Ribbon cut for ProjectBoom Houses

 

Representatives of state and city government and the various contractors and material suppliers who had a hand in constructing the first two of Superiorʼs Project BOOM houses gathered on West Eighth Street for a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning. Mayor Chris Peterson and Lt. Gov. Folley cut the ribbon to signal the completion of the first two houses. The houses were then opened for public inspection. With two of the first four houses built spoken for, planning is underway for the next three which are part of a state plan to provide more workforce housing throughout Nebraska. One of the three will convert a shipping container into a house. The other two will probably be of a more conventional ranch style design. The first of five villas to be constructed along Montana Street has been framed. Monday the Superior City Council awarded a contract for street and utility improvements to serve the new Montana Meadows subdivision.

Lt. Gov. Mike Folley was in Superior Friday morning to officially cut the ribbon signally the first two houses being built under the auspices of Superior innovative Project BOOM program were finished and ready for sale.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was held in front of the houses on Eighth Street near the National and Eighth street intersection. The street was closed for the event.

A refreshment tent stocked with fresh fruit, ice water and miniature cinnamon rolls was located under the shade trees on the south side of the street. A podium and public address was provided for the speakers.

Heather Erickson, one the project planners, served as mistress of ceremonies.

Featured guest was Lt. Gov. Mike Folley. He recalled a visit to the Reinke Manufacturing Company and learning of the company's need for workers and places to house the workers.

Nebraska's unemployment rate is currently among the lowest ever, While the state needs more workers homes for those workers are also needed.

Superior's Project BOOM is part of a statewide effort to solve the housing shortage.

The two units on display utilized not-so-typical home designs and if the buyers meet income guidelines they may qualify for low interest loans.

The project was funded in part by an award from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund's Innovative Housing Demonstration Program. The grant was awarded in 2019 to showcase effective, repeatable approaches to affordable housing developing in Nebraska communities.

Money received from the sale of the homes will be used to build more homes.

Two additional homes located on East Third Street are thought to be only days away from being ready for occupancy. Construction is soon to start on two additional homes which will be located on recently cleared lots on West Fourth Street.

Yet to be decided is the location of a container home. The container is on hand and that construction will hopefully be starting soon.

Actually planning began in 2015 when the Superior Development Corporation contributed $20,000 to purchase the three lots on which the first two homes were built.

The COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain problems delayed the completion of the construction.

Superior was one of 34 Nebraska communities to apply for the innovative affordable housing grant and one of three proposals funded.

Lt. Gov. Folley

Out-of-town guests here for the ribbon cutting included in addition to the lieutenant governor, Lynn Kohout . Morgan Pearson, Kylee Bischoff and Kelly Gewecke with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Jerad Reimers represented Congressman Adrian Smith.

Speakers included Lt. Gov. Foley, Lynn Kohout, and Mayor Chris Peterson.

Representatives of the various materials suppliers and contractors were invited guests. Local vendors contributors to the project included Saathoff Construction, Kenny's Lumber Company, South Central Electric, Energizer Electric, Scott Sales and Service, Black and Burlap, Joey Gilbert Plumbing, B-Green Lawn Care, Green Digs Architecture and Superior Ace Hardware.

 

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