Workforce Housing
Overview
The City of Stanley is in the process of developing Workforce housing. This small community lacks stable year round housing for many essential workers like teachers, firefighters, and healthcare providers. Through grants and other funding sources Stanley is working to improve housing availability in the community.
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This page has brief updates and a timeline of the project. For more in depth information visit the link below.
RFP for Project Management
The City of Stanley is soliciting proposals for planning and project management services to represent the City's interests during the development of a workforce housing project in the City of Stanley. The City is requesting assistance in leading the project through a preliminary planning review, entitlement process, construction oversight, lease up, and close out.
Please see the attached RFP for more details.
Upcoming Meetings & Updates on Workforce Housing
Questions or comments? We want to hear!
Estimated Timeline
This timeline will be updated periodically with target dates and information.
Last updated: 2/17/2026
March 9, 2024
Congress approved $4 million HUD grant for workforce housing
The HUD grant is earmarked funds, designated by Congress, for the City. These funds expire August 31, 2032.
Completed
March 2025
Development company selected
There was a competitive bid process and and a rank committee was formed with the City Council and a local builder. This committee selected the Northwest Real Estate Capital Corp. as the development company.
Completed
March 2025
Selected site analysis and survey company
SWCA will complete the environmental site analysis, wetlands delineation, and cultural resources survey were ordered as part of the environmental review by Idaho Housing and Finance Association.
SWCA is writing the environmental analysis for the whole project and work will begin as soon as snow is gone from the site. These surveys must be done before any ground disturbance takes place.
Completed
May 5, 2025
Select engineering firm for infrastructure
S&A Engineering was selected as the engineering firm for the workforce housing and city park trailhead infrastructure projects.
Completed
May 20, 2025
Memorandum of Understanding
April-May 2025
Town Hall meetings to identify preferred housing designs, materials, and amenities
Northwest is planning to conduct some meetings to interact with community. They will provide schematics and preliminary designs that will need to be refined. Community input will be solicited.
1st one Completed June 24
May 2025
Complete rental market survey
A rental study is required by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. They will look at average income, rental rates, and what can be supported by the community. Completed mid July.
June 2025
Preliminary housing design for second visual preference survey
Northwest RCC will present a design to the community after working with them to determine needs. Second Visual Preference Survey completed with the community.
2nd one Completed August 15
June 2025
Community Development Block Grant
Sign a contract with Altura to help support the city in applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Completed June 24
July 2025
Complete the environmental analysis
The environmental analysis is required prior to any construction. Hopefully this will be accomplished by the end of June. Received the environmental report June 16.
July 2025
Pass ordinance to annex and zone property
The area that will be annexed by the City must be surveyed. All the land affected and used for workforce housing must be within the City’s current area of impact. It includes all the National Forest System Lands that are near sulfur flats and the Stanley Museum to the current city boundary.
Completed Oct 30
September 2025
Site Plan and Preliminary Design
The Developer will create a site plan with preliminary architectural drawings. This will layout the number and style of units, their location, and the basic infrastructure like water, sewer, and roads.
Completed October. The Developer provided a first draft of the site plan.
September 2025
Budget
The Developer will work with potential contractors to establish a budget breaking out the costs for various aspects of the project. This will help determine the amount of money the developer will need to acquire through loans.
Completed December. The Developer proposed a budget with projected rents to the council.
September 2025
Low Income Housing Tax Credit Application
Northwest will apply for Low Income Tax Credits to help fund the workforce housing project.
The City decided not to use Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). If LIHTC funding is used, residents of the housing have to meet income restrictions. Most essential workers would not have qualified for the housing because their income would be above the limit. (More information here)
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September 2025
Wetland Permiting
The City will submit an application to the Army Corps of Engineers to begin discussions and planning around wetland impacts and jurisdictional wetlands. This step is waiting on more concrete design plans.
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November 2025
Geotechnical Survey
The developer will organize a geotechnical study prior to site and building plans being finalized. A geotechnical survey is a detailed investigation of a site's subsurface soil, rock, and groundwater to evaluate their engineering properties.
Completed December 2025
November 2025
CBDG Grant due
Working with Altura, the City will need to submit the Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) by Thanksgiving.
The City will not be submitting the CBDG application as it would put low income restrictions on the units and add Build America Buy America requirements that would increase cost of the project.
November 2025
Finish Cultural Resource Requirements
Complete all the cultural resource requirements from SHPO. The City must obtain approval from SHPO since federal funds are being used. This step is waiting on more concrete design plans.
December 2025
Sign Option to Lease
The City Council must approve the Option to Lease which allows Northwest to secure funding and continue engaging professionals in the design of the project. It also provides for the next step of allowing Northwest and the City to work towards a ground lease agreement and other agreements.
Signed February 12, 2026.
We are here!
2026
Complete Agreements
The City will work, in good faith, with Northwest to develop and sign various agreements
January 2026
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Developer selects contractors for project
March 2026
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Final plan submitted to HUD for approval of design and building requirements
April 2026
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Groundbreaking for housing
May 2027
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Construction completed