BISMARCK, ND – September 10, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — The Industrial Commission has approved $50,000 of additional funding for the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s (NDHFA) Housing Market Survey Grant program.
“Economic growth and a growing population have put a strain on the availability of housing in some of our communities and rural areas,” said Gov. John Hoeven. “Because these communities often have limited resources to study their needs, the Housing Market Survey Grant dollars will help to fund a study of current and future housing needs for those communities.”
“A housing study is more than just a survey,” said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. “It identifies true needs and provides communities with knowledge to make informed decisions.”
“Every household lost to a small community negatively affects Main Street businesses,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “Economic development can only occur if there is an adequate workforce and housing for that workforce.”
In 2007, Williston was the first community to receive funding for a housing market survey. Adams County, Billings County, Bowman County, Cooperstown, Dunn County, Drayton, Ellendale, Golden Valley, Grand Forks County, Harvey, Hazelton, Hettinger County, Maddock, McHenry County, Mercer County, Northwood, Oakes, Slope County, Stark County, Tioga, and Wimbledon followed suit. To date, the NDHFA has provided more than $82,000 to help rural communities complete surveys.
Eligible applicants are rural communities of 20,000 or less or non-profit organizations representing or partnering with such communities. Grants cover up to 50 percent of out-of-pocket costs of the survey, not to exceed $5,000.
“In addition to the study grants, NDHFA provides development and rehabilitation funding, and can also offer technical assistance,” said Jolene Kline, director of NDHFA’s Planning and Housing Development
Division. “We advocate an approach that looks at the housing demands of all members of a community and create a strategy from there.”
For more information on the Housing Market Survey Grant program, contact Kline at (701) 328-8080, (800) 292-8621, (800) 366-6888 (TTY) or info (at) ndhfa (dot) org.
The Industrial Commission of North Dakota, consisting of Gov. John Hoeven, as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, oversees the NDHFA.
-30-
For more information: Sarah Mudder at (701) 328-8056 or smudder (at) ndhfa (dot) org
