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To improve the lives of Dakota County residents through affordable housing and community development.
To be an innovative leader, creating affordable housing opportunities and strengthening Dakota County communities.
The Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) was established
in 1971 (as the Dakota County Housing and Redevelopment Authority)
pursuant to special Minnesota Legislation. The agency received
funding for its first program, the Housing Choice Voucher Program,
in 1975.
In 1983, the CDA issued its first bonds for the First Time Homebuyer
Program. Since that time, the CDA has provided low-interest mortgage
financing for over 5,400 homeowners purchasing their first home
in Dakota County.
In 1984, Dakota County became an entitlement jurisdiction for
the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
The CDA administers the CDBG Program for Dakota County. The program
allows local governments to establish programs or develop projects
that benefit low- and moderate-income residents or to prevent/eliminate
blighted conditions. Over the last 20 years, the CDA has administered
over $45 million in CDBG funding and recent annual allocations
have been approx. $1.7 million.
In 1988, the CDA and Dakota County embarked on a 10 year plan
to locally finance and construct affordable housing for seniors.
In 1996, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved a
second 10-year plan and in 2007 approved a third phase to construct an additional 10 buildings by 2016. Today, the CDA is constructing its 23rd
senior housing development and the Senior Housing Program houses nearly 1,300 households.
In 1990, the CDA developed the Family Housing Partnership Program which partners the agency with a private corporation to fund the construction of workforce housing for moderate-income families. Since then, the CDA has constructed 17 workforce housing developments located in nine Dakota County cities.
Today, the CDA administers over 30 different programs and is one of the largest housing and community development program providers in the state. The CDA's rental programs alone assist over 4,000 households annually.
The CDA has been designated as a High Performer from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the administration of the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Scattered Site Public Housing Program. The agency has received numerous awards including a Blue Ribbon Best Practices Award for the overall achievement of affordable housing goals from the U.S. Department of HUD and awards of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
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