Rochester Area Foundation

From KAAL-TV: Affordable housing is a topic on the minds of many local leaders, and as Rochester and Southeast Minnesota continues to grow that topic is a top priority.“Workforce development is a huge issue for our entire economic region,” said Steve Borchardt with the Rochester Area Foundation. Concerned members of the public, city leaders and… More

The Rochester Area First Homes Program is the state’s largest employer-assisted housing effort. With extremely low vacancy rates and rapidly rising home prices, the Rochester area housing market had become unaffordable to many local workers. First Homes, developed as a joint effort of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and the Rochester Area Foundation, sought to… More

As John Errigo of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund reviewed findings from a recent study conducted by the former Cornerstone Partnership, he noted discussions with developers indicated support for inclusionary housing policies. Such policies would create more clarity, reduce time for gaining approvals and level the playing field for projects. However, it raised a question… More

Creating an inclusionary housing policy could help the city of Rochester and Olmsted County encourage affordable housing development in the region, but both local government bodies are hesitant to move forward before further studying the effects of such a policy. The Rochester City Council, Olmsted County Board of Commissioners, staffs of each agency and outside… More