Wisconsin Workforce Housing News


Ken Harwood
Advocating for Wisconsin
HarwoodKen [at] gmail.com
Cell 608.334.2174


Commentary
Leonardo Silva Architect 

Leonardo Silva Architecture is a La Crosse based studio practice focused on timeless design solutions and sustainable practices; for homeowners, builders and contractors alike.

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Community Updates, News Stories, Best Practices, Resources, and other data supporting the development of affordable housing for the citizens of Wisconsin in every city and region in the State. Please consider partnering with us and sharing your story

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Regional Housing Consortium

7 Rivers Alliance and Chris Hardie brought leaders from the private sector, public sector, education sector, and economic development together Monday September to to begin working on a Regional Housing Consortium project focused on Workforce Housing. The group will also look at workforce recruitment and retention over the next 6 months. 

The group established a 7 Rivers Housing Consortium, a results-oriented group with representation from real estate agents, developers, builders, landlords, businesses, local government, economic developers and nonprofit agencies dedicated to creating a regional unified vision amongst stakeholders on how best to meet the need for workforce housing in the region.

This group will review efforts in the region that have already engaged in housing discussions or housing studies plus additional data as needed to create a regional footprint that will concentrate on: 
1) aligning existing housing supply and new construction with employer hiring needs
2) expediting construction of Workforce Housing
3) targeting market awareness of housing options and benefits
The goal is to engage key stakeholders within the regional footprint to participate in a face-to-face meeting to further define the Consortium and ensure the right voices are around the table as the process continues.

Helping lead the conversation was Jim Wood and Kennan Wood representing Competitive Wisconsin, Inc. (CWI) a nonpartisan consortium of agriculture, business, education and labor leaders in Wisconsin who work together to focus attention on the state’s competitiveness.



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Ken Notes: Leo and I are actually participating in this project. We were happy to see developers at the table and a good representation of stakeholders from a variety of public and private entities.

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Work begins on Eastmorland Community Center

MADISON (WKOW) -- Work started Wednesday on the Eastmorland Community Center and Housing Development on Madison`s east side.

The church on the property is coming down first.

Then the plan is to have 25 living units and a community center built.

The development aims to bring workforce housing to the neighborhood, as well as host groups including Madison schools, arts programs, and 4H clubs.

They hope to improve the heart of the Eastmorland area.

Leaders want to make it accessible to everyone and hope to create strong relationships with those living in the neighborhood and with the two Madison schools right across the street...


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Leo`s notes: The Eastmorland Community Center and Housing Development represents exactly the kind of smart, small-scale investment Madison needs: 25 workforce units tied directly to community amenities and youth programming. By blending housing with schools, arts, and 4H, this project strengthens neighborhood fabric while tackling affordability head-on. It’s a model worth replicating across Wisconsin—building homes and connections at the same time...

Ken Notes: We need to build communities not just housing. I would also like to see more diverse socioeconomic neighborhoods...

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Workforce housing project in Sister Bay to support local families

DOOR COUNTY (NBC 26) — The Door County Housing Partnership says these homes are helping local workers stay in the community both living and working here long-term.

The units, located in Sister Bay, are among the first in a new development aimed at addressing the workforce housing shortage across the county.

"To try and fix this [housing] crisis that we have here," Scott Bader, the Preside of the Door county housing partnership said.

These homes are designed to help keep workers in the area, living and working in the community long-term.

"They want childcare, they want whatever somebody that serves their food, someone at the grocery store, the hardware store. Those people need a place to live," Bader said...

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Leo`s notes: In a county where workers are often priced out by vacation rentals, Door County’s Housing Partnership is proving that modest, targeted investments can make a huge difference. With state grant support, the group is turning a $100,000 land purchase in Sister Bay into 10 permanently affordable homes. This project shows how local collaboration and ownership models can keep families rooted in the community and strengthen the local workforce.

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Madison congregation aims to build affordable housing atop new church building

A Madison church is working to tear down its old worship space so it can make way for affordable housing.

Leaders with St. John’s Lutheran Church had hoped to have broken ground by now, but financing challenges have delayed the endeavor.

Now the church hopes the $58 million project can be completed within two years, said the church’s pastor, the Rev. Peter Beeson...



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Leo`s notes: By combining a new sanctuary with deeply affordable housing, St. John’s is living its mission and modeling how faith communities can leverage land for the greater good. In a city where nearly half of renters are cost-burdened, this project (10 story development with 110/130 reserved for affordable housing) shows how creative partnerships and moral leadership can transform barriers into opportunities for community stability and dignity.

Ken Notes: Thumbs up. I do respect those who practice what they preach and in this case literally.

