County partners with Millersburg to study Western Holmes housing

Millersburg Mayor Kelly Hoffee met with the Holmes County Commissioners on Nov. 10, 2025 to request county partnership on a Western Holmes County housing needs assessment. The village proposes to contract with Envision Group LLC of Cleveland to produce a $20,000 survey and analysis that will identify housing shortages, the types of housing needed including small and affordable homes, and development opportunities across Millersburg and nearby western villages and unincorporated areas.

The village offered to pay half of the study cost, and asked the county to cover the other half. Commissioners voted to support the project and framed the assessment as a first step toward data driven planning to encourage workforce and young adult retention in Holmes County. Officials noted the study could help secure grants through organizations such as OMEGA, attract developer interest, and create the evidence base for a possible land bank to repurpose vacant and underused properties for affordable housing.

Housing availability and affordability have been repeatedly identified by county leaders as barriers to workforce growth. Local employers have cited a lack of suitable housing as a challenge in recruiting and retaining workers, and county leaders have made housing a recurring policy priority in planning discussions. By commissioning a formal needs assessment the village and county aim to move from anecdote to data, producing actionable findings that municipal officials, economic development groups and nonprofit partners can use when applying for state and federal grants or when negotiating with private developers.

Institutionally, the project highlights cooperation between village and county government at a time when funding and staff capacity are limited. A shared investment in a modest planning study reduces the financial burden on any single local government and creates a common evidence base that can guide zoning decisions, infrastructure investments, and grant applications. The assessment could also inform whether a land bank is viable as a tool to convert underused parcels into workforce and affordable housing sites, an option that would require subsequent policy decisions and possibly enabling legislation at the state level.

For Holmes County voters and civic organizations the study underscores the importance of continued civic engagement around land use and housing policy. Results from the Envision Group survