JM ChamberJamestown (CSi) The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC). Executive Committee on a 5-0 vote with Mayor Andersen not present, recommends the JSDC Board of Directors implement a new workforce housing needs study.

Jamestown businesses will be contacted to determine a need for workforce housing.

JSDC CEO, Connie Ova will work with the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce to send a survey on workforce housing needs to Jamestown area businesses. Committee members are interested in what kind of shape the local housing market is in since CHS announced August 12th this year, that it would not build a $3 billion nitrogen fertilizer processing plant near Spiritwood.

JSDC Board member, Lorrie Pavilcek, said the survey should include real estate agents and builders as they are the people and businesses seeing what is happening with the housing market in Jamestown.

Executive Committee President, Bob Toso, said there are plenty of jobs available in Jamestown and Stutsman County, but most pay in the $10 to $15 an hour range.

Stutsman County Commission representative, Mark Klose added, that before committing to another study on housing, the JSDC needs to determine what it wants out of this study.

In other business, the Executive Committee requested Connie Ova to bring a recommendation to the next JSDC Board of Directors meeting on how to proceed with updating the JSDC’s strategic plan. She said some initial work has been done on updating the plan by staff and a subcommittee, but JSDC Board needs to decide how it wants to proceed.