Grant Directory

Verified government funding opportunities

Essential Public Employee Program (EP2) – Lewis & Clark Development Group

Open

Lewis & Clark Development GroupNDFirst-Time Homeowner

Deadline: Scope: Statewidestate

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Summary

The Essential Public Employee Program (EP2) provides up to $10,000 in affordable down payment and closing cost assistance loans for North Dakota’s public employees—such as teachers, first responders, and government staff—to help them buy homes in the communities they serve.

Eligible Locations

North Dakota; Lewis & Clark Development Group serves communities statewide with affordable housing and economic development programs.

Eligibility

Essential public employees in North Dakota employed by a city or county government, school district, medical or long-term care facility, the State of North Dakota, or similar public-sector entities as determined by Lewis & Clark Development Group, who can qualify with a participating North Dakota bank or credit union and meet minimum down payment and credit requirements.

Full Description

EP2 is a specialized homeownership support program run by Lewis & Clark Development Group that targets “essential public employees” across North Dakota. According to program materials and local government documents, eligible borrowers include individuals employed by city and county governments, school districts, medical or long-term care facilities, the State of North Dakota and other similar employers designated by LCD Group. The assistance is structured as a second-lien loan of up to $10,000 with below-market interest rates starting as low as about 2% (program language also references rates up to roughly 4%) and repayment terms up to 10 years, making it more affordable than many unsecured consumer loans. Funds can be applied to required down payments, standard closing costs, and other upfront expenses, and the program can be layered with primary mortgages from any North Dakota bank or credit union, giving borrowers flexibility in choosing their first-lien lender. Applicants must still contribute a minimum down payment from their own resources and meet standard credit and underwriting requirements set by the originating lender, but EP2 helps reduce the total cash barrier and may allow some buyers to structure their financing to avoid or minimize mortgage insurance. By focusing on essential workers, EP2 supports both workforce stability and local housing markets, enabling critical staff to live closer to their jobs and build long-term equity in the state.

Verification & Details

Source: lcdgroup.org
Official source → lcdgroup.org
Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 1, 2025

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Open

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Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance (DCA) – NDHFA

Open

North Dakota Housing Finance AgencyNDFirst-Time Homeowner

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

NDHFA’s DCA Program layers a 3% credit on top of qualifying first mortgages to help low-income North Dakota buyers cover down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items without relying on multiple overlapping assistance programs.

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Deadline: Rolling; available while program funds last and when paired with an eligible NDHFA first mortgageStatewide
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