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Recently SDHDA hosted a Regional Housing Summit that included the State Housing Finance Agencies of Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.
HFA Agency Executive Directors, Board members, and staff discussed economic and housing issues that are currently effecting the region and brainstormed solutions to help position our industry for the future.
The Summit included comments from Claira Monier, President of the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), and two regional speakers.
Mark Drabenstott, Vice President and Director of the Center for the Study of Rural America, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, gave a presentation of the changing face of rural America. Mark highlighted three key issues:
- Rural America's twin challenges of an uneven rural economy and declining or slow growth in population,
- The new frontier of regional economic opportunities, and
- The new game plan for rural America.
Jim Reiker, President of the Midwest Housing Equity Group, Inc., also spoke. His presentation included how regional equity funds are started and the benefits that they bring to a regional group.
The agenda also included State HFA discussion about specific housing issues in each state and program success.
"We need to strengthen our regional partnerships and strategies, not only to evaluate our role in today's economic setting, but in preparation for the future," said Dar Baum, SDHDA Executive Director. "This was a wonderful opportunity to do just that."
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