July 30, 2018 at 4:33 p.m.
Housing and Economic Development 101
State agencies hold forum on available aid programs
Housing and Economic Development 101
The Oneida County Economic Development Corporation and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) hosted a forum Wednesday morning in the City Council Chambers that brought some of these agencies together in one place for a crash course on how the state of Wisconsin can help cities, towns, villages and community developers navigate the often complex programs those letters in the soup bowl administer.
In addition to WHEDA, representatives from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL), and the Department of Administration (DOR) Housing Division outlined the programs, loans and grants they manage.
George Petak, senior business and community engagement officer with WHEDA, said the forum was one of several being held throughout the state as part of an effort to engage with elected officials, economic and community developers.
"So what we have is these four agencies coming together and basically to present and listen to the communities about things related to housing and economic development," Petak said. "What we're trying to do is to publicize the programs that are available, primarily for elected officials, but also others that are engaged in community development."
Two years ago, WHEDA established a partnership with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities to further this goal, Petak said.
"We feel that it is local elected officials who drive local economic development in their communities," he said. "So we're addressing housing issues, senior housing, affordable housing, workforce housing, single family housing, we've got a broad stroke of housing capabilities. WHEDA also administers tax credits, workforce housing tax credits and new market tax credits for certain census tracks around the state."
Stacey Johnson, executive director of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC), co-hosted the event with Deby Dehn, the business and community engagement officer for the WHEDA region encompassing Rhinelander. Johnson said she jumped at the chance to bring the event to Rhinelander.
"I think it is very good. Anytime we have an opportunity to get people together to ask questions specific about their programs and their needs, I think that's great," Johnson said, adding that some of those in attendance may not have known about a state program that might be able to help them with a project in their area.
"That is what we hope will happen," she said. "There are so many programs out there that, unless you have experience or connection, there is no way to even know what they are. Through organizations like mine, or Grow North, we are able to pull all those available resources together. And that's the idea. One entity is not going to fund an entire project, but as a collaborative partnership, then we can really start to get things done."
And, Johnson pointed out, there are additional revenue streams at the federal level that can drive housing development, such as those administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other agencies. As one example, the city of Rhinelander tapped some federal money to fund its downtown streetscape project.
Getting all of these people together in one place for a roundtable discussion over lunch was a chance for everyone to get a better feel for all the information they received earlier, she added.
"All of these people's ideas and experiences (with the various programs), what has worked and what hasn't, even down to 'hey, I used this great architect on this project and it worked wonderfully' or 'take a look at this area and what they're doing because it worked great for them.' It's pulling all those examples in order to find success, and that is what these kinds of forums are all about."
Brittany Beyer, executive director of Grow North, said taking a regional approach to housing and economic development makes good sense for everyone. She said she was glad to see that Three Lakes has taken a proactive approach to tackling its housing problems.
"This came at a perfect time for them because they didn't know any of the resources," Beyer said. "So this could have been months of research figuring out information from each one of these different places and this was basically a one-stop shop for all of the information. It is in their hands, and so is the decision-making power, in less time than if they were doing it (research) by themselves."
As community development leaders, it's always good to get a refresher on what programs are available, she added.
"That way, when people come to us, we already have a broader understanding of what agencies are available and put people in touch with the right people," she explained.
She was especially excited by the possibilities WHEDA outlined about programs that can bring contractors together on projects at multiple locations to build housing.
"That is certainly what we are looking for in workforce development, the housing component," Beyer said. "We're at the point where the ability to have good housing is going to drive the workforce expansion. And that is what we need to work on right now."
After a brief explanation of the forum agenda from Dehn, and introductions of the over 20 representatives from throughout the region, to include elected officials, the program got underway.
Bryan Antony gave a brief overview of WHEDA's history before getting into the various tools the agency has available for community development.
Founded in 1972, the agency was created by the legislature as an independent authority.
"WHEDA's mission is to stimulate the state's economy and improve the quality of life for Wisconsin residents by providing affordable housing and business financing products," Antony said.
He then broke down the various programs WHEDA offers to spur housing development. It does this with a variety of lending programs, limited loan guarantees tax credits even on for-profit, multi-family projects or single-family homes. WHEDA also helps single-family home buyers through lending programs and downpayment assistance.
Through the WHEDA Foundation, it provides $500,000 annually in grants of up to $25,000 to support emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing for special populations, he added.
One caveat, which Antony repeatedly stressed, was that the housing built or renovated must be associated with job growth and/or job retention.
Deputy secretary Tom German detailed the unique history of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL), dating back to the first attempt to draft a state constitution in 1846.
The BCPL serves as the steward of public lands, monies and records held in trust for Wisconsin citizens, he said.
Through a variety of programs, the BCPL loans money for economic development projects. The interest paid on the loans is then given to public and school libraries.
The expansion of Expera Coated Products into the former Printpack facility on Kemp Street was made possible through a $15 million BCPL loan to Northeast Wisconsin Development Corporation (NEWEDC) that was also backed by Oneida County.
"Under the agreement, NEWEDC would purchase the former Printpack facility on Kemp Street, renovate the building to fit the potential new use and purchase the equipment utilized in the RCP (Rhinelander Coated Products) manufacturing process," former Oneida County Economic Development Corporation director Roger Luce said at the time,
At present, the BCPL has half a billion in loans outstanding, with $600 million for building and infrastructure projects, German said.
The beauty of the BCPL program is it is not funded by tax dollars, German said. However, a portion of every traffic fine levied by a circuit court anywhere in the state flows into their coffers.
"So if you've paid a speeding ticket recent, we thank you," he said, noting that there has never been a default on a BCPL loan, nor has the agency had to use the power of intercepting tax returns to keep this record. He said each loan is tailored specifically for each project, and may be modified if circumstances change.
"The program is as flexible as it needs to be," German said.
Susan Brown, deputy director of the DOR division of energy, housing and community resources, also spoke on the programs available through her agency. These programs include a revolving loan fund for multi-family and single-family homes and for development of public facilities, a housing cost reduction initiative and other community and housing development tools.
Jim Rosenburg, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) regional economic development director, outlined what that agency can do to help local communities develop their economies. One push that has been of interest in the Oneida/Vilas county school districts has been the development Fab Labs.
"We grant the money to make those possible," Rosenburg said.
Over lunch, the group discussed their experiences with an emphasis placed on success stories dealing with the agencies.
The communication is a two-way street and Petak said the agencies come away from these sessions with input as to how they can help cut down on the inevitable red tape.
"We have taken that message around the state. We have conducted listening sessions where we don't go out and present our wares, but we want to hear from people," he said. "And what we here - in the most urban and most rural communities - is that housing is a very significant need."
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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