BISMARCK -- The Industrial Commission has authorized the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency to spend $50,000 in reserves for a Housing Market Survey Grant program.
The cost-sharing program encourages rural communities to conduct market surveys before undertaking housing development projects, a news release said.
"Many of North Dakota's rural communities are experiencing economic growth and increases in population," Gov. John Hoeven said in a statement. "By offering these communities a financial incentive to conduct market surveys, NDHFA is ensuring that local leaders have a good understanding of their communities' housing needs."
"The traditional landscape of rural North Dakota is changing, especially in energy-impacted areas," Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said in a statement. "In addition to these grants, NDFHA is aiding communities by providing development funding and technical assistance."
Rural communities of 20,000 or less, or non-profit organizations representing or partnering with such communities, may apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to cover up to 50 percent of out-of-pocket costs of a survey.
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"Before attempting to tackle housing shortfalls on their own, we encourage local leadership to conduct a market survey," said Jolene Kline, the finance agency's planning and housing development director. "NDHFA's approach is to look at the housing needs of all the citizens in the area and create a strategy from there."
Grants have funded surveys in Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Hettinger, McHenry, Mercer, Slope and Stark counties; and the cities of Cooperstown, Drayton, Ellendale, Hannaford, Harvey, Hazelton, Leeds, Linton, Maddock, Northwood, Oakes, Tioga, Underwood, Wahpeton, Williston, and Wimbledon.
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@ndhfa.org .
Finneman is a multimedia reporter for Forum Communications Co. The Herald is a Forum Communications newspaper.
