County housing needs addressed

Adequate affordable and workable housing is a problem in Sanders County. Considering results of three- to five-year planning initiatives, Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC), along with their many partners, have identified insufficient housing as one of the “biggest barriers to economic growth” in the county as well as region and plan to do something about it.

In efforts to address this problem, the county will for the first time perform a housing assessment utilizing newly acquired funding from a USDA Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) grant. Mineral and Sanders counties have been awarded the grant and will provide project leadership through SCCDC and Mineral Economic Development Corporation. Lake County Community Development Corporation (LCCDC) will also provide support throughout the assessment.

“This type of study is fundamental to attracting developers and organizations with the tools they need to evaluate a potential project and determine its financial feasibility,” stated Jen Kreiner, Executive Director of SCCDC. “The disparity within the market could be bridged through private investment. This study is an opportunity to identify and present information that will attract development to meet the needs of Sanders County residents.”

The scope of the project has not been finalized but will contain separate county assessments as well as areas of overlap, such as major employers, in each report. As the assessment takes shape, local employers and resident input will be extremely important, according to SCCDC. “The goal of this project is to formalize those efforts and position housing projects for planning and development.”

SCCDC stated that the Sanders County Commissioners prioritized not only a county-wide assessment, but also a commitment to provide grant-matching funds, helping build the capacity of supporting organizations to move project development and implementation forward post study.

RCDI grants are available to assist non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas. In conjunction with the Certified Economic Development Region, LCCDC was successful in applying for the RCDI grant on behalf of Sanders and Mineral counties.

More information may be obtained, or comments can be made by contacting Kreiner at (406) 827-6935 or emailing her at [email protected]. The informational contact for Mineral County is Emily Park. She may be reached via emailing [email protected].