To address a significant deficit in attainable (i.e. workforce or missing middle) housing across our community, the Midland Business Alliance (MBA), along with key community partners, is launching Housing Forward – a community collaborative to identify and solve for barriers to the rehabilitation and development of attainable housing.

Midland County has a significant deficit of “missing middle” housing, attainable for households earning between 80-120% of area median income. Missing Middle housing development stratifies housing stock across units attainable for different ages, home sizes, typologies and income levels.

The MBA, with support from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation and the Midland Area Community Foundation, is piloting a community-collaborative to holistically approach and implement solutions to the development and rehabilitation of attainable housing throughout Midland County.

The program will be led by the Housing Forward Leadership Council including representatives from the real estate and development community, the City and County of Midland, philanthropic partners and housing-connected non-profit and financial experts.  The initiative is proposed for a scalable five-year timeline, with the first two years as a pilot, setting the stage for years 3-5 should adequate progress be made.

Housing is Economic Development

Businesses looking to plant roots or expand in Midland make decisions based upon the availability and concentration of talent and the community’s service-based infrastructure (housing, education, childcare, etc.) to support its workforce.

 What’s Next?

The MBA issued a Request for Qualifications earlier this week to connect with qualified individuals/firms. All interested parties can review the RFQ by clicking here (PDF).

“Housing is truly an economic development issue,” said Nicole Wilson, MBA Vice President of Economic Development. “Without the ability to house fresh talent, we limited ability for business and talent from both a growth and attraction perspective.”