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EDA reviews 1120 housing study, recommends roughly 80 new units and a county rehab program
Summary
The Madelia EDA reviewed a $60,000 1120 housing study that recommends building roughly 80 owner-occupied and rental units over five years and asked staff to explore a county-focused home-rehabilitation program and potential Small Cities and state housing-impact funding.
The Madelia Economic Development Authority reviewed the 1120 housing study and discussed next steps to support new construction and home rehabilitation in eastern Watonwan County.
A staff member told the board the study contract totaled $60,000 and that funding came from multiple sources: the city provided $10,000, the state contributed $10,000 and the project secured a $4,750 grant through the Community Financial Planning Study. The staff member said Madelia has seen steady population growth and that median household income rose from about $50,000 in 2013 to roughly $77,500 currently, bringing the town closer to the state average.
The study found a rental vacancy rate of 4.6% and recommended a five-year target of about 80 owner-occupied and rental units. The presentation broke that target into component estimates: 9–12 market-rate rental units, 6–9 lower-cost value homes, 8 owner-occupied attached units (duplexes or fourplexes), 18–21 additional market-rate rental units and 6–9 subsidized attached units.
Staff urged the EDA to consider a countywide or eastern-Watonwan County home-rehabilitation program, saying the county-led program previously leaned toward Main Street businesses and might not have reached homeowners needing rehab assistance. The staff member identified the Small Cities Development Program and the county/state housing-impact fund as potential funding sources but cautioned that income restrictions and program administration make delivery intensive.
Board members asked about online access to the study (staff said it will be posted on the city website) and whether contractor restrictions apply; staff said the Small Cities program places no contractor restrictions. The staff member also noted a housing-program training grant that could support infrastructure or rehab work and said staff would monitor future funding rounds.
The EDA did not take any formal vote on program design at this meeting; staff said they will report back with updates and pursue grant avenues where feasible.
