Rural & Tribal Capacity Building Program

This program serves rural and Tribal communities, local governments, and nonprofit and private developers, and helps them navigate the process to build and preserve affordable housing in greater Minnesota. We offer technical assistance, financial resources, and advocacy tools to help overcome the many barriers to housing development.

Technical Assistance and Consulting

We collaborate with partners in greater Minnesota to grow local knowledge and help streamline development processes. Technical assistance takes many forms, like predevelopment checklists that prepare developers for projects and financing opportunities, educational trainings, and events that connect developers and partners.

Community and Project-Based Resource Coordination

We assist private, nonprofit, Tribal, and local government in aligning resources in rural and Tribal areas of Minnesota.

• We work with local governments, public service agencies, and private developers to build and preserve affordable housing.
• We connect contractors, builders, and partners to local housing efforts. This collaboration and alignment of resources creates a stronger housing ecosystem for all Minnesotans.
• We use investments in housing studies, local land use and planning, and community facilitation efforts to address local housing needs and solutions.

Advocacy

This program leads and promotes housing education and awareness activities that build support for local projects. We work to build awareness and to educate communities on rural housing issues with the goal to build collaboratives to support local housing solutions. Our advocacy work is all about helping everyone see the benefits of affordable housing that addresses local needs with tried-and-true methods as well as new, innovative ideas.

Access to Financial Resources

• We assist with pro forma trainings and capacity-building grants for projects in Greater Minnesota.
• We connect developers and organizations to public and private financing opportunities and provide technical assistance for funding applications.
• We leverage GMHF’s lending products and resources to support projects in rural Minnesota.

Reach out to Nate Dorr, Capacity Building Program Manager, to learn more about any of our rural and Tribal services.

Grant funding may be available for the following project-related areas:

• Housing plans and studies tied to housing developments
• Predevelopment expenses not covered by traditional financing
• Hiring a technical assistance consultant on a project level basis
• Trainings and events to build knowledge and skills for housing development

This program is focused on rural Minnesota communities and Tribal Nations outside of the 7-county metro area. Grants are reviewed and funded on a year-round, rolling basis and the grant application is only available upon request.

Contact Nate Dorr for more information.