By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Chamber of Commerce held another successful Lunch and Learn event at Drop Tine Winery.
This time, Ashley Epling, Sean Rupp, and Dave Newcomer came together to discuss the impact, procedures, and goals that the WCPA (Williams County Port Authority) have been implementing county-wide.
To date, the WCPA has sold six houses, purchased seven lots for future development of single-family homes and duplexes, and have 6 houses in active construction (one in Edgerton, two in Edon, one in Stryker, one in Montpelier, and one in West Unity).
There are four properties for sale currently (209 Bunny Ln, Edgerton; 1004 Linden St, Montpelier; 109 King St, Stryker; and 124 S High St, West Unity).
The 2024 WCPA board is composed of members Dave Newcomer, Dawn Fitzcharles, Ashley Epling, Sean Rupp, Bill Martin, Tyson Stuckey, Dick Reed, and Stacy Lillard.
The WCPA was started in 2007, and a recent housing study shows that the next three years will see a need for 408-486 new housing units, with 80-100 of these being low income.
The WCPA has been working hard to deliver homes averaging $160,000, which gives those with incomes as low as $35,000 possible eligibility at owning a home.
They also detailed how Frontier Community Services is working to get funding for a 50-unit senior living community, with the application being due this month, funding announced in May, and the project is expected to finish up December of 2026.
The WCPA is looking to purchase lots throughout the county and continue to work with the Williams County Land Bank to apply Ohio state funds for the demolition of blighted structures to potentially make way for new development.