A Small Business and Housing Finance event in the Skoal conference room at Valley City State University’s Memorial Student Center will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Jan. 31. The speakers include Ben Deetz with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Dillon Thomas with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Elizabeth Phares Oren with the North Dakota Women’s Business Center, David Flohr with North Dakota Housing, and Michaela Schell with Dakota Business Lending.
Thomas, single family housing specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said his role is to process USDA Single Family Housing 502/504 applications from loan origination, underwriting to loan/grant closings and to continually connect with rural communities to provide affordable homeownership opportunities and financing options to help families and individuals remain in their home.
Furthermore he emphasizes “The information contained in our presentation empowers rural residents to reach out about how to buy or repair their home,” Thoams said. “Across the state, there are numerous examples of how our programs benefitted small towns. From a new roof that is leaking to a new furnace to lower their heating bills, to remodeling dwellings to make them accessible and useable for a household member with a disability, and that we are only a call away. It gives them the opportunity to see financing options to make the dream of home ownership a reality.”
Thomas is a 2018 graduate of Valley City State University with a degree in business administration with a concertation in human resources. He obtained his master’s degree in performance improvements from Grantham University.
The Jan. 31 event at VCSU will introduce a variety of financing resources relevant to small business owners and individuals interested in learning more about single-family and multi-family housing programs. Presenters have extensive experience supporting small business, home loan and home repair loan applications.
This event is open to the public. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.
For additional information, visit
. A zoom link is also available for the presentation. Follow the Jamestown Regional Entrepreneur Center at Facebook.com/JRECenter, on Instagram at JRECenter and on LinkedIn. Email Katherine.Roth@uj.edu with any questions.