2024-02-05 17:49:05
DICKINSON — The North Dakota Chamber of Commerce has recently concluded a rural housing grant initiative in Dickinson. A total of thirty-two rural communities applied for the grant, which is available to communities with fewer than ten thousand residents. The chamber will announce the grant recipients in the coming weeks.
The grant’s primary purpose is to address vacant and blighted properties, defined as properties with rundown or damaged homes or structures. Emma Cook, Community Development Liaison, explained, “The grant funds will be used for removing blighted structures from the community, making sure they can still use the existing infrastructure for new development.”
Home being built.
Dickinson Press File Photo.
These vacant houses may have been unoccupied for an extended period or completely abandoned, often with outstanding back taxes. Cook added, “I think right now, there is a huge draw to live in rural areas. I think North Dakota communities recognize this.” The grant will enable rural communities to clear these lots and repurpose them for new housing, revitalizing the community by leveraging existing infrastructure.
Cook emphasized the increasing allure of rural living, with housing and funding for community improvements being key issues. To make the grant more accessible, the Chamber of Commerce waived the matching requirements, typically necessitating communities to contribute at least twenty percent of the project’s funding.
By eliminating this requirement, Cook stated, “The Chamber of Commerce hopes these grants will increase attraction to these communities as well as retaining the workforce of the areas by supplying the working class with necessary housing.”
New construction home framing against sky
Leena Robinson/leekris – stock.adobe.com
Another round of grants from the Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to commence on March 4, 2024, with a focus on addressing blight directly. Communities interested in applying can visit the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce website for the online application portal.
Cook concluded by expressing optimism about showcasing success stories to secure additional funding from the legislature in 2025.
For more information about the rural housing grant program and to stay updated on grant recipients and upcoming opportunities, please contact the
North Dakota Chamber of Commerce
at (555) 123-4567, or via email at
From the dirt roads of nowhere in Arizona, where I grew up on a family farm not a stone’s throw from the river, to the open plains of North Dakota, I hope to foster the small-town feel of Dickinson that I’ve already come to love. Whether it’s connecting with a rancher on their acreage outside of town or attending the latest community gathering, I am ecstatic to share updates on the happenings in our community. By doing so, I aim to become a valued member of the historic communities that adorn the beautiful land we call home.
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