Economic development overview: Becker gives updates on housing...


Economic development overview: Becker gives updates on housing...
...“I know it has been a big topic here in Watertown over the past couple years and I’m proud to say today we have a lot of housing breaking ground, and also upcoming,” Becker said. “I just wanted to emphasize in this overview, we’re working on projects throughout the City; different project types and different price points. We’re not focused on just apartments or just owner-occupied.” “It’s very important for us as a Council to understand that a number of those new housing that was cited, are heavily subsidized by taxpayers, 10s of 1000s of dollars per unit from taxpayers,” he said. “But they are completely out of reach for most of the taxpayers this community...Understanding the great work being done by Habitat for Humanity to bring in some units at that one particular end, I would basically describe the different price points currently being pursued as really expensive and super expensive, from the perspective of the majority of our residents of the community.” Workforce With Wisconsin currently in a labor shortage, Becker advocated that the City and community need to continue to attract workers. In April, there were roughly 26,500 more job openings than job seekers according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. From the U.S. Bureau of Labor, there’s 4.2% unemployment in the country, 3.3% in the state and just 2.7% and 2.6% in Jefferson and Dodge Counties, respectively... Becker said housing should be an area of focus. He noted that with the aging population in the area — and most of Wisconsin — that trend needs to be reversed for economic growth. “We can do that by focusing on some of the things we’re already doing: Building housing, and being a great place to live, work and play,” he said. Using 2022 data, only 3,143 people both live and work in Watertown. 5,910 work in Watertown while living elsewhere and 8,746 live in Watertown but work elsewhere... Nearly 75% of workers who commute to Watertown are 30-54, or younger. For workers who commute out of Watertown, 56% make more than $40,000 a year.... ...more Leo’s notes: Watertown is making visible strides in housing development—but aligning those efforts with true community affordability remains the next test. As new units break ground across a range of project types, ensuring that homes are accessible to the workers, families, and longtime residents who sustain the city must remain central to economic growth.
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...“I know it has been a big topic here in Watertown over the past couple years and I’m proud to say today we have a lot of housing breaking ground, and also upcoming,” Becker said. “I just wanted to emphasize in this overview, we’re working on projects throughout the City; different project types and different price points. We’re not focused on just apartments or just owner-occupied.”

“It’s very important for us as a Council to understand that a number of those new housing that was cited, are heavily subsidized by taxpayers, 10s of 1000s of dollars per unit from taxpayers,” he said. “But they are completely out of reach for most of the taxpayers this community...Understanding the great work being done by Habitat for Humanity to bring in some units at that one particular end, I would basically describe the different price points currently being pursued as really expensive and super expensive, from the perspective of the majority of our residents of the community.”

Workforce

With Wisconsin currently in a labor shortage, Becker advocated that the City and community need to continue to attract workers.

In April, there were roughly 26,500 more job openings than job seekers according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. From the U.S. Bureau of Labor, there’s 4.2% unemployment in the country, 3.3% in the state and just 2.7% and 2.6% in Jefferson and Dodge Counties, respectively...

Becker said housing should be an area of focus. He noted that with the aging population in the area — and most of Wisconsin — that trend needs to be reversed for economic growth.

“We can do that by focusing on some of the things we’re already doing: Building housing, and being a great place to live, work and play,” he said.

Using 2022 data, only 3,143 people both live and work in Watertown. 5,910 work in Watertown while living elsewhere and 8,746 live in Watertown but work elsewhere...

Nearly 75% of workers who commute to Watertown are 30-54, or younger. For workers who commute out of Watertown, 56% make more than $40,000 a year....

...more

Economic development overview: Becker gives updates on housing...

Workforce

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