By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Many county residents are pleased at what a 5-person bipartisan group of county commissioners, in conjunction with county employees, can accomplish here in Otter Tail County.

The county’s Big Build initiative, in a press released issued by County Public Information Officer Shannon Terry, saw continued housing growth in 2024. Last year, more than $94.2 million in housing investment was added in the county from 443 new and rehabbed housing units.

And 358 of those were new construction and 85 were rehabbed units.

“It’s truly remarkable to see the housing growth Otter Tail County has experienced these past few years,” said Otter Tail County Commissioner and CDA Board Member Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood. 

Mortenson added that the success in 2024 is great progress for The Big Build housing growth and investment initiative, launched by the Otter Tail County Community Development Agency (CDA) at the end of 2019. 

“Since launching the initiative, nearly 3,000 homes have been built or significantly rehabbed,” Mortenson said.

The Big Build initiative was created because the expansion of housing opportunities is a countywide priority to address workforce needs and existing residents’ needs. Included in the program:

• Down Payment Assistance

• Emergency Housing Repair

• Residential Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loans 

• Rental Rehabilitation Loans

• Multi-Family New Construction Loans

• Community Growth Partnership Grants