The Bayfield County town of Bell is among 10 rural communities across the state that will get grants and other help toward meeting its biggest economic development needs and planning for its long-term goals.
As part of the Rural Thrive Initiative administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Bell and other communities selected will have access to $25,000 in grants, two years of technical assistance in planning and grant-application writing and other services typically employed by larger communities to help move projects forward.
WEDC will partner with local economic development organizations to work on projects related to community development, small business and sustainable energy. At the local level, the Bayfield County Housing Authority is working with Bell officials to increase affordable housing for senior citizens. Initial plans call for eight to 12 units geared towards seniors at a still-undetermined location.
The town of Bell is home to about 265 people in and around Cornucopia. Town Chairman Matt Lazorik said the town hasn’t received any documents about the project yet and declined to comment about the project until more information is known. Those involved have received support and were told to keep moving forward. Over the coming months, WEDC will partner with local officials as they work out the feasibility of the project, conduct market research and look at possible sites.
Senior housing has been a need for communities across Bayfield County for several years, with more than 4,000 residents in Bayfield County over the age 59 as of 2019, said Kelly Westlund, Bayfield County housing educator.
“Within the next five years, about three-in-five Bell respondents believed they or someone in their household will or might need low- or no-maintenance housing, and a similar percentage, 58%, believed they or someone in their household will or might need housing for independent seniors. About one-half of Bell respondents believed they or someone in their household will or might need assisted living housing, 51%, or housing designed for someone with a physical disability, 49%,” she said.
Those numbers illustrate the biggest struggle the area is facing — the housing crisis that is crippling the nation, said Jennifer Toribio-Warren, executive director of the Bayfield County Housing Authority.
In coming weeks, the housing authority will be meeting to go over an implementation schedule for the project.
“When I started a year ago, I started meeting with a senior group who were looking for ways to provide elderly housing. They want to stay in the community,” Toribio-Warren said.
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