Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Hurley — Hurley is on the cusp of getting a multimillion dollar housing facility that is structured to provide a creative combination of living and learning for those citizens who qualify for residence.
Marketed as a “multifamily, affordable community,” the pending construction is expected to include 40 units with varying numbers of bedrooms.
With the blessing of Iron County and the Hurley City Council, the project is a collaboration between Impact Seven, a nonprofit entity that invests in community development, and Northwood Technical College. They are both based in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.
The project, which was cleared through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, is earmarked for 13 to 14 acres off of Wisconsin 77, across from the Cary Mine Market.
Carol Keen, director of asset development for Impact Seven, estimates the planned construction at about $13.8 million.
“We’re currently finalizing the financing in anticipation of starting construction in the spring,” she said by phone on Dec. 29. “We have everything lined up.”
The aim is for the housing to be open about one year after construction begins.
Keen said that 85% of the project will be financed, in part through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. As for the remaining 15%, she said, “It’s complicated.”
She added that she and her colleagues will be working with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit system. Moreover, persons living in the planned units will need to meet income qualifications.
According to Keen, the projected housing is part of the Housing Opportunity and Mobile Education Solutions Project, which is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
“It’s very innovative,” said Keen of the plans for the Hurley site, which will include an “onsite workforce accelerator classroom,” along with a community room, a fitness center, an outdoor patio, a pet wash, parking and an on-site management office.
Northwood Technical College will be in charge of coursework offered within the classroom. The college will facilitate training and certifications in skilled manufacturing such as machining, welding, coding, etc.. with additional practical training provided via an additional mobile educational unit to be stationed in the parking lot.
As Keen envisions it, a resident could take a math course in the classroom and then also gain hands-on training within the mobile unit.
NTC, in turn, will work closely with local employers to provide the needed educational services.
Keen said that a number of Wisconsin communities were asked to submit proposals, in order to be considered for the housing project.
Final joint decisions were made between Impact Seven and NTC.
She said Hurley has the ideal property for the project while also having a market need for skilled workers and workforce housing.
As a project announcement said, “Northwestern Wisconsin faces the dual challenges of a shortage of workers for manufacturing jobs as well as a lack of housing affordable to the rural workforce, both of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic and current economic conditions.”
The announcement continues, “A survey of regional employers found that 97% have immediate hiring needs, but 88% report difficulty in finding qualified employees.”
Among amenities noted for each of the pending “pet-friendly” housing units are an in-unit washing machine and dryer, a ceiling fan, storage space, and appliances.
Units of one, two or three bedrooms will include respective square footage of 800, 1,000 and 1,200.
The project is expected to have an economic impact of $17.9 million in northwest Wisconsin, as well as a construction spending impact of $2.3 million in total tax impacts and ongoing annual property tax. The building process is also predicted to bring 132 temporary construction jobs.
“We’re very excited to be part of the community,” said Keen.
