Board endorses Decorah Jobs workforce housing design phase with unanimous support

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to sign a letter of support for a workforce housing project presented by Decorah Jobs, a local economic development organization.

A representative from Decorah Jobs described the project as a cluster-style, smaller-footprint development on a 3.5-acre parcel within Decorah city limits intended for workforce and first-time buyers. The presenter said the design phase—funded by an earlier grant—targets 20–25 homes with shared green space and limited single-car garages to help reach an affordability goal. The group is submitting a workforce housing tax credit application and expects a September decision on that application.

Board members asked about unit types, the possibility of townhomes, ingress/egress, and whether protections would be included to discourage short-term rental conversions. The presenter said legal options are being explored and that the team is working with engineers and utilities on stormwater and site layout. After discussion, a supervisor moved and the board approved signing a letter of support to assist Decorah Jobs in packaging the project and seeking grant and tax-credit funding.

The board noted the intention to use the design as a model for other rural communities and that state economic development staff had expressed interest. Next steps include completing design work, pursuing tax-credit awards, and coordinating with utilities and engineers on site plans.