Iron Range community leaders at three January workshops will identify specific multi-unit housing, single-family housing and individual and neighborhood rehabilitation projects across the Iron Range aimed at a conservative goal of creating 922 to 1,587 additional housing units over the next five years.

About $6 billion in economic development projects are under construction or proposed on the Mesabi Iron Range. The projects will require 2,300 permanent employees, 6,100 construction workers and create thousands of spin-off jobs.

A 2008 Range Readiness Initiative Housing Market Analysis has pinpointed the need for additional housing and home rehabilitation in Iron Range communities along the Highway 169 corridor.

The three Range Readiness Initiative Community Housing Action Plan workshops bring together community and government leaders, private developers, engineering professionals and lending institutions to develop housing priorities specific to local needs and resources. Small groups from each community will identify specific rehabilitation projects and new multi-unit or single-family housing projects and work with project development professionals to begin funding development and implementation.

The workshops are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 27 at the Grand Rapids Public Library, 140 NE 2nd Street; Wednesday, January 28 at the Hibbing Public Library, 2050 5th Avenue East; and Thursday, January 29 at Mesabi Range Community & Technical College, Room C156, 1001 West Chestnut Street in Virginia. Media are cordially invited to attend.

“We are excited to be able to share information on regional housing goals and offer resources that will allow communities to develop visions and local housing priorities, said Mary Ives, Range Readiness Initiative Housing Team chair. “The Housing Work Team and a team of technical housing project expeditors are focused on helping Iron Range communities increase the housing supply in anticipation of the unprecedented number of proposed major industrial projects.”

For more information or to register for the housing events, call 1-800-232-0707 extension 535 or email lsarabia@ardc.org Visit www.rangereadiness.com for information about the Range Readiness Initiative and the major projects underway and proposed in northeastern Minnesota.

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