The Red River Community Housing Development Organization is seeking interested communities for Spark Build 2026.
The objective of the Spark Build initiative is to jump start new home construction in small towns by building local partnerships and managing risk. In 2024, Red River CHDO piloted the Spark Build initiative. Two single-family homes were built and sold in Lakota and two in Larimore. The 1,600 square foot slab on grade homes are designed to meet current expectations but are not custom homes. If buyers are identified before orders are placed for interior finishes like cabinets and countertops, they may be able to select preferences. The homes are sold on the open market, with no income limits.
The homes in Lakota sold at the end of 2024 and the homes in Larimore sold in early Funding for construction of these homes included construction loans from local banks, and a soft construction loan from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) using Single Family Housing Incentive Funds (HIF) secured by the Red River CHDO.
In 2025, Red River CHDO has continued to partner with other rural communities in Region 4 (Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh counties) to build more homes. These communities include Park River and Michigan, with HIF applications under development for Hoople, and Grafton. The 2025 legislature increased the amount of available HIF funds for single family housing, and we are seeking additional communities to partner with on this new housing construction initiative in 2026.
Click on the memo and flyer below to learn more.
Interested cities can submit a proposal for 2026 and beyond.
Red River Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization who’s purpose includes housing and community development for low and moderate income people, and underserved rural communities in Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, and Walsh Counites. Red River CHDO is a sister organization of Red River Regional Council.