Resources & Information

This Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Toolkit and the accompanying resource materials are designed to help down payment assistance lenders with the development decisions and associated considerations that will likely be needed when establishing or enhancing a DPA program.

Based in Fowler, Colorado, Total Concept worked to develop a long-term business model that integrates energy efficiency and solar power into its housing and community development projects. With the goal of applying this model to all its current and future housing developments, the organization used support from the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) to evaluate the feasibility of renewable energy integration, explore partnerships, and lay the foundation for expanded energy generation and sustainability efforts across rural Colorado.

Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (SWMHP) aims to build resilient communities across south-central and southwest Minnesota. Housing shortages are hurting workforce recruitment and retention, especially in manufacturing and agriculture. SWMHP responded by involving local employers in improving housing access through the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI). They launched a workforce housing effort to show how affordable housing supports a stable, productive workforce. Partnering with the Reinvestment Fund, they developed tools, messaging, and a long-term strategy to increase employer involvement in community-based housing solutions.

Neighborhood Development Services (NDS) offers housing, lending, and neighborhood revitalization in northeast Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania. During the RCDI grant, NDS aimed to strengthen systems and partnerships to improve fair housing access and community development. With help from consultants, NDS reviewed policies, practices, and programs to enhance consistency and promote equitable access and stable housing. By focusing on policy, training, and data, NDS laid a foundation for more transparent operations and better community outcomes.

Based in southeastern Oklahoma, LIFT Community Action Agency (LIFT CAA) offers housing and economic development services to support under-resourced communities across the region. During the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) grant period, LIFT CAA assisted its partner, the Southeast Oklahoma Community Development Corporation (SOCDC), in earning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certification in September 2024. This achievement unlocks new funding opportunities for SOCDC to expand small business and homeownership lending in rural areas. With technical assistance, LIFT CAA helped prepare the way for this transition by strengthening SOCDC’s policies, governance capacity, and readiness to introduce new financial products, including a Credit Builder Loan and a Down Payment Assistance Loan.

GROW South Dakota (GROW SD) promotes housing, community, and economic development across rural South Dakota. With a solid foundation in energy-efficient single-family rehabilitation and community lending, the organization has increasingly focused on sustainability and resilience in its programs. Through the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI), GROW SD has expanded its efforts to improve long-term housing quality and workforce housing solutions, positioning itself for deeper engagement in development and capital access.

AHEAD (Affordable Housing, Education and Development), based in northern New Hampshire, is a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing rural communities through providing safe, affordable housing. With a portfolio of over 500 affordable homes, AHEAD is recognized as a regional leader in community development and housing innovation. Through its involvement in the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI), AHEAD partnered with NeighborWorks America to strengthen its capacity to pursue two ambitious goals: piloting a Shared Equity Housing model to ensure long-term homeownership affordability and leading the redevelopment of 12 King Square, a key property in downtown Whitefield. These efforts reflect AHEAD’s commitment to place-based development that fosters both opportunity and resilience in the communities it serves.

Based in Corning, New York, Arbor Housing and Development supports safe, affordable housing and supportive services across a broad area in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. With increasing weather-related challenges, Arbor recognized the need to improve its disaster preparedness and business continuity capabilities to boost resilience in its housing communities. Through the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI), Arbor collaborated with Pacific Community Solutions to build internal capacity for emergency planning, leading to the development of a replicable business continuity disaster plan (BCDP).

The Rural Community Development Initiative is more than a grant program; it is a catalyst for meaningful change in rural communities across the United States. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and supported by a matching grant from NeighborWorks America’s Rural Initiative, The program delivers targeted technical assistance to organizations on the front lines of affordable housing, economic development, disaster resilience and energy efficiencies. Through this initiative, NeighborWorks America partnered with seven rural-serving members of the NeighborWorks network to advance housing and economic solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural areas. These organizations strengthened their strategic capacity, built new partnerships, secured critical funding and launched innovative programs that will leave a lasting impact.

A Community Energy Navigator is a trusted, independent advisor for consumers. Navigators are often housing counselors or financial coaches who help homeowners and renters access and understand the benefits of investing in home weatherization, energy efficiency, home electrification, electric vehicle adoption, ways to create safer and healthier homes, and how to utilize incentives like rebates and tax credits. Navigators assist by clarifying these complex programs and connecting homeowners and renters with qualified energy auditors and weatherization contractors. Additionally, Navigators raise awareness about common scams.