"Let's Build" Housing Summits

In partnership with the Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) and the Newberg Workforce Housing Consortium (NWHC), the MMHF is working to find creative, innovative, and scalable workforce housing solutions to support Yamhill County employers. In Newberg, the lack of affordable workforce housing for those making 80-120% area median income (AMI) prevents employers from attracting, hiring, and retaining the workforce needed to sustain economic growth. Members of the NWHC include SEDCOR, A-dec, Friendsview, George Fox University, Newberg Public Schools, and Providence Health.

 

A request for proposal (RFP) was issued in March 2023 to attract  housing industry innovators and doers to collaboratively propose replicable strategies that reduce the cost and time to build. SEDCOR raised $3M with the help of state representative Anna Scharf to support this creative call to action.  

 

In late June 2023, the winners of the RFP process were announced. 

 

The first winning team includes Cory Redding of CD Redding Construction, Philip and Katrina Higgins (of Pacific Crest Real Estate Advisors), and landowner Gary T. Baker, who submitted a proposal to build over 60 units of rental housing overlooking the Willamette River. Funding support for this project would enable units to be delivered at workforce rents versus market rate rents.  

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The second winning team includes Edlen and Co. and Quantum Assembly, who submitted a proposal to build workforce housing using Edlen and Co.'s development expertise and Quantum Assembly's innovative prefabricated buildings. The Consortium is now working to find the right site and how best to support this partnership.