Before expanding its program service area, CommunityWorks develops partnerships with local lenders, governments, rural utilities, and JDAs.

For its lender partners, CommunityWorks provides training and technical assistance which helps lenders make better and safer additional loans, thereby contributing to the betterment of their local communities.  Some of the services and training provided include:

CommunityWorks Program Training - The CommunityWorks staff provides regional workshops to show how the DREAM Fund and other facilitated programs can work with lenders to help more of their clients.

Secondary Market Access - CommunityWorks is an approved lender with the Bank of North Dakota, Merchants Bank, and USDA-Rural Development.  Partners also have access to NHSA (Neighborhood Housing Services of America), that is only available through CommunityWorks' affiliation with NeighborWorks America.

First-Time Homebuyers - CommunityWorks participates with the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency by originating low-interest, first-time homebuyer mortgage loans for its partners that do not have access themselves.

Also, please view the A-Z List to see several real-life examples that show how the DREAM Fund has worked with our lending partners to better serve their clients.

  Lenders can also print out a Client Intake Form and the Lender Checklist.