Gov. Doug Burgum outlined Tuesday a $96 million housing initiative that aims to provide financing assistance to developers for building new single and multi-family homes and take advantage of existing infrastructure to help limit costs.

“We’re growing and our economy is growing,” Burgum said during a news conference at Bismarck’s Custer Park. “We can’t grow unless we’ve got workforce, and we know we’re having challenges with workforce coming to our state because housing in certain markets, in certain places in the state, has gotten very tight.”

The recommendations will be part of Burgum’s state budget proposal he’ll announce during the first week of December.

The plan calls for nearly $39 million to be put toward “financing innovations” to provide gap funding for developers to construct single and multi-family homes through the North Dakota Housing Incentive Fund, which is managed by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency.

Group gathering input on North Dakota housing needs

It would also provide low interest construction loans for projects relating to entry-level homes and aging-in-place home designs within established neighborhoods.

“None of the programs we are talking about today are going to be directed toward greenfield, or new infrastructure,” Burgum said. “We have to invest in places where we’ve got existing infrastructure.”

Burgum emphasized that focusing the projects in areas with existing streets, utilities and fire and police coverage will not increase the property tax burden for the community.

The plan would also incentivize partnerships at the local level through low interest loan programs to improve existing houses with repairs so people can stay in their homes longer and keep those homes in a sellable condition, if the homeowner decides to move.

Almost $23 million would be used to fund innovation grants to spur additional housing projects in urban and rural areas. 

Burgum said clearing some of the permitting and zoning “red tape” would also help promote the next generation of manufactured housing, which is modular home designs.

“As the manufactured home moves from what we might traditionally think about with mobile homes, which people think is substandard, there’s a whole new industry coming and we’ve got to attract it to North Dakota,” Burgum said. “There’s a way to lower the cost of homebuilding with modular, manufactured housing as a key part of that, that hasn’t really arrived here … and we’ve got to make sure our code allows that to happen.”

The ideas are the result of the North Dakota Housing Initiative Advisory Committee, which has been working to develop a comprehensive housing strategy. The committee held five listening sessions with stakeholders in Bismarck, Fargo, Harvey, Williston and at the Strengthening Government to Government Conference with tribal nations.

Committee member Kim Settel, vice president of retail banking and lending for Gate City Bank, said clearing regulatory burdens for new construction would go a long way toward incentivizing new home construction.  She also emphasized finding ways to decrease mortgage rates. 

Burgum highlighted that some homeowners with grown children may want to downsize and sell their home to a new family, but high interest rates are a deterrent.

“If we can get them into a rate that is more amenable to what it was, then you can open that house up for another family,” Settel said. 

She also said no two housing markets are the same and what may work to increase housing in a city like Fargo may not be the same approach needed in Bowman.

The plan also provides $10 million to address ongoing homelessness through emergency shelter operating funds and re-housing assistance.

Burgum said homelessness can occur rapidly for families, based on circumstances. He added about a third of all homelessness involves families with children.

“It’s not just about individuals, it’s about families,” Burgum said. 

State Rep. Mike Beltz, R-Hillsboro, a member of the Housing Initiative Advisory Committee, said the best thing you can do for a homeless person is to put a roof over their head.

“It provides them stability and exponentially increases the opportunities for positive outcomes on that front,” Beltz said.

Burgum said about $16 million of the new initiative will provide eviction prevention resources and housing assistance for those deemed high-risk for housing instability. To receive housing assistance, the recipient must take part in a financial coaching program, he said.

“We just want to make sure people understand, on the financial side of things, both the responsibilities and the opportunities within home ownership,” Burgum said.

Beltz said the housing initiative proposal will fall across multiple state agencies that will administer the programs.

To assist the construction workforce, $6 million from the program would be made available through grants to local schools for continuing to promote construction careers.

Lawmakers will consider Burgum’s budget proposal, as well as budget recommendations from Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong, when the legislative session begins Jan. 7.

I’ve seen North Dakota pheasants in a lot of unusual spots over the years.

As somebody who spends many days each year chasing these birds all over the North Dakota countryside, you never know where you might run into them.

Sometimes, you will see them right here in town. I know I’ve had them right in my backyard before. I’ve even seen pheasants in a graveyard before. Pheasants will sometimes perch in trees, haybales, and shrubs, especially in the morning. I think they do this to get a bird’ s-eye view of possible predators.

I’m a big pheasant hunter and I truly admire these birds. Not only are they delicious table fare but trying to outsmart a late-season rooster can be very challenging, which I enjoy.

A pheasant was filmed in North Dakota recently in a rather interesting spot. 

Here’s that video courtesy of ND Wildlife & Landscapes Facebook page. Check it out.

Now, I’ve certainly seen other species of birds on powerlines before, such as Morning Doves, Meadow Larks, Blackbirds, Robins, raptors, etc., but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Ringneck Pheasant on a powerline. It’s not a common occurrence in the North Dakota countryside that’s for sure.

Talk about walking a tightrope. Pheasants have rather large feet, and this bird must have been channeling its inner circus act. Somebody call the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey.

A true treasure in North Dakota. I almost enjoy watching them as much as I do hunting them. Next time you are out on the North Dakota prairie, take a second to look and admire the Ringneck Pheasant. You NEVER know where you might see one.

Top 11 Most Stunning Waterfowl in North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) -Local veteran business owners and active members of the North Dakota Army National Guard collaborate to celebrate Veterans Day at the North Dakota Veterans center in Lisbon, North Dakota.

Residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home celebrated the day with a pancake breakfast and flag ceremony with the Lisbon American Legion, a visit from the Jamestown Drum and Bugle Core, and were hand delivered by Hope Blooms and members of Top Rank Networking, a Fargo based network of veteran business owners. For the active service members and members of Top Rank networking todays events provided an opportunity to express their gratitude to the servicemen and women who came before them.

“At Top Rank networking we really have two main missions and those are tow support veterans who own business and those business professionals in the community but we also look to give back to our community so today working with hope blooms really was a perfect marriage of those two things,” said Sergeant Casey Drege, North Dakota Army National Guard.

“Having conversations with some of these people special especially on you today it’s an important day for me. It’s an important day for them and being able to come together partner with Hope Bloom and hopefully bring a little bit of joy to their day has been very special for me,” said Drill Sergeant Brandon Wendland.

North Dakota Veterans Home’s Susie Schlecht expressed her gratitude saying, “I think it validates especially for Vietnam veterans that maybe didn’t get a very warm homecoming or actually a horrible homecoming we want to make every day an honor or them and show them how thankful we are for them especially today.”

Hope Blooms founder, Kelly Krenzel worked with Top Rank to organize and plan the event. Her nonprofit takes donated flowers from weddings, funerals, and spread joy and goodwill throughout the community. Today, Hope Blooms focused on those who have served.

“Today we brought a whole host of volunteers along with active service members and just came out to knock on people’s doors and just say, Hey thank you so much for your service and just remind them that their community cares about them,” said Krenzel.

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