Area chambers share housing needs, solutions

McCOOK, Neb. -- United in their desire to provide more housing for their communities, the members of the South Platte United Chambers of Commerce gathered at The Coppermill in McCook Tuesday night to explore programs which will inspire the building of housing units in this region.

"Housing is a need in communities throughout the South Platte region," said Linda Taylor, a McCook businesswoman and long-time advocate of housing action.

"One of the best things coming out of the meeting," according to Taylor, "was word from Michael Vukas of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that families building houses can qualify for loans with interest rates of 3 percent ... and sometimes even lower."

To set the process in motion, interested families are encouraged to call Kirk Dixon, executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., who will put them in touch with USDA officials who can help with the loan process.

Representatives from McCook were joined by development officials and concerned citizens from Imperial, Cambridge, Holdrege and Broken Bow.

In addition to Vukas, members of the SPUCC housing panel were Jason Tuller, economic development director from Imperial; Melissa Garcia of Broken Bow, past president of the Custer County Economic Development Commission; Randy Korgan, chairman of the McCook Community Builders group; and Ashley Rice-Gerlach, a state economic development specialist who lives in Cambridge.

McCook was represented by Jim Ulrich, president of the McCook Economic Development Corp. board of directors; the MEDC executive director, Kirk Dixon; and Taylor.

"Housing is a great need in our area," Taylor said. "It's encouraging to see that South Platte communities are taking action to solve the problem."