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Wisconsin Workforce Housing Resources

ENABLING BETTER PLACES: A USER’S GUIDE TO WISCONSIN NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABILITY

 Wisconsin REALTORS® Association

WISCAP Affordable Housing Network

Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources

Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp

WEDA Legislative Tracker

NRA Housing Needs By State / Wisconsin


Wisconsin Housing Alliance
Office of Rural Prosperity
Wisconsin Economic Development 
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Nate Notes: to be included as a Workforce Housing resource email us a link and a brief note to: wwhnews.com@gmail.com...

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Milwaukee Tool To Add 300 Jobs To Wisconsin Workforce

The power tools and equipment company plans to invest $42 million in a new Menomonee Falls facility.



Milwaukee Tool is further expanding its footprint in Wisconsin with a $42 million investment in its newest facility in Menomonee Falls, supported by up to $4.5 million in performance-based Enterprise Zone tax credits from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. This marks another major milestone in the nearly decade-long partnership between Milwaukee Tool and WEDC, one that continues to drive job creation and investment in southeast Wisconsin.

The company announced its purchase of a 22-acre property at 100 Heritage Reserve late last year. Over the next several years, the expansion is expected to create approximately 300 new high-skill jobs, adding to Milwaukee Tool’s already significant presence in the state.

Founded in Milwaukee in 1924, Milwaukee Tool develops job site solutions for the construction trades worldwide. Headquartered in Brookfield, the company is especially known for its cordless power tools, safety solutions, battery-powered outdoor power equipment, time-saving accessories, and hand tools...


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Leo’s notes: Backed by WEDC tax credits, the project will create 300 new positions and deepen the company’s century-long roots in the state. Workforce growth like this is a reminder that job creation AND housing supply must advance together if Wisconsin is to fully capitalize on these economic gains.

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Mayor Rhodes-Conway prioritizes infrastructure, affordable housing in 2026 Executive Capital Budget

City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced her Executive Capital Budget proposal, aiming to identify and invest in projects that will meet long-term community needs.

City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced her 2026 Executive Capital Budget and Capital Improvement Plan Tuesday at Reindahl Park, prioritizing investments in infrastructure and affordable housing.

The plan addresses how Madison will meet long-term community needs while also improving operational efficiency with investments toward infrastructure. 

The 2026 Executive Budget is $73.5 million less than what city agencies requested, a decision aimed at reducing general borrowing obligations that often impact what the city can accomplish in capital projects.

“A central goal of this year`s multi-year Capital Improvement Plan is to identify investments that will yield savings in future operating budgets,” Rhodes-Conway said. 

Rhodes-Conway highlighted the importance of libraries as critical infrastructure in her speech, which was delivered at the construction site of the Imagination Center, a partnership project between libraries and parks to build an indoor-outdoor library and community area on Madison’s East Side.

“Libraries are an investment that pays dividends in countless ways, and perhaps most importantly, by inspiring imagination and giving people the tools that they need to achieve their dreams,” Rhodes-Conway said in her speech on Tuesday. 

Even after receiving the highest bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service, which allows the city to borrow at the lowest interest rates possible, Rhodes-Conway said growing cities like Madison still face challenges tied to Wisconsin’s dependency on property taxes to fund local operations...



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Leo`s notes: Madison’s newly unveiled 2026 Capital Budget makes a bold statement: affordable housing is infrastructure. By committing $17.5 million to the Affordable Housing Fund, advancing the 1,200-unit Triangle redevelopment, and pairing housing growth with investments in parks, libraries, and childcare training, the city is aligning fiscal discipline with community priorities. For housing advocates, this plan reinforces a critical truth—affordability, accessibility, and equity aren’t side projects, they’re foundational to a resilient city.

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About Wisconsin Workforce Housing News (WWHNews.com)

Across Wisconsin many employees can simply not afford to live where they work.

This is true in big cities and small rural communities. Both the availability and price of housing is not in line with the needs of those working in jobs that are vital to the success of our communities. Imagine a firefighter, teacher, city employee, service, or retail worker not able to afford a home in the community they serve.

We aggregate news and highlight programs that are working to provide affordable workforce housing in Wisconsin. We advocate for state and local policies that improve the more affordable housing markets. We encourage developers to build new homes that are affordable for those working for Wisconsin while still making a fair profit on the work they do. We encourage communities and neighborhoods to become partners in meeting these needs. We highlight what others have done as a form of "Best Practices" in the State and Country. Finally, we provide direct links to resources and programs in the State.

We believe Wisconsin employers will support these efforts so they can successfully recruit workers to fill the thousands of job openings now hampered by a shortage of affordable housing.

Safe, affordable housing makes a difference in the lives of children and families impacting both education and health. We are supporting affordable housing because it is good for business, good for families, good for communities, and good for Wisconsin.

Ken Harwood
Editor / Publisher
Advocating for Wisconsin
608.334.2174
harwoodken[at]gmail.com



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List of Housing Resources


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WWHNEWS Notes: To add a resource or correct above send data and link to wwhnews.com[at]gmail.com...

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