(La Porte County, IN) - With thousands of jobs potentially coming to the area east of La Porte County near New Carlisle, the big questions are: where are these workers coming from and where are they going to live?

 

A possible housing shortage has economic development officials in St. Joseph County worried. It looks as if La Porte County is now in the game.

 

Mike Seitz addressed the issue at last week’s county commissioners meeting. Seitz is with La Porte County’s Office of Economic Development. He said his office and other county officials have formed a “joint task force” with their counterparts in St. Joseph County and New Carlisle.

 

According to Seitz, they have sent out 23 letters to major property owners in the area to see if they have interest in possible housing development.

 

“The thing that impresses me a lot is the eagerness we have from the folks at St. Joseph County and New Carlisle,” Seitz told the commission. “They really want to work with us.”

 

He says the group has been meeting in New Carlisle to strategize about housing. They are studying the current housing inventory and possibilities for new developments. Seitz said that County Planner Mitch Bishop has been giving input on where in the county water and sewer lines could be extended.

 

The group will meet again later this month.