JDA Housing Program Proves Successful As It Nears Full Participation

In 2019, The McKenzie County Job Development Authority (JDA) started a program designed to defray infrastructure costs for qualifying housing projects in McKenzie County: The JDA Housing Development Subsidy program.

So far, 42 houses have been accepted into McKenzie County JDA Housing Development Subsidy Program as of June 11. This means that $125,000 remains to be allocated out of the program funding. The JDA board has recently indicated there is no interest in seeking more funds to the program, so once that allocation runs out, no more applications will be accepted.

“Our goal has been simply to help generate incentive for more quality single family housing to be built, as that has been identified as one of the greatest barriers to further economic growth in our community. Once the funds are exhausted, we are not looking to continue the programs as we hope that the market will be able to take over getting the needed housing built,” stated Daniel Stenberg, McKenzie County economic developer and McKenzie County Job Development Authority executive director.

The Housing Development Subsidy program provides a development subsidy of up to $50,000 per single-family house in McKenzie County.

For a house to qualify for this program, it must be a newly constructed site-built house that meets the quality requirements detailed in the application process. A qualifying house must be located within the city limits of Watford City, Arnegard, Alexander, or in an approved County Subdivision.

The homebuyer’s loan amount cannot exceed the FHA Mortgage Limit. The Development Subsidy amount will be adjusted based on the purchase price of the house and if it is built with complete or limited infrastructure. Complete infrastructure includes a curb, gutter, sidewalk, municipal water, municipal sewer. This qualifies for a development subsidy of up to $50,000 per house.

Limited infrastructure includes municipal water and municipal sewer in a city; or in a county subdivision that has improved gravel road and septic. This qualifies for a development subsidy of up to $25,000 per house.

For more information about the Housing Development Subsidy Program, visit: https://econdev.mckenziecounty.net/grants-incentives/housing-subsidy-program/.