Officials in Nebraska’s Dodge County recently completed a housing study as it prepares for an influx of new residents when a new poultry complex opens in the county in 2019.
Lincoln Premium Poultry will begin operations in June 2019. The complex will include a poultry plant, which will process chicken exclusively for sale in Costco stores, as well as a feed mill and hatchery. The complex is expected to employ as many as 1,100 people.
“This is expected to have a major impact on the demand for housing in the county. There is also the concern on the effect that incomes/salaries will have on housing choice, especially in the smaller communities in the county,” the study stated.
The plant is being constructed in Fremont, which is by far county’s largest city. According to 2010 Census figures, the city’s population is 24,210. Other communities in Dodge County listed in the study are North Bend, population 1177; Scribner, population 857; Hooper, population 830; Dodge, population 612; Inglewood, population 325; and Snyder, population 300.
The study stated that the county’s current population could increase by 4.8 percent by 2022, largely as a result of the new plant.
Survey reveals need for improvement
The study revealed that there are current residents already dissatisfied with the county’s housing situation. A survey revealed that 121 of 801 respondents were not satisfied. Reasons expressed for that dissatisfaction included their home was too small, their home was in need of substantial updating, or their home was too far from their place of employment.
Housing development coming
Garry Clark, executive director of the Greater Fremont Development Council, told KETV the area needs rental housing, mixed-use development projects, single-family housing and rehabilitation of current housing.
Clark added that work is already being done to fill some of those needs for current residents and for the future poultry plant workers.
“I believe we have three or four current housing projects putting in infrastructure and things of that nature right now,” said Clark. “And I think we have maybe three or four more housing development opportunities coming down the pike.”
