NRDP-HUD Partnerships
Here are some of the successful partnerships that State Councils have had
with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more information,
please contact Rick Wetherill in
the Office of Community Development.
The Colorado Rural Development Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Colorado Office of HUD to enable the Council and the HUD Community Builders to partner in rural Colorado. CRDC hosted a Housing Fair on September 22 in Lamar, CO. Participants in this one-day Housing Fair included federal, state and local government officials, real estate and banking professionals, as well as non-profit associations. The Fair provided information and assistance to local housing authorities and individual citizens. Joe Garcia, HUD's Secretary's Representative, told the CRDC that "the success of the Community Builders initiative depends on the willingness of groups like CRDC to consider us as partners."
The Idaho Rural Partnership facilitated nine meetings of a multi-agency group in 1998 to develop a common understanding of the need for homebuyer education to improve basic awareness of the economics, responsibilities, and process of homebuying. After these meetings, the IRP, together with HUD, Idaho Cooperative Extension, the Bank of America, the Neighborhood Housing Services, and the Idaho Housing and Finance Association developed a workable model for a statewide homebuyer education program. Implementation of the program is being handled by a newly formed non-profit, the Idaho Partners for Homebuyer Education, Inc. Since April 1999, 500 people have completed this program. The target for 2000 is to have an additional 1500 people complete the program.
The Indiana Rural Development Council has formed the Indiana Housing Assistance Review Team (IHART), which brings together HUD, USDA/Rural Development, state housing agencies, and non-profit housing developers. By focusing the resources of all these partners, this group is able to accomplish much more than they would have been able to do working separately. For instance, IHART developed the IHART Housing Assistance Review Form to assist potential applicants seeking assistance for housing projects in their community.
In the summer and fall of 2000, the Iowa Housing Roundtable, in cooperation with Governor Vilsack's office, contracted with Dr. Heather McDonald of the University of Iowa to conduct a statewide housing needs assessment. The Roundtable is a policy-making body convened and staffed by the Iowa Rural Development Council. Active federal representatives on the Roundtable include HUD, USDA-RD, and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Dr. McDonald's study marks the first organized attempt to identify and prioritize Iowa's most critical housing needs. The results helped the Roundtable, key state agencies, the Iowa legislature, and the Governor's office craft housing policies and programs and plan for future funding. The Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Economic Development, and Fannie Mae Foundation provided funding for Dr. McDonald's work. Roundtable members provided information and met monthly to help guide the study. The Governor's office formed a Citizen's Task Force comprised of developers, representatives of non-profit organizations, and other community leaders to help craft a series of policy recommendations based on the assessment results. The Roundtable continues to partner to address the state's housing needs, including the Governor's Housing Conference held in November 2001 to heighten awareness of housing issues and resources among rural communities.
The Iowa Rural Development Council's housing work group, made up of private and public sector representatives, was a catalyst for the development of the interagency Housing Assistance Review Team (HART) process. HART uses a common pre-application process so that federal and state housing program staff can more easily and effectively coordinate applications and projects. HART partners include: HUD, Federal Home Loan Bank, USDA's Rural Housing program, Iowa Finance Authority, and Iowa Department of Economic Development.
The Kansas Rural Development Council formed Kansas Housing Partners with nine federal and state partners, including HUD. This group provides individuals and communities with access to housing information through a clearinghouse. In addition, Kansas Housing Partners uses a single intake form to field inquiries on housing assistance; each inquiry is routed to the appropriate agency(ies), which means that each individual and community will quickly be connected with the programs most likely to work for them.
Through its outreach to Maine's five tribal communities, the Maine Rural Development Council identified issues of concern to these communities and was able to recommend appropriate action projects. Tribal communities identified the need for an interagency housing team that would visit each tribe to determine their needs and more effective use of resources. As a result of these discussions, an interagency team, led by USDA-Rural Development and HUD, has held regular "Housing Circle" meetings on reservations. The Maine HUD office nominated MRDC for a 1999 agency award for this project.
Convened and supported by the Maine Rural Development Council, the Piscataquis' rural workforce and entrepreneurial development (RWED) network was formed in response to the imminent shut down of Dexter Shoes at the end of 1999. The primary focus of this effort was to foster community capacity on a regional basis by collaborating with and connecting the many disparate efforts in communities across the region. Cultural heritage tourism, microbusiness development and support, and small business expansion and retention are integral aspects of community development. The network consists of federal, regional, state, and local service and resource providers that include Maine's Departments of Economic and Community Development, Education, Human Services, and Labor; Maine Center for Women, Work, and Community; the County Extension and the region's adult education programs; as well as Housing and Urban Development and the Small Business Administration. Meeting monthly, the network is helping communities build capacity through locally-designed-and-delivered workforce and entrepreneurial development programs. Bringing together such a wide range of agencies and program perspectives is a testament to MRDC's collaborative and consensus building skills.
