Governor Glenn Youngkin announced a $17 million investment in workforce housing across the Commonwealth, including Harrisonburg. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn reports.
During the announcement, Youngkin said the investment will encourage an influx of workers following new business developments in the commonwealth over the past few years.
GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN: Now, what's left out of all of that is one issue. Where are they going to live? You see, in a growing state, a state that has more people moving here than moving away for the first time in over a decade, we are attracting even more talent.
Harrisonburg will receive around $1.2 million to fund the development of the Flats At West Market, which will see a former office building converted into 89 rental units in the city's downtown area. The governor chose to announce the statewide investment in Harrisonburg, which he said exemplifies the collaboration between the private sector and local government to create housing for workers moving to Virginia.
YOUNGKIN: It's just the beginning. And so today, we are standing here in this hub of innovation, celebrating innovation in housing, innovation in how we collaborate to unlock this opportunity. The Flats at West Market are, of course, Harrisonburg's opportunity to celebrate this great collaboration in workforce housing.
Harrisonburg is one of 10 localities that will receive an initial round of funding through the state's Workforce Housing Investment Program. Virginia Housing, which facilitates the program, has committed $75 million over the next five years towards building 5,000 units of workforce housing across the commonwealth.
Elsewhere in the valley, the city of Winchester will also receive $3 million to revitalize a former storage facility into a mixed-used development.
