Spring is finally here and with it comes the start of the building season. Families are looking to build new homes, developers are looking for prime real estate, and contractors are itching to get back in the field after a long, hard winter.
As part of an ongoing housing development initiative, Clarke County Development Corporation (CCDC) has been working with the city of Osceola to offer home builders and developers shovel-ready sites at no cost for residential projects. The initiative also extends reimbursements on interest for construction loans for up to a 12-month period. The CCDC launched this Zero-Cost Land Development initiative in 2017 as an effort to capitalize on the recent growth trends and development throughout south-central Iowa. While tax abatements and other incentives are offered throughout the state, the concept of Zero-Cost Development offers builders and developers a bigger opportunity for establishing profitable programs throughout the city.
The workforce in Iowa is experiencing unprecedented low unemployment, making businesses work harder to attract the best and the brightest qualified employees. CCDC and the city of Osceola are working together to help provide a big incentive for local businesses offering executive, management, and long-term employment candidates custom housing solutions. Local affordable housing programs such as Kading Properties’ Meadows Development have been a huge success and there is plenty of opportunity for developers to meet the needs of those looking for more.
“Development land in the Des Moines Metro area can set builders back $80,000 to $200,000 per lot or more,” said Bill Trickey, Executive Director of Clarke County Development Corporation. “Osceola is close to metro amenities with a quality of life you can’t find in larger cities. Continuously developing and improving, the city offers a sense of community and safety among neighbors, providing peace of mind for growing families.”
Osceola’s major benefits include over 4,600 non-farming jobs, a quality school district advanced beyond some suburban Metro schools, and several quality of life developments like an expanding trail system, improved city parks, lakes and land for hunting, fishing and limitless outdoor recreation. City officials and the CCDC hope the Zero-Cost Land Development initiative will continue to strengthen neighborhoods and encourage families to call Osceola home.
If you’re a builder looking for a low-cost entry into a competitive market, contact Bill Trickey at the Clarke County Development Corporation at [email protected] or 641-342-2944 to learn more about the Zero-Cost Development initiative.
