THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CDA operates over 40 programs to improve the lives of county residents through access to affordable housing and support of community and economic development.

In 2024, the CDA assisted:

  • Over 5,800 Washington County households, impacting over 14,000 residents.
  • Over 300 businesses seeking to establish or grow their business.
New homeownersWe helped increase the supply of affordable housing:
  • Financed the new construction of 397 apartments with $5.6 million of Housing Tax Credits (yielding $48.5 million of private equity investment), and $2.45 million of Local Housing Trust Fund loans (partially funded by Local Affordable Housing Aid).
  • Created 36 new subsidized apartments by partnering with a local housing provider and spearheading a complex and innovative financing structure that resulted in the first new Section 8 Project-Based Rent Assisted development in decades.
  • Funded 13 new owner-occupied homes by providing gap funding to Two Rivers Community Land Trust and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for moderate income buyers.
  • Addressed housing insecurity by developing 30 units of emergency housing with services for adults experiencing homelessness in partnership with Washington County. In addition, the CDA funded homelessness prevention services for 3,196 individuals.
A man fixing a gutterWe helped preserve affordable housing:
  • Financed the preservation of 96 apartments by allocating $1 million of Housing Tax Credits, extending the building’s federal Project-Based Rent Assistance, which yielded $29.4 million of private equity investment.
  • Preserved 18 owner-occupied homes by providing low-income homeowners with Home Improvement Loans; funded with federal and state resources.
  • Assisted 10 rural homeowners with repair or replacement of aging and failing septic systems through our partnership with Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment.
  • Established a program to preserve Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, funded with Local Affordable Housing Aid, to incent reinvestment in existing rentals while maintaining modest rents.
A businesswomanWe helped create and grow businesses:
  • Assisted over 100 small businesses through the Open to Business consultation services and just under $1 million in financing in partnership with Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers.
  • Teamed with local chambers of commerce to advance business know-how through business-to-business workshops and expert-facilitated conversations.
  • Supported the revitalization of vacant and underutilized sites throughout the county through the CDA’s Predevelopment Finance Fund and EPA Grant.
  • Grew the local talent pool by joining with the county’s Workforce Development Division and local businesses to help 350 students and adults explore local careers using Virtual Reality.
A boy peeking out from a doorWe helped stabilize housing costs:
  • Provided rent assistance to 704 households through Bridges and Housing Choice Vouchers. Seniors, families, persons with disabilities, and veterans were able to afford their apartments. Participants moving into Washington County grew by 28% over the past two years.
  • Partnered with over 160 landlords. Private landlords participating in the rent assistance programs are growing.
  • Advised 31 homeowners who were behind on their mortgage payments. Over 95% averted foreclosure or are working through the loss mitigation process.
  • Prepared 152 new homebuyers through free in-person or virtual educational workshops.
  • Provided personalized counseling to 54 homebuyers on financial wellbeing, improving credit ratings, and lending or purchase plans.
  • Launched a First-Generation Homebuyer grant program to reduce homeownership disparities; funded with Local Affordable Housing Aid.
  • Counseled 94 senior homeowners considering a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (reverse mortgage).
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