PESHTIGO (NBC 26) — The City of Peshtigo is moving forward with a new workforce housing development project, meant to attract new workers to the area and help the small town grow.Joe Beranek owns Evergreen Tools in Peshtigo. They make metal pieces for manufacturing equipment and fire suspension.
After more than a decade of operating in the area, he’s looking to expand.
“Our business is growing and it’s growing to the point where we need to buy additional equipment and they’re very large, so we’re looking to add on about another 10,000 square feet later this year, and with that, we’d be adding some new employees,” Beranek says.
The issue, he says, is attracting workers to the area...
...The project has been in development for two years, but this week, the Peshtigo City Council approved two potential concepts. Whichever developer is chosen by the city will use the concepts as inspiration.
Berman says the project will likely cost about $6 million, but the city will apply for about $2 million through state grants.
The concepts approved by council include around 30 homes, built on city-owned land off of West Front Road. The homes would be smaller and less expensive, targeting working individuals and families...
...moreBerman says the project will likely cost about $6 million, but the city will apply for about $2 million through state grants.
The concepts approved by council include around 30 homes, built on city-owned land off of West Front Road. The homes would be smaller and less expensive, targeting working individuals and families...
Leo’s notes: Peshtigo’s proposed 30-home workforce housing development highlights a challenge shared by many rural manufacturers: jobs exist, but housing shortages limit workforce growth. By using city-owned land and pursuing state grants to lower development costs, local leaders are aligning housing supply with economic expansion. For small towns competing for talent, housing is economic development.
Ken Notes: So about 200K per unit. I would love to see a state funded program allowing communities to buy land and install infrastructure then "front" the lots and improvements to developers for homes sold to owner occupants for under 200K. I can not think of a more productive way to invest a 4 Billion dollar surplus. That could create almost 100,000 homes for our service and retail workers. Not to mention attracting new workers into our communities.
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- - Volume: 26 - WEEK: 11 Date: 3/9/2026 2:20:27 PM -