Financial Incentives
North Dakota is showing positive growth in a variety of economic factors–the lowest unemployment rate in the country, home value increases among the highest in the nation, and overall increases in median income. We are seeing progress in closing our housing affordability gap, but work still needs to be done. Workers at all skill levels and in all wage ranges are needed in any community. And, job growth and economic development cannot happen without adequate housing. Communities need to have an adequate balance of housing stock including options for low and moderate income families to ensure that our community can grow and prosper.
The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) is a public financial institution dedicated to making housing affordable for all North Dakotans. The Agency facilitates affordable mortgage financing, assures the continued availability of low-income rental housing, and seeks to provide for the state’s changing housing needs.
The Industrial Commission of North Dakota, consisting of the Governor, Attorney General, and Agriculture Commissioner, oversees the Agency with advice from a six-member citizen advisory board.
Homeownership Division Programs
Community Partners: Community Partners provides a financing incentive to first-time home buyer purchasing homes through community or non-profit sponsored housing developments.
Down payment and Closing Cost Assistance (DCA): The zero-interest, deferred payment loans available through the Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance program help lower income first-tome home buyers meet out-of-pocket cash requirements.
First Home: Through NDHFA’s standard mortgage program, known as First Home, North Dakota’s low to moderate-income first-time home buyers receive a reduced-interest rate mortgage loan.
Habitat for Humanity Loan Purchase: NDHFA purchases and services loans made by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates, in turn supporting the organization’s mission to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness.
Home Access: With the Home Access program, permanently disabled, elderly and single-parent households and honorably discharged veterans that are not first-time home buyers may qualify for NDHFA’s mortgage loans.
Major Home Improvement: Through the Major Home Improvement program, households may receive reduced-interest rate loans to purchase or refinance and rehabilitate a single-family home. The borrowers are not required to be first-time home buyers.
Home Key: With Home Key, lower income first-time buyers are able to enhance their purchasing power by receiving a break on NDHFA’s already reduced-interest rate mortgage loans.
North Dakota Roots: The North Dakota Roots home ownership incentive program provides new and returning state residents with either a below-market interest rate loan or a market-rate loan that includes down payment and closing cost assistance.
Start: The Start program offers low-to moderate first-time home buyers both an affordable first mortgage and assistance with out-of-pocket cash requirements.
Planning and Housing Development Division Programs
Construction Loan Guarantee: The Construction Loan Guarantee program provides loan guarantees to lenders on construction loansfor affordable single-family housing in rural communities.
Helping Housing Across North Dakota(Helping HAND): Helping HAND grant dollars support the housing needs of North Dakota’s lower-income families by offering a funding source to targeted single-and multi0family housing rehabilitation programs statewide.
Housing Market Survey Grants: The housing Market Survey Grant program offers a cost-sharing incentive to rural communities to develop a local housing strategy by helping to pay for an analysis of their current and future housing needs.
Low Income Housing Tax Credits (Housing Credits): The Low Income Housing Tax Credit program provides incentives for the production and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing by compensating the property owner for charging rent that are generally lower than would be feasible without credits.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program: The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) provides funds to purchase and redevelop foreclosed or abandoned property into affordable housing that stabilizes neighborhoods and stems the decline of property values.
Rehab Accessibility Program (RAP): Rehab Accessibility Program grant dollars address accessibility issues in single- or multi-family properties occupied by low-income individuals with physical disabilities.
Rural Community Housing Development: Through the Rural Community Housing Development program, low-cost financing is available for pre development soft costs like land acquisition and site development.
Rural Housing Rehabilitation Loan: The Rural Housing Rehabilitation Loan program provides a low-cost, revolving fund for the rehabilitation of existing housing stock located in areas with less than 20,000 population.
Property Management Division Programs
Affordable Housing Disposition Program (AHDP): The Resolution Trust Corporation properties sold under the Affordable Housing Disposition Program in North Dakota are monitored by the NDHFA.
Contract Administration: NDHFA administers contracts for US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) project-based Section 8 housing developments located throughout North Dakota.
Low Income Housing Tax Credit: The Agency’s Property Management Division, acting as a compliance specialist, administers Internal Revenue Service regulations and requirements for local tax credit.
Moderate Rehabilitation: The NDHFA determines applicant eligibility for HUD’s Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation properties, provides regulatory oversight of the properties and distributes HUD’s rental assistance funds.
North Dakota New Jobs Training Program
Primary-sector businesses and industries can secure funding to help offset the cost of training new employees for expansion and/or startup.
• Funding for this program can come from a loan, grant, or other self-financing options.
• Funds under the New Jobs Training Program are then made available through the capture of state income tax withholding generated from the new, permanent, full-time positions that are created.
• To access this funding a new employer in North Dakota must create a minimum of five new jobs.
• To access this funding a current expanding business in North Dakota must add at least one more job to their base employment
Requests for information or for North Dakota New Jobs Training Program funding applications should be submitted to:
Workforce Programs
Job Service North Dakota
P.O. Box 5507
Bismarck, ND 58506-5507
Telephone: 701-328-3358
Fax: 701-328-4894
E-mail: jsnjt@nd.gov
Workforce 20/20
Workforce 20/20 is a North Dakota state funded program that assists employers in implementing new technology and work methods through training new and existing staff.
• Companies can access assistance to help upgrade the skills of current workers when new technologies and/or new production work methods are introduced.
• It is available to companies that are expanding or locating to the state to help train new employees.
• Training funded under Workforce 20/20 is limited to North Dakota residents who are or will be employed in the state.
• Funds are available regardless of the company’s size.
• Projects must emphasize job skill and basic skill training.
• Businesses making requests for Workforce 20/20 funding assistance are asked to participate in the cost of training. In-kind contributions can be considered matching funds.
• Only training for permanent jobs or occupations that have significant career opportunities and require substantive instructions will be considered for funding.
Requests for information or for Workforce 20/20 funding applications should be submitted to:
Workforce Programs
Job Service North Dakota
P.O. Box 5507
Bismarck, ND 58506-5507
Telephone: 701-328-3358
Fax: 701-328-4894
E-mail: jswf2020@nd.gov