$20 million Entiat Low-Income Housing Development Project Begins Construction

Partnership between the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing, Enterprise Community Partners, and the Housing Authority of Chelan County bears fruit for the Entiat community. They began construction for the new low-income Mountain View Family Housing project and project to finish by fall 2022.

"This has been an effort for quite some time so we're really excited to see it moving forward and looking forward to getting it done and having people move-in. Then I think we'll kind of consider future opportunities down the road," Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing Executive Director Marty Miller states.

Construction started shortly after the trio announced the $14 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit deal with Enterprise Community partners and their investors. Other financial sources include Banner Bank ($1.15 million), State Housing Trust Fund ($4.5 million), and $200k from the Housing Authority of Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee.

"Entiat is a place of growth right now," Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Chelan County and City of Wenatchee (CCWHA) Alicia Mcrae remarked. "The need is everywhere, and we serve both counties. We just kind of go where it works in the moment where there's land availability and funding availability and interest by the community."

The 12-building housing development will include 65 affordable homes with 52 of those specifically for local farmworkers. It will include annual leasing and is available for those whose income falls under 30%, 40% or 50% of the area median income (AMI).

"It's not entirely for farmworkers. The majority of units will prioritize farmworkers, but there's also the general population are also eligible to apply," Miller explained. "We have built housing for seasonal occupancy, but Entiat will not be seasonal occupancy. It will be for people who are living in the area on a year-round ongoing basis."

Rent will be range between $376 - $991, depending on the number of rooms. According to their press release, spaces range from two-story townhomes, single-story flats, and a single-story common building.

The development was made possible through a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit deal, which incentivized investors to put up capital in exchange for a sizable deduction for their tax return.  The investors will receive $16 million in tax credits.

"Our part in all this is we help to identify the investors and then bring their investment into a development like this," President of Enterprise's Housing Credit Investments Business Scott Hoekman explained.

You can visit the Entiat development site at 14425 Olin Street in Entiat to learn more about the construction.