Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF)
Signed into law in 2017 by Governor Pete Ricketts as part of the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Act (LB518), the Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF) provides competitive matching grants to non-profit development organizations who administer workforce housing investment funds. The funds are invested in eligible projects to increase the supply and reduce the costs of workforce housing in Nebraska’s rural communities.
Workforce housing is housing that meets the needs of working families and is attractive to new residents locating in a rural community.
Housing Projects Eligible for RWHF Awards Include:
- New owner-occupied housing costing no more than $325,000.
- New rental housing units costing no more than $250,000.
- Owner-occupied or rental housing units for which the cost to substantially rehabilitate exceeds 50% of a unit’s assessed value.
- Upper-story housing.
- Rehabilitation/conversion of an existing building into housing.
- And in all cases, housing that does not receive federal or state low-income housing tax credits, Community Development Block Grants, HOME funds, National Housing Trust Fund, or funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund that would restrict the level of individual or household income to anything less than 100% of AMI.
Eligible Areas
Communities in a county with a population of less than 100,000, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, are eligible. Presently, this excludes communities in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants must be non-profit development organizations, approved by the Department director, that invest or intend to invest in workforce housing eligible activities, and that have an active board of directors with expertise in development, construction and finance.
Awards
RWHF awards are made on a competitive basis until funds are no longer available. The initial competitive application cycle took place in 2017-18. Subsequent allocations of funds allowed for two application cycles in both the 2020 and 2022 program years. In 2024, the Nebraska Legislature allocated $12,500,000 for a fourth program year of the Rural Workforce Housing Fund.
The 2024 RWHF program requires a minimum investment of 25% of the RWHF award in matching funds.
Matching funds can be dollars contributed by individuals, businesses, foundations, local and regional political subdivisions, or other non-profit organizations into a single investment fund administered by the eligible nonprofit development organization.
Award Evaluation
Competitive applications for RWHF program funds are evaluated on demonstrations of:
- Ongoing workforce housing needs as identified by a recent housing study.
- Difficulties filling employment positions or attracting workers in communities or regions with a low unemployment rate.
- A community’s or region’s commitment to growing its housing stock.
- A project’s likelihood of occupancy in a period of 24 months.
- The ability to grow and manage an investment fund for rural workforce housing.
Application
2024 Rural Workforce Housing Fund Application
Application Period:
Open Date: 10/17/2024 3:00 PM (CT)
Close Date: 1/15/2025 6:00 PM (CT)
Application Guidelines
Guidelines
| Title | File Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Application Best Practices | March 14, 2024 | |
| 2024 RWHF Exhibit 106 for LOI and Application. | Excel | October 16, 2024 |
| 2024 RWHF Application Guidelines | October 17, 2024 | |
| 00 Policy Memo 24-02: Required Documents for Reimbursement | May 16, 2024 | |
| 00 Policy Memo 23-01: RWHF Maximum Cost Limits | September 21, 2023 | |
| 00 Policy Memo 22-07: RWHF Unit Cost Limit Increase | September 9, 2022 | |
| 00 Policy Memo 21-06: RWHF Unit Cost Limit Increase | December 21, 2021 |
Forms & Templates
Contract Special Conditions Forms & Templates
| Authorization to Request Funds | RWHF Grantee Information Sheet |
Performance of RWHF Contract Forms & Templates
| RWHF Drawdown Form |
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