§ 906. Technical services and assistance to neighborhood preservation companies. 1. The division is hereby authorized to render to neighborhood preservation companies such technical services and assistance as it may possess or as may be available to it to enable such companies to comply with the intent and provisions of this article. The division is further authorized to take all steps necessary to encourage the formation, organization and growth of new neighborhood preservation companies. The division may also, from funds appropriated for the purposes of this article, contract with municipal and other public agencies and with private persons, firms and corporations for the provision of such technical services and assistance which may include: preparation and submission of proposals for entering into contracts with the commissioner; preparation and submission of reports required under such contracts or regulations issued by the commissioner; internal organization and management of the neighborhood preservation companies; recruitment and training of personnel of the neighborhood preservation companies; preparation of plans and projects, negotiation of agreements and compliance with requirements of programs in which neighborhood preservation companies may become engaged in the course of their neighborhood preservation activities; and other technical advice or assistance relating to the performance or rendition of neighborhood preservation activities.

2. The affordable housing corporation, the housing trust fund corporation or their designee as the case may be, shall provide an incentive grant to each company that is awarded a contract pursuant to article eighteen or nineteen of this chapter. Such incentive grant shall consist of the payment of an additional sum of money equal to three percent of the amount payable to such company pursuant to each contract provided, however, that such payment shall not be counted against the per dwelling unit total imposed by subdivision one of section eleven hundred two of this chapter or the per dwelling unit limitation imposed by subdivision one of section eleven hundred twelve of this chapter, and provided further that such additional amount shall not exceed forty thousand dollars per contract. Such incentive grant shall be utilized either for purposes consistent with the provisions of this article or for the cost of neighborhood preservation activities related to such contract and shall not be subject to the limitation on the amount of funds which may be received by companies contained in subdivision four of section nine hundred three of this article. Such incentive grant shall be added to and considered a payment under the contract for purposes of allocating funds to any single municipality.