Two manufactured home communities are asking the City of Kalispell to serve as the host for a grant that could provide funds to help them connect to city infrastructure.
Morning Star Community and Green Acres Cooperative are requesting the city assist in their submission of Community Development Block Grant public facilities and housing grants for the purpose of connecting to the city’s wastewater system. Both communities have septic systems that are at the end of their life.
City Council on Monday is set to discuss the request at a work session. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the City Hall, 201 First Avenue East.
NeighborWorks Montana, a nonprofit organization that seeks to create affordable housing opportunities, is working with the two communities on the grant along with providing technical assistance as they work to connect to city services. Both communities, which have been annexed into the city, have previously received city sponsorship for applications for other funding.
The Morning Star Community is a 41-unit manufactured home community on South Woodland and is resident-owned. The community operates 21 septic and drain field systems that were installed in 1973.
Lori Gunderson, board president of Morning Star, notes in a letter to Council that as a resident-owned community Morning Star provides residents with rent stability and permanently affordable housing. Conversations have been ongoing with city staff regarding the projects, Gunderson notes.
“We are excited for the next conversations to move the project forward in concert with the City of Kalispell,” Gunderson said.
The Green Acres Cooperative is a 32-unit manufactured home community that is also resident-owned. It’s on South Woodland Drive.
Green Acres operates six septic and drain field systems that were installed in the mid- to late-1960s.
For more information, visit the city’s website at https://www.kalispell.com/.
Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.
