The Billings Industrial Revitalization District Board and the Downtown Billings Alliance have determined that a Workforce Housing Needs Assessment is needed to identify, explore and quantify current and emerging workforce housing challenges in Downtown Billings and the East Billings Urban Renewal District areas. This targeted area assessment of  these two Tax Increment Finance District areas will include detailed information that the District Boards, potential developers, City staff, and other agencies involved in housing development in Billings may use when siting new projects to create live – work neighborhoods in the core area of the City. Workforce housing availability, affordability, accessibility, suitability, and proximity to work and shopping will all be evaluated through this assessment process. The BIRD Board on December 13, 2016 recommended up to $25,000 to match the Downtown Billings Alliance's contribution of $25,000. The Downtown Billings Partnership Board voted to recommend its half of the funding at its Board meeting on February 3, 2017. The two districts plan to form a steering committee to oversee the project comprised of two BIRD members, two downtown alliance members, and one City staff representative from the Planning and Community Services Department.
 

↵City Council may:

• Approve this funding recommendation from the BIRD Board and DBP Board for a Workforce Housing Needs Assessment in the EBURD and Downtown Tax Increment Finance Districts or;
• Disapprove this funding recommendation for a Workforce Housing Needs Assessment in the EBURD and Downtown Tax Increment Finance District. Not approving this funding will mean that such an assessment to determine the needs for housing in the downtown and East Billings and potentially encourage redevelopment in the area will not go forward at this time. 

The request is for up to $25,000 from each TID to fund a  Workforce Housing Needs Assessment. for a total of $50,000. There are sufficient funds budgeted in the FY17 east TIF and the downtown TIF budgets to pay for this proposed Assessment.

The Billings Industrial Revitalization District Board and the Downtown Billings Partnership Board recommend that the City Council approve up to $25,000 in Tax Increment Funds from each district be used for a Workforce Housing Needs Assessment in the EBURD and Downtown TIF District areas.