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EDC proposes $70,000 county housing strategy; county share estimated at $27,785
Summary
Steuben County Economic Development Commission presented a proposed $70,000 housing strategy with a suggested county share of $27,785; EDC said several private and utility partners have committed backing but county commissioners have not yet agreed to partner.
Isaac Lee, director of the Steuben County Economic Development Commission, told the county council July 9 that the EDC has signed a letter of intent with the HPG Network to develop a countywide housing strategy.
Lee said the total cost of the strategic‑planning effort is $70,000 and estimated the county’s share—based on population—at $27,785. He reported financial backing from NIPSCO and Farmers State Bank and verbal commitments from REMC, AEP/I&M and some municipalities. Lee told the council he had met with county commissioners on July 1 but the commissioners had not formally decided whether to partner in the project.
Council members asked about funding for later implementation phases. Ken Shelton asked where money for steps 10 through 16 of the plan would come from; Lee said the EDC hopes to hire a Workforce Development Director and that person could carry forward implementation without re‑hiring the consultant. Dan Caruso characterized the proposal as a public‑private effort that aims to reduce developer risk by providing preliminary analysis and confidence to private builders.
The council did not take a formal vote to fund the plan at this meeting.
