Finding adequate housing in the Northwoods is the key topic of the upcoming annual meeting for Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation.
Executive Director Brittany Beyer says they want to focus on what it would take to address the housing issues in the Northwoods...
"...We're going to be hosting two panels, one specifically looking at housing development in rural communities and what the municipalities need to be ready for. They'll also be looking at mixed-income housing readiness and tax credits and all of those different instruments and tools that would benefit municpalities understanding so they can make developers really attracted to these programs..."
Beyer says each community in their service area have different issues. In some cases, businesses are about to expand or have done so and their workforce is commuting more than 30 miles to get to work. She says if someone is recruited to the area there isn't enough adequate rentals or multi-family unit.
Grow North is also getting involved in Inspire Wisconsin, an effort to link businesses to schools.
Grow North began in 2004 as a private/public organization dedicated to economic development in Forest, Florence, Marinette, Lincoln, Langlade, Oconto, Oneida, and Vilas counties. Their annual meeting is Thursday, May 23 at Nicolet College's Northwoods Center in Rhinelander.
More information is on their website grownorth.org
