Emerging and Diverse Developers Program
Ramsey County's Emerging and Diverse Developers (EDD) Program empowers new voices in local real estate, fostering inclusive growth and expanding affordable housing options for our community. This program is available to housing and community developers with less than 25 units of housing or 15,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. The 2025 solicitation, successfully drew 27 eligible applications seeking $10.3M in funding for acquisition-rehab, rehab, new construction and predevelopment activities. All proposed housing projects aimed to serve residents earning at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI), emphasizing a commitment to affordability. Specialized technical assistance was provided through NEOO Partners LLC, ensuring every applicant had the support needed to compete effectively.
While the competitive 2025 application window for project funding is now closed, the program offers support to qualifying developers through its two-part structure:
Part One - Technical Assistance Program: Offers one-on-one and cohort learning opportunities to help emerging developers prepare for future solicitations.
Part Two - Solicitation: Provides a dedicated pathway for emerging developers to secure funding for impactful, affordable housing projects.
Are you a qualified developer interested in shaping Ramsey County's future? The application period for the EDD Technical Assistance Cohort opens in Summer 2026. To be notified when outreach begins in June 2026, simply email your name, email address, and phone number to the help desk at [email protected]. Stay tuned for future opportunities to partner with us in building a more inclusive community!
Past Awards
2026
The following projects were approved for Statewide Affordable Housing Aid funding for predevelopment activities, which includes soft costs such as permitting, zoning, architectural and legal fees at the County Board meeting on Jan. 13, 2026:
| Recipient | Project | City | Housing Units | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessie Street New Construction | Better Choices, Better Communities | Saint Paul | 12 | $20,000 |
| Rondo Revitalize | RME Properties | Saint Paul | 23 | $20,000 |
| Edmund Acquisition - Rehab | Vertina Development LLC | Saint Paul | 2 | $20,000 |
| Sherburne Acquisition - Rehab | YO Holdings Development LLC | Saint Paul | 2 | $20,000 |
| Total | 39 | $80,000 |
2025
The following projects were approved for Housing and Redevelopment Authority funding at the County Board meeting on Dec. 16, 2025:
| Recipient | Project | City | Housing Units | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noiro Group | Aster Meadows Acquisition-Rehab | Saint Anthony Village | 3 (preserved) | $400,000 |
| Horace Investment | Horace House New Construction | Saint Paul | 12 | $279,500 |
| GD Enterprises | 415 Finn Acquisition-Rehab | Saint Paul | 5 | $400,000 |
| Kizart Development | Van Buren Acquisition-Rehab | Saint Paul | 7 | $245,000 |
| Nurturing Developments | 583 Lincoln Acquisition-Rehab | Saint Paul | 6 | $450,000 |
| Bungalow Boss | 412 Pierce Acquisition-Rehab | Saint Paul | 5 | $225,000 |
| Tertle Companies | 418 Pierce Acquisition-Rehab | Saint Paul | 5 | $100,000 |
| Tertle Companies | 422 Pierce Acquisition-Rehab | Saint Paul | 5 | $100,000 |
| Total | 48 | $2,199,500 |
The following projects were approved for Statewide Affordable Housing Aid funding at the County Board meeting on Jan. 21, 2025:
| Recipient | Project | City | Housing Units | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARRA Properties | Lexington Deluxe | Saint Paul | 26 | $401,080 |
| Total | $401,080 |
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