Multifamily owners, operators and developers face unique challenges when preserving affordable homes across rural America.
Leveraging more than forty years of experience, we developed a series of no-cost trainings and peer-learning sessions designed to help rural housing providers and nonprofits acquire and preserve USDA Rural Development, HUD 811 and 202, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and other subsidized and affordable multi-family housing.
Building upon the success of our first academy, we tailored the training program to address unique regional challenges and opportunities. Our completed academies include Texas, Colorado, Pacific Northwest, Southeast and a national cohort focused solely on the preservation of USDA 515 housing stock. Since launching in 2018, we have offered more than fifty sessions, totaling 100+ training hours to more than 700 attendees.
Making rural development accessible
Our academies were designed to ensure program participants leave feeling more confident about preserving multi-family rental properties in rural communities. The curriculum tailors key modules to meet the unique challenges of different regions around the country.
Our cohort-based training academy was designed to help participants:
- Gain a deeper understanding of rural preservation, how to preserve existing affordable housing developments and USDA Rural Development
- Gather data and inventory in their organization’s service area
- Navigate forms, policies, certifications, pro-formas and classes
- Understand how to navigate different funding sources and currently available dollars as well as deploy funds when they become available
- Access case studies and other learnings that leverage best practices from the broader field
- Join a regional peer network committed to advancing rural rental preservation
- Apply for direct technical assistance with USDA Rural Development experts for rehab, new construction and preservation projects
