 5,000 projects will be available shortly at http://www.dof.ca.gov/.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide you an exact definition for what the state considers "available shortly."