Rural Development Incorporated - RDI	Site Map
*Building Better Communities in Franklin County & the North Quabbin Region*

Breaking News

First Six Solar Village Homes LEED® certified to the Platinum level- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Platinum to the first six Wisdom Way Solar Village homes, the highest level possible. RDI anticipates all twenty homes in the Solar Village will ultimately receive Platinum status when all homes and paperwork are complete. For a builder of affordable homes this is an especially significant achievement. - Details

Wisdom Way Solar Village achieves ENERGY STAR TIER III- Details

RDI wins $10,000 as third place winner in MA Zero Energy Challenge - RDI's Director of Home Ownership Programs, Anne Perkins, Executive Director Robin Sherman, and Solar Village architect, Bill Austin, traveled to the MA Statehouse on Monday, June 29th, to receive the award. - Details on the Challenge
	*Wisdom Way Solar Village Receives High Praise -* The Journal of Light Construction, in their July 2010 issue, heaped high praise on The Wisdom Way Solar Village. - Read more...
	The Solar Village was featured on WGBY's Eco-Exchange on Wednesday August 5th. Host Sandy Thomas interviewed Anne Perkins, RDI's Director of Home Ownership Programs, along with architect Bill Austin of Austin Design and new home owner Mary Sirum. Details

First six WWSV homes earn LEED Platinum

Video about the Solar Village on the Business page of the NY Times website

...and New York Times BLOG

The Wall Street Journal

Builders Zero In on New Goal of Energy-Neutral Housing

You Tube

Documentary Clip

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Home Ownership Program: Rural Development, Inc. (RDI) Home Ownership Program is a non-profit builder of affordable single family homes for first time home buyers with low and moderate income in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region. The program teaches first time homebuyers about home ownership, purchases land for single-family home sites, develops the site and builds the home. All of the houses are constructed using green building principles.

Home Buyer Counseling Workshops: Offered in cooperation with MassHousing, the workshops are designed to demystify the home buying process. Presenters include an attorney, a home inspector, a lender, an insurance professional, a real estate professional, and a credit expert. Participants receive a certificate that allows them access to affordable mortgage products. Citizens Housing and Planning Association has accredited the workshop and the Massachusetts Home Ownership Collaborative has given it a Seal of Approval.

Section 8 Home Ownership Program: The HRA Housing Choice Voucher Program allows qualified Section 8 participants to use their voucher subsidy toward the expenses of owning a home instead of paying rent.

RDI Large Developments: RDI restored three prominent historic buildings in the Village of Turners Falls – the Moltenbrey Building, the Crocker Building and the Cutlery Block – complementing the ongoing revitalization efforts in the village. The Moltenbrey renovation preserves 2 commercial spaces and 26 substance-free enhanced single-room occupancy units. The award winning historic renovations at the Crocker and Cutlery buildings upgraded and preserved 2 commercial spaces and created 48 units of affordable rental housing.

Site last modified 7-22-10