SVED Meeting

Housing and a new Economic Development Director – those were the hot topics at yesterday afternoon’s monthly Solomon Valley Economic Development meeting in Beloit.

Jim Bell opened the housing discussion by highlighting the critical need for additional low and moderate income housing in the area. He said it was needed to take care of the people who work in Beloit, live out of town and would like to live in Beloit.

Several suggestions came out of the discussion which was like a fire that kept popping up again and again during the meeting.

Nice apartment complexes were suggested by former Chamber President Lydia Housh. Jim Bell suggested looking into establishing a nice trailer park as a stop gap measure.

Also a discussion topic at the SVED meeting – a replacement for recently departed Economic Development Director Murray McGee. SVED President Curt Frazier reported that applications are being taken and asked the group to float any names of people that they might know who would do a good job.

Frazier said the position would have a budget of about $90,000. A little under half of that money would be budgeted for salary.

In that same vein, Lydia Housh reported that the Chamber of Commerce, which is looking for a full time Director, is still taking applications adding, some interviews have already been conducted.