COLORADO—A pilot project in the White River National Forest Dillon Ranger District is paving the way for the Forest Service to partner with local communities to find solutions to workforce housing using authorities in the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act.

The high cost of living in Summit County is making housing out of reach for Forest Service employees as well as much of the local workforce, a problem recurring in many of the communities where Forest Service employees are based. What Forest Service housing is available in the Dillon Ranger District is limited, aging and difficult to maintain.  

“Lack of affordable housing is a community-wide challenge, so it makes sense to partner with the community on solutions,” said White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams. 

On Sept. 27, after a multi-year process, the forest and Summit County signed a 50-year lease for the development of affordable workforce housing at the forest’s aging Dillon Work Center Administrative Site. Under the lease, the county will develop up to 177 workforce housing units on the 11-acre property and will essentially “pay rent” to the Forest Service by providing a certain number of units and space for Forest Service housing.

“This lease is the first of its kind for the Forest Service, and it serves as a model for partnering with local agencies on shared workforce housing solutions,” said Anna Bengtson, White River National Forest land conveyance manager.  

This is the first lease to be signed under the authorities in the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, which provides the Forest Service the authority to enter long-term lease arrangements at its administrative sites in exchange for cash or non-cash consideration.

Housing for Forest Service permanent and seasonal employees as well as redevelopment of existing administrative facilities and wildland fire operations are included as in-kind consideration for the Dillon Work Center lease. Additional plans for the property include a neighborhood community center, residential parking, public transit connections, and upgraded infrastructure and utilities.

“This lease will help us with our biggest housing challenges,” said Dillon District Ranger Adam Bianchi. “First, we get new, modern affordable workforce housing for our employees. Second, the county will maintain the property, which has been continual challenge for us.”

The majority of the units will be available for Summit County employees and other Summit County residents who qualify.

“Not only is this a unique collaboration, and the first in its kind in the country, it is an innovative approach to solving Summit County’s housing crisis, one that impacts the ability for the Forest Service to protect and serve our community. I couldn’t be prouder of the teamwork that made this possible,” said Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue.

Work on the redevelopment is currently expected to begin in 2024.