ERC housing project moves to regional nonprofit leadership; San Juan County invited to Feb. 13 roundtable

San Juan County commissioners heard an update on the county’s Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) housing project on Jan. 20, when Una Workabaugh — the ERC fellow assigned to the county — said a contract signed in the prior week transfers project leadership to a regional nonprofit partner (identified in the meeting as SIRDA/Serta). Workabaugh said the arrangement is intended to sustain the project after her federally funded fellowship ends in October and to create a regional toolkit of funding resources and development supports.

Workabaugh said the county’s application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s ERC program won funding for a housing project and that the fellowship originally included a project lead embedded with the county. After the initial fellow left in June, the ERC program and county agreed to identify a regional partner to finish the work; "San Juan County won that award," she said, and SIRDA will now serve as project lead under the newly signed contract.

Why it matters: Officials said the ERC project aims to create a "housing toolbox" — described as a single resource (website or landing page) that compiles funding streams, service providers, program guidance and development contacts to reduce transaction costs and information loss across the rural region. Commissioners and staff emphasized the value of a regional approach to share contractors, training and development capacity across neighboring rural counties.

SIRDA and partners described specific program activity. Chris, SIRDA/Serta’s housing program manager, said the organization operates USDA self-help and single-family rehabilitation programs, has purchased lots in neighboring counties to maintain grant continuity and is working to cultivate a contractor pipeline and developer interest in the region. "We culminate everything together, try to make everything a one-stop shop so that we can get, you know, use grant funds to be able to get the most services out of things," Chris said.

Next steps: Workabaugh invited county participation in a Feb. 13 housing roundtable at the USU campus in Blanding and said follow-up roundtables will take place for neighboring counties in April. She also said SIRDA or a nonprofit partner will likely house and maintain the toolbox (website or landing page). Workabaugh mentioned a tentative NACo tour being planned for March 19–21 to showcase regional housing efforts; county staff asked that property leads and potential committee members be identified so the program can act quickly to secure land or funding when opportunities arise.

Participants stressed sustaining momentum after the fellowship ends: commissioners recommended forming a cross-county committee to continue meetings and help implement the toolbox and developer outreach. The ERC deliverables discussed include the toolbox, identification of an entity to host it, and a strategic plan for continued regional collaboration after the ERC-funded fellow departs.