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Council backs workforce‑housing plan, approves $300,000 local support for Cobcook Place
Summary
Hibbing council approved a resolution supporting the Iron Exchange At 400 workforce‑housing project and authorized $300,000 from previously allocated mineral amendment funds for the HRA’s Cobcook Place application, including waiving a $2,500 application fee.
Community development director Miss Olavonte told the council on March 11 that the city needed additional housing options and preservation after a 2023 housing needs analysis and a January 2026 strategic plan prioritized new and diverse housing. "Which is, supporting workforce housing project and creation of a tax increment financing district," she said, describing the proposal tied to the 400‑block redevelopment project known in the agenda as the Iron Exchange At 400.
Miss Olavonte asked the council to approve Resolution O2 to support a private developer’s application and the use of a tax‑increment financing (TIF) district as part of that redevelopment. After a brief call for comment, Councilor Whitney moved to approve the resolution; the motion was supported and passed by voice vote.
Miss Olavonte then presented the HRA of Hibbing’s application for $300,000 in financial assistance for Cobcook Place, saying the amount was drawn from mineral amendment funding the city received in 2023 and that "they will be using these project funds as equity into the project and will follow‑up with the necessary documentation to prove that the funds were spent on the construction of that project." Councilor Hoffman Sackmann moved to approve the application.
Councilor Hopkins offered, and the council accepted, an amendment to waive the $2,500 application fee for that assistance request; councilors discussed that the fee was primarily to cover application processing costs but agreed the waiver was warranted since the funds had already been dedicated. The amended motion passed on a voice vote.
The council’s action supports the HRA application and signals local financial commitment as the HRA pursues state funding through the housing finance agency process. The council did not set any additional funding conditions at the meeting.