Duluth, Minnesota was host to the Joint International Summit on Community and Rural Development in July 2001. Over 1,200 community and rural leaders from Minnesota, 47 states, and 15 countries gathered to discuss development activities to strengthen their communities. Minnesota Rural Partners led and coordinated this event, which combined MRP's Minnesota Rural Summit, the annual meeting of the International Community Development Society, and the annual leadership conference of the National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP). The summit offered over 60 concurrent sessions, 7 mobile workshops, 9 professional development sessions, 80 learning stations, presentations by Governor Jesse Ventura, a poverty panel of national experts, and a policy discussion that included representation from the European Union, the State of Minnesota, and the National Association of Counties. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson concluded the summit with the announcement of HHS's major Rural Initiative, which is evaluating the rural aspects of every program within HHS. The Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development, the University of Minnesota, and the Northwest Area Foundation -- the summit's major sponsors -- provided financial and programmatic support and representation from state, education, and foundation communities. USDA-RD, EDA, and HUD employees were heavily involved in the conception, planning and implementation of the summit. Each of these agencies also provided money to reduce registration fees and provide scholarships for some participants.
Missouri Housing Partners (MHP) is the housing committee of the Missouri Rural Opportunities Council. HUD, VA, Fannie Mae, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the NW Electric Power Cooperative and the North Central Missouri Electric Cooperative are among its members. MHP identifies barriers to housing for rural areas and works to institutionalize practical solutions to overcome identified barriers. They operate a clearinghouse to provide a one-stop resource for housing information and assistance. The partners developed and conducted a homebuyers' education program and are following up with development of a "train the trainer" program to help agencies "bone up on their skills." MHP also works with realtors, lenders and housing programs to increase home loan opportunities for rural homebuyers. They are currently developing a "Show Me Lenders" web site.
As part of its Rural Resources Jump Team program, the North Carolina Rural Development Council works with targeted rural communities to identify local needs and find resources to meet those needs. Over the past two years, the Council has helped more than 20 communities in some of the state's most impoverished areas. NCRDC assigns a committee of resource professionals to each Jump Team site that is responsible for finding technical, financial, human, and other resources to address identified issues. Building on the support NCRDC has received from USDA/Rural Development, its major federal partner in carrying out these activities, the Council has entered into a similar partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). NCRDC has approved a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow HUD to recommend communities for Jump Team status and give them priority in related HUD funding programs. This partnership will allow the Council to more effectively address the state's extreme housing conditions, one of the most critical issues challenging rural North Carolina.
In June 2001, the Ohio Rural Development Partnership, in partnership with the Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Development, hosted the Successful Business Financing Conference. The conference provided small business assistance professionals with the latest information on public financing programs. The conference also successfully brought bankers, accountants, finance professionals, agriculture specialists, and small business people together to share ideas and discuss issues facing rural economic development. The Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Development sponsored the program, which was supported by a number of associations that drew attendees from their memberships. Representatives from HUD, SBA, and USDA-RD participated in the planning of this conference and a roundtable, where they described the resources that are available from their respective agencies.
A large poultry processor recently moved into Heavener, OK, enlarging its economic base. However, most of the plant employees are commuting from other towns and cities in the area, thereby depriving the town of the economic resources provided by local workers. In addition, new (primarily Hispanic) residents have difficulty in obtaining adequate housing at fair prices in the area. The Oklahoma Rural Development Council's utilizing its previous experience with assembling qualified resource teams, was a key advisor to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce concerning important agencies to include on the newly formed team. ORDC extended invitations to attend the April 2001, bringing representatives from both HUD and USDA-RD. Both the local government and major property developer of Heavener were able to learn about the various federal, state and non-profit programs available to encourage, promote and develop home ownership in rural communities. The event brought agency staff and knowledge directly to the community, thereby reducing the learning curve. Since the event has occurred, progress has been made toward the groundbreaking on a multi-unit housing development that will include single family and multi-family properties.
In 2000, HUD asked the Oklahoma Rural Development Council to organize a team of housing program financing and service providers for a meeting in Taft, Oklahoma. ORDC assembled the Taft Housing Development Resource Team to share with community leaders the programs available to address Taft's severe housing shortages. The team recommended steps the community should take in pursuing housing development, including (1) changing the current utility authority into a development authority, (2) conducting a formal, yet inexpensive, housing survey, (3) utilizing USDA housing programs, as they are best suited to Taft's circumstances, and (4) tapping the resources of the Extension Service and the local community action agency to meet their technical assistance needs. With this support, Taft's community leaders substantially reduced the time and effort needed to investigate housing programs and develop a housing development strategy.
The Pennsylvania Rural Development Council brought together three of the state's key players in the housing arena -- HUD, USDA/Rural Development, and the Pennsylvania Dept of Community and Economic Development. These three are jointly developing a statewide five-year Consolidated Plan for Housing -- perhaps the first in the nation. It is anticipated that the consolidated plan will be completed within the next few months. This plan should lead to significant increases in program effectiveness for all three agencies. The trust and greater understanding brought about by this partnership enables HUD to better coordinate its programs and use its block grant funds more effectively.
