Northcountry Cooperative Foundation

Worked directly with community groups to build and preserve affordable, Cooperative housing both in an urban and rural setting; conducted research that supports the conversion and ongoing sustainability of housing to Cooperative ownership; provided technical assistance to various community- based economic development initiatives. Organized and conducted training institutes for housing cooperatives. 2023 accomplishments: technical assistance & capacity building - ncf provided ongoing technical assistance, capacity building, and training services to over 90 co-op board leaders and staff. Secured 10.7 million in infrastructure funding for existing resident owned manufactured housing. Helped transition 73-units of manufactured housing to resident ownership. Stood up a wholly owned subsidiary to house all lending activity. Underwrote and worked to deploy the first loan from the subsidiary, Cooperative loan fund llc. Helped to pass a tax credit and notice of sale provision for residents in the state of Minnesota. Delivered 2,958 hours of technical assistance and training to co-ops. Track record: since 2004, ncf has worked with residents to convert fourteen manufactured home communities to resident-ownership - 11 in Minnesota and 3 in Wisconsin. These conversions have provided the security of permanently affordable housing to over 1000 home sites. Average annual lot rent increase across ncf's portfolio is 2% compared to the national investor- owned average of 5 to 6%. Ncf supported communities have re-invested over 6 million into their communities by way of infrastructure rehabilitation and other community improvements. 75% of the households served through the manufactured home conversion program have incomes at 60% ami or below. A full third of households served are considered extremely low income at 30% of ami. At least 40% of the populations served through the manufactured home co-op conversion program are households of color (25% are latino; 11% are asian households). Ncf serves a disproportionate population of veterans and households with chronic health conditions and disabilities.