Decorah Jobs is working on a set of recommendations to the Decorah City Council aimed at encouraging more housing construction

Winneshiek County Development Executive Director Randy Uhl says the City of Decorah will probably be the first organization approached with ideas about how to encourage more housing construction in Winneshiek County.

A recent study financed by WCDI concluded the county needs an additional 300 housing units over the next ten years.

Uhl told Winneshiek County supervisors Monday that WCDI will probably concentrate on the City of Decorah first.  A lot of people are currently living outside of Decorah and commuting into their jobs in Decorah--because they can't afford house prices in Decorah.

But Uhl told supervisors "we're looking at (more) housing--period" because even new expensive housing creates a chain reaction of people moving up, opening up less expensive, more affordable housing.

One of the ideas Decorah Jobs and WCDI may discuss with City of Decorah officials is some program of short-term tax abatements or creations of TIF districts.

County supervisors were complimentary to Uhl for the work of WCDI.  "I've got to hand it to you for looking at the future," said supervisor Dennis Karlsbroten.