The greater Fort Dodge region has made great strides in providing quality-of-life amenities, but one of the biggest obstacles for potential residents is finding housing.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home price is $388,800, and in Webster County the median home price is $134,239.

Home prices in Webster County are 34 percent lower than the national home price.

Compared to the rest of the country, Fort Dodge’s cost of living is 29.9 percent lower than the U.S. average.

The greater Fort Dodge area provides prospective buyers affordable homes and space to grow in today’s competitive real estate market and affordability crisis.

A lack of affordable housing impacts everyone in the community. There are concerted efforts to build new workforce housing to meet the demand. The Iowa Economic Development Authority provides a program for Workforce Housing Tax Credits to benefit developers to provide housing in Iowa communities. The $33 million tax credit will be split equally between urban areas and small cities.

Opportunities like this allow developers to build new homes, employers to recruit and retain, and communities to grow and thrive.

Local leadership is progressive and acknowledges the gaps that need to be filled, and are excited to meet with potential developers.

Dennis Plautz is the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.