Strengthening Rural America: Housing Innovation, Capital, and Access

NHC and NeighborWorks® America hosted a virtual conference bringing together leaders, policymakers, innovators, and community stakeholders to spotlight actionable strategies for revitalizing and empowering rural America. With a focus on emerging opportunities, the program highlights essential models for sustainable rural development, including methods to increase housing supply, expand access to technology, and enhance credit availability to support robust local economies. Attendees engaged in discussions that lift up model rural innovations, driving affordable housing solutions and community-driven growth.  

Agenda:

1:00 – 1:10 PM:  Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Sarah Kackar, Senior Director, Rural Initiative, NeighborWorks® America

1:10 – 1:20 PM:  Opening Session

1:20 – 2:05 PM:  Building Community Wealth: Local Economies and Small Business Development

Reliable access affordable credit is foundational for economic growth and opportunity in rural America. This panel explores innovative strategies and partnerships focused on leveraging federal funding, expanding lending infrastructure, and improving access to capital in underserved rural areas to ultimately help local economies thrive. Practitioners discussed the critical role of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and shared their experience overcoming infrastructure, policy, and investment challenges by leveraging federal funding, private sector collaboration, and community-rooted financing solutions for rural America. 

Moderator:

• Nadia Villagrán, LISC Vice President and Rural LISC Director

Panelists:

• Farah Ahmad, President, Partners for Rural Transformation 
• Lori Finnesand, CEO, GROW South Dakota
• Ryan Green, Director of Lending, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI)

2:05 – 2:55 PM:   Community Foundations: Affordable Housing Development in Rural America

Affordable, quality housing and vibrant community infrastructure are essential pillars of rural prosperity. This panel navigates the unique housing environment of rural spaces, highlighting promising opportunities in building and sustaining affordable housing. Discussions addressed critical capacity-building strategies for rural organizations, as well as effective models from across the country—including modular and manufactured housing, public-private partnerships, and place-based revitalization efforts—that ensure rural communities’ housing supply needs are met.  

Moderator:

• Jonathan Harwitz, Director of Public Policy, Housing Assistance Council

Panelists:

• Larry Phillips, Real Estate Lending Director, NeighborWorks® Montana
• Tom Collishaw, President & CEO, Self-Help Enterprises
• Geoffrey Barton, President & CEO, Mountain Housing Opportunities
• Carrie Davis, President, Wealth Watchers
• Chad Adams, CEO, Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership

2:55 – 3:00 PM:  Closing Remarks