Community Development Authority meeting discusses workforce and housing

The Community Development Authority met April 16 for its monthly meeting at the Whitewater Municipal Building. Board members discussed various topics such as redevelopment resources, home renewal programs and Bluff Road properties.

Principal and CEO of Redevelopment Resources Kristin Fish-Peterson attended Thursday’s meeting to analyze the development resources’ economical-based data findings from both citizens and students in Whitewater.

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Leo's notes: Whitewater officials are advancing a mix of housing and redevelopment strategies, including a 14-home single-family project on Bluff Road, updates to a home renewal loan program, and efforts to remove deed restrictions that have limited residential development. Addressing barriers like outdated deed restrictions while investing in both new construction and existing housing stock will be critical if smaller communities like Whitewater want to retain residents and strengthen their local workforce.

Ken Notes: These meeting are happening across the state at most units of local government. We need to develop a set of legislative policy goals for both state and federal governments and talk to our elected officials to find flexible affordable solutions that work. Leo and I have several ideas and have been following projects across the state. We also know there are different needs in most communities. We need measurable outcomes and "in the dirt" solutions. We need ownership (equity building) opportunities for our service and retail workers. We need to partner with developers, builders, manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, and government entities to develop a variety of solutions and remove the obstacles, that will allow us provide the new and rehabbed homes we need moving forward.