DICKINSON, ND – August 27, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Sullivan Construction and Roers Development Inc. showcased Dickinson’s newest affordable housing projects today. The developments provide disabled individuals with apartments designed specifically to meet their needs and will offer the first essential service worker housing in the community.
“Sullivan Apartments and Prairie Winds Apartments are great examples of public-private partnerships promoted by the Housing Incentive Fund (HIF) to address North Dakota’s affordable housing needs,” said Governor Jack Dalrymple.
“Creating affordable housing is important as we continue to enhance the livability of our communities.”
The HIF program provides funding to developers of housing projects that allows income-restricted units to rent for below market rates.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission, consisting of Dalrymple as chairman, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, oversees North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA), the administrator of the HIF. Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley attended the event on the Commission’s behalf.
“To have healthy communities, we must have affordable housing for essential service workers like state and local government employees and hospital and nursing home staff,” said Jolene Kline, NDHFA executive director. “And, being able to provide the housing needed by fixed-income households like the disabled individuals that receive services from ABLE Inc. makes Dickinson a socially well-rounded community.”
Nine of the 30 units at Sullivan Apartments are reserved for individuals supported by the not-for-profit agency. The developer of the $4.8 million project, Sullivan Construction, was awarded $1.4 million from HIF in 2013.
“We are very thankful for the assistance that Sullivan Apartments received,” said Mary Anderson ABLE Inc. executive director. “The HIF program allowed us to create better housing opportunities for people with disabilities.”
HIF relies on taxpayer support to provide low-cost financing to developers of affordable multifamily housing.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to give back to the Dickinson community by providing high quality affordable housing for essential community employees,” says Larry Nygard, Vice President of Roers Development Inc.
Roers Development submitted a HIF application this spring to reserve half of the units in its $6 million Prairie Winds Apartments for essential service workers. The project was awarded a $1.5 million conditional commitment from NDHFA in July. The developer has secured about one-third of the HIF contributions needed.
“We are eager to having this project fully capitalized, so it can provide the housing Dickinson needs to attract and retain a quality workforce“,” said Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson.
The Roers project is one of 24 developments that were awarded conditional commitments this summer. To honor the commitments made, NDHFA must raise $30 million by Dec. 31, 2016.
“We look forward to hearing from past contributors and encourage new businesses and individuals to support HIF so we can move all of our new projects forward,” said Kline.
HIF contributions can be targeted to a specific project or designated for general use in a community or region. Individualsand businesses that contribute to the program receive NDHFA is a self-supporting state agency that finances the creation and rehabilitation of affordable housing across North Dakota.
Media Contacts: NDHFA – Sarah Mudder, (701) 328-8056 or smudder (at) nd (dot) gov
