Northcountry Cooperative Foundation

NCF'S MISSION IS TO "TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISE." WE CARRY OUT THIS MISSION BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATIVE EDUCATION TO COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS. FROM OUR INCEPTION, WE HAVE BEEN INNOVATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL, SEEKING OUT CREATIVE, SOCIALLY ORGANIZED APPROACHES TO CHALLENGING PROBLEMS.

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.