The Rural Housing Preservation Academy is a series of no-cost training and peer learning sessions designed to help rural housing providers acquire and/or preserve USDA Rural Development (RD), HUD and LIHTC financed housing in their respective communities. Training sessions are open to existing owners/operators interested in preserving their properties or parties interested in acquisition for the purpose of preservation of property affordability.
The Academy sessions will span from basic introduction and overview of RD, HUD and LIHTC programs to exploring financing options and new financing models. Enterprise will bring in experts and practitioners that have proven success in preserving units and are thinking outside the box when it comes to funding to help deliver the training sessions. All training sessions will be held virtually. Attendance to any of the academy sessions is available to any interested stakeholders.
Training sessions are open to all interested in preserving affordable housing in rural communities.
Participants may register for the full Academy series or choose to attend individual sessions based on their interests and availability. There is no requirement to attend all sessions to participate.
Register for all Academy sessions or for the sessions you are able to attend.
Session Calendar of 2026 Rural Rental Housing Preservation Academy:
March 25 | Session I: Introduction to the 515 Process and Application
This session will cover current housing stock across the country, and what it means to preserve the affordability of the housing stock at risk.
April 8 | Session 2: Strategies for Preservation
We will explore preservation through the lens of case studies throughout the region with rural developers who have facilitated the acquisition and rehabilitation of USDA 515 properties and utilized resources like Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) for rehab and redevelopment in rural communities.
April 22 | Session 3: Capital Needs Assessment and Environmental Reports
During this session, we will discuss what a capital needs assessment (CNA) is with a guest speaker from an experienced CNA provider. We will also touch on Section 504 requirements and environmental reports.
May 6 at 11:00am MT | Session 4: Development and Operating Budgets
This session will cover the hard-cost items in the development budget and what construction-related items RD requires in a 515 transfer application.
May 20 at 11:00am MT | Session 5: Property Stewardship: Residents Services and Asset Management
Learn about robust resident engagement strategies help property managers streamline their work and gain powerful buy-in. In this session we will learn about resident engagement strategies and share best practices.
Participants may register for the full Academy series or choose to attend individual sessions based on their interests and availability. There is no requirement to attend all sessions to participate.
Register for all Academy sessions or for the sessions you are able to attend.
June 9 at 8:00am - 4:00pm MT and June 10 at 8:00am - 12:00pm MT | 2026 Rural Housing Preservation Academy - In-Person
Enterprise Community Partners is hosting two days of conversation about rural affordable housing preservation and development in Boise, Idaho, June 9-10. This in-person convening—an extension of the Rural Rental Preservation Academy—brings together experts and practitioners to explore the policies, funding strategies, and innovative approaches needed to tackle rural affordability at the federal, state, and local levels.
The Learning Center’s resources and all data and information provided therein (collectively, “Content”) are for general informational purposes only. All Content is provided “as is” and may no longer be current or up to date. Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliated entities (collectively referred to as “Enterprise”) as well as any co-authors of any Content disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions and make no warranties or representations of any kind, either express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any Content presented. All Content should be independently verified by you before relying on it. The Content does not constitute professional advice or services (including but not limited to legal, financial, tax, or investment advice).
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