The Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation (GSDC) and CentraCare hosted a day-long session Friday, March 22nd, to learn more about workforce affordable housing challenges, and discuss solutions.  More than 50 community stakeholders, including CMBA members and staff along with Housing First Minnesota staff, participated in the event. The event, which was intentionally not publicized and by invitation only, featured a keynote address from Minnesota Housing Commissioner, Jennifer Ho.

Facilitator, Santo Cruz, who serves as Associate General Counsel and Vice President of Community and Government Relations for CentraCare, shared his own workforce housing story, and emphasized the need for local solutions and follow-through. "CentraCare is not in the business of building housing," said Cruz, while emphasizing that the community's largest employer has a strong vested interest in sufficient workforce housing. He noted CentraCare would process the results of the event and give community stakeholders the opportunity to "plug-into" one of several cohorts stemming from the results. "Our hope," said Cruz, "is to hold an annual meeting to check-in on our wins and losses."

Minnesota Housing Commissioner, Jennifer Ho, applauded the effort, and highlighted the $1 billion the legislature put into addressing housing in 2023. "We are a bank," said Ho as she encouraged communities to seek state funding. "Now is a great time to be planning a housing development in your community." Ho also encouraged community stakeholders to "partner, partner, partner," and challenged local cities and counties to "talk to your developers and ask if you are an easy or hard place to develop and build."

CMBA Executive Director, Wanda Schroeder, participated in the event and appreciated the collaboration.  "It is very important to have key community stakeholders leading the charge on these issues," said Schroeder.

"It really boils down to bridging the gap between what a decent, basic home costs to build, and what the average worker can afford," said CMBA Government Affairs Consultant, Steve Gottwalt. "There are numerous ways to address that gap, including local government buy-down of development costs, gap financing assistance, employer supported revolving loan funds, Local Affordable Housing Aid grants from the state, zoning reforms, and much more."

CMBA and Housing First Minnesota are collaborating on a major set of zoning and housing density reforms at the Minnesota Legislature this session (SF3964/HF4009). The bill requires cities to allow greater density in development of housing in residential zones. CMBA member, David Werschay (Werschay Homes), testified in favor of the bill during a Senate hearing. St. Cloud Mayor, Dave Kleis, also supports portions of the bill, including allowing greater density and smaller minimum lot sizes. He and the St. Cloud City Council are considering adopting changes along those lines to spur more workforce affordable housing development.  Some cities oppose the legislation on the grounds that it takes away local control.  Waite Park City Administrator, Shaunna Johnson, has testified against the bill.

For more information, contact:  Steve Gottwalt, CMBA Government Affairs, steve@cmbaonline.org, 952-923-5265.

#     #     #