The Texas Rural Development Council created Resource Teams four years ago to assist rural communities in identifying their needs, setting goals for community improvement, and figuring out feasible implementation of those goals. The teams have broad-based membership from local, state, and federal governments, as well as from the private for-profit and non-profit sectors. A Memorandum of Understanding between the TRDC and the HUD Community Builders was signed on June 29 and the TRDC has provided training for HUD Community Builders in the Resource Team process. HUD Community Builders will be an integral part of future teams. Participating on these Resource Teams helps HUD Community Builders carry out their outreach and community development responsibilities.
In anticipation of its statewide videoconference in September 1999, HUD contacted the Texas Rural Development Council for suggestions on implementing an awareness program in a 30-county region. The videoconference is designed to raise awareness of the programs HUD provides to rural communities. Based on TRDC's suggestion, HUD will follow the model TRDC used for a telecommunications videoconference it delivered several years ago. That teleconference involved a live interactive real-time video feed through the 25 Texas A&M University's Distance Learning Centers to deliver information on use of telecommunication technologies to provide opportunities to rural Texas. By following the TRDC model, HUD's videoconference will extend its reach beyond the originally targeted 30-county area to deliver information on HUD programs and resources to all rural Texas communities.
Each year the Vermont Council on Rural Development organizes and hosts a rural policy summit to bring together federal, state, local, non-profit and private partners to analyze an issue of current rural importance and devise specific action steps to address the challenges it presents. VCRD planned, produced, facilitated, and reported the Rural Summit in June 2001. This year's summit addressed the statewide housing crisis by asking four questions of participants and guiding them through a process in four working groups to produce 28 Action Steps. State, federal and other leaders committed to these steps as long-term work plans, and VCRD worked with the Governor's office on an Executive Order toward the immediate implementation of those steps that require the Governor's attention. There is no other time that the Governor's cabinet works in groups with federal, non-profit, and private leaders in this way to coordinate rural development policy. The current issue–housing–is a gubernatorial priority and a critical issue in every corner of the state. VCRD enjoyed support from the Governor's Office, the Agency of Transportation (which also paid the costs for the Summit), the Housing and Conservation Board, the Cabinet, USDA Rural Development, HUD, and private organizations. The annual Summit is an important contribution to the development of public policies that will build and maintain low-income housing, simplify inter-governmental regulation, and clarify cross-agency organization.
With fuel prices up over 50 percent in 2000, and a cold winter on the way, the Vermont Council on Rural Development sponsored a heating assistance workshop in November 2000 for technical assistance providers and advocates for low-income residents. The workshop was designed to ensure that everyone involved in fuel assistance, weatherization, and other related programs was aware of each other's resources and could collaborate to provide the best possible seamless integration of services. USDA-RD, HUD, and numerous state entities were all active participants in this process. VCRD facilitated the workshop, providing opportunities for participants to network, share descriptions of their services, and address common barriers to success. The Council took the information it gathered from the workshop and from contributions provided by other service providers and wrote The Vermont Heat and Energy Resource Guide. VCRD produced more than 2,000 copies of the guide and distributed them to advocates and practitioners throughout the state.
On June 10, 1999, the West Virginia Rural Development Council, with cooperation from USDA Rural Development, HUD, the WV Development Office, WVU Extension Service and the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council, convened the "EZ/EC Community Listening Forum". The Forum brought together 75 participants from applicant communities and federal and state government agencies to: a) share community experiences (e.g., successes, barriers) with the EZ/EC planning process, b) determine future plans, training and technical assistance needs of the communities in implementing their programs, and c) share resource and other technical assistance information. Interactive sessions were also held on workforce development, physical infrastructure, business development, and social and cultural infrastructure. A report on the Forum was prepared and distributed to all participating agencies and community leaders summarizing key issues, community technical assistance needs, and recommendations for state, federal and private sector organizations that work with rural communities. This forum was funded by the Appalachian Regional Council.
Wyoming Rural Development Council, in partnership with the Wyoming Business Council, offers an affordable community assessment tool for the state's rural communities. The project was developed to provide strategic planning to rural communities that lacked the financial resources to support such an effort. Looking for an affordable, easy process that would produce good results, WRDC modeled its community assessment program after the Texas Rural Development Council's Resource Team program. In developing its own Resource Team program to conduct community assessments, WRDC trained 130 individuals from partnering organizations, which include the DOT, HUD, NRCS RC&Ds, and the U.S. Forest Service. Representatives from these organizations donate their time to serve on resource teams as members or team leaders and then write a report upon completion of a community assessment. Thirteen assessments are already completed, and 15 more are scheduled to begin in September 2001. One year after program implementation, each of the 13 communities WRDC assessed has completed projects, built beneficial relationships with various rural organizations, and improved their communications network. For example, the first participating community, Douglas, has already benefited from the assessment, noting in its follow-up report that it has formulated a downtown merchant association and developed a tech training center.
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