California CHFFA Tax-Exempt Equipment Financing Program
Status: Active ongoing California health-facility equipment financing program. This is a tax-exempt loan/financing opportunity, not a grant.
Issuer
California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA), California State Treasurer’s Office.
Applicant-Relevant Financing
CHFFA provides tax-exempt fixed-rate financing for qualifying equipment purchases of $500,000 or more. The official program overview does not state a maximum financing amount. Borrowers must demonstrate revenues and/or collateral sufficient to support debt service. Equipment financed generally serves as collateral. The financing term should not exceed 120% of the equipment project’s average useful life.
Published fees include a $500 nonrefundable application fee, a one-time initial fee equal to 0.05% of the aggregate issue, and a $400 annual fee.
Deadline and Timing
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis; no fixed closing date, clock time, or time zone is published. The current CHFFA application states that completed applications are typically due by the first business day of the month for consideration at that month’s scheduled Authority meeting.
Eligibility
Eligible borrowers include California public hospitals and qualifying private nonprofit health facilities under the CHFFA Act. Applicants generally must have operated for at least three years, provide the three most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements, and demonstrate sufficient repayment capacity. Eligible CHFFA health-facility categories include public and nonprofit providers such as hospitals, community clinics, developmental-disability centers, adult day health centers, substance-use-disorder rehabilitation facilities, and other qualifying health facilities.
Eligible Costs
Eligible equipment includes medical and diagnostic equipment, computers, telecommunications equipment, and qualifying minor equipment installation. The financing must meet the $500,000 aggregate equipment threshold.
Application, Forms, and Submission
The current CHFFA Equipment Financing Program application requests an equipment schedule identifying description, cost, useful life, and location; the three most recent audited financial statements; the proposed financing structure, sources and uses, amortization, timeline, and ratings information where applicable. Required exhibits include the Application Certification, Pass-Through Savings Certification, Legal Status Questionnaire, and Community Service Certification. Completed applications and exhibits may be submitted electronically to chffabond@treasurer.ca.gov. CHFFA general program contact: 916-653-2799; chffa@treasurer.ca.gov. Program Manager: Erica Rodriguez, erica.rodriguez@treasurer.ca.gov.
Financing and Procurement Rules
Applicants with a lender or note purchaser may use a direct/private-placement structure. Applicants without one may use a competitive-bid direct/private-placement process in which CHFFA and its municipal advisor assist in soliciting a purchaser/lender and interest rate. Bond counsel and underwriter or placement-agent roles are selected from approved State Treasurer financing pools. CHFFA financing does not itself select the equipment vendor; the borrower’s applicable procurement requirements continue to control equipment acquisition. Tax-exempt savings must be passed through to consumers through lower or contained health-care costs.
Atlas Fit Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 91/100. This is a strong California healthcare capital-financing channel because it expressly supports medical, diagnostic, computer, and telecommunications equipment and has no stated maximum financing amount.
N9+ Fit Score: 93/100, conditional. N9+ can be a legitimate component of a qualifying medical/diagnostic/telecommunications equipment project, but a standalone small N9+ purchase does not satisfy the program’s $500,000 minimum. N9+ should only be positioned where an eligible borrower has a real aggregate equipment financing plan of at least $500,000 and the device is permitted by the borrower’s procurement and capital plan.
Dr. Miltie/QC Healthcare structure: Partner-Led. Dr. Miltie/QC Healthcare is not the CHFFA borrower; an eligible California public or nonprofit health facility must apply and remain responsible for repayment, collateral, approvals, procurement, and compliance. Dr. Miltie/QC Healthcare may be considered only as a legitimate selected equipment vendor/partner.
Realistic California Applicant Prospect
Mountain Valleys Health Centers (MVHC) — Applicant Opportunity Score 90/100, HOLD. MVHC is a long-established rural nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center serving northeastern California and uses telehealth/virtual-visit services. It is a strong structural prospect, but Atlas has not verified a current aggregate $500,000+ equipment capital plan, current audited financial statements, debt-service capacity, or a current authoritative direct executive email. No outreach should begin until those applicant-specific conditions and recipient readiness are verified.
Official Sources
CHFFA Tax-Exempt Equipment Financing Program
CHFFA Program Overview
California Grants Portal Listing
CHFFA Equipment Financing Program Application
Last verified September 11, 2026.