9 months ago
SOUTH PARIS, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Every part of the housing industry has faced difficulties due to the economic crisis, but 2010 could bring new business and increased employment opportunities to western Maine's manufactured housing industry.
"There are thousands of units in Maine - thousands of homes - that are in such disrepair that weatherization is just not an option for them," said Greg Payne, coordinator for the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition. "The legislature understood that there are things that we can do to improve the energy efficiency of the state, that will also help create a significant number of jobs, and affordable housing is one great way to do that."
In the spring, the Maine Legislature passed L.D. 1485, "An Act Regarding Maine's Energy Future" which authorized a $30 million revenue bond - a portion of which is targeted for the replacement of manufactured housing that is old and beyond repair. Now the Maine State Housing Authority is working with the remaining manufactured housing builders in the Oxford Hills region to come up with plans that would allow them to build the new replacement homes.
"In the past, MESHA went to Pennsylvania to buy replacement mobile homes, and it is just crazy to be buying them in Pennsylvania when we have two good manufacturers here who can compete," said Linda Walbridge, director of the Western Maine Economic Development Council. "In the long run, this could be a significant number of mobile homes."
The industry could also benefit from partnering with builders of affordable housing by building multi-family modular units. All of the replacement homes would be built to be highly energy efficient to save on energy costs and reduce the need for energy assistance to families who live in the homes.
"There is no better way you could spend this money and impact so many different sectors of Maine and Maine's economy," said Payne. The bonds to build the replacement homes will not be issued until July, but the larger scale, multi-unit modular construction could begin in the next few months.
You can find more information about the law and the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition by clicking here.
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