Bill > SB656

This bill establishes the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Act, a comprehensive program designed to address housing challenges in rural Missouri communities with populations under 50,000 residents. The act creates a grant program within the Department of Economic Development that will provide up to $1 million in grants every two years to nonprofit development organizations to establish workforce housing investment funds. These funds can be used for activities like new housing construction, substantial housing rehabilitation, and upper-story housing development in rural areas. To qualify for grants, organizations must provide matching funds and demonstrate a genuine need for workforce housing, with preference given to communities experiencing low unemployment and difficulty attracting workers. The bill defines "workforce housing" as housing that meets the needs of working families, costs within specific construction price limits, and is not funded by existing low-income housing programs. Nonprofit organizations receiving grants must have a professional board, invest funds in qualified housing activities, and submit annual reports detailing their investments and program outcomes. The legislation also establishes a dedicated Rural Workforce Housing Investment Fund in the state treasury and includes provisions for returning unused funds and ensuring equitable distribution of housing resources across rural Missouri communities.

Labor and Employment

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=3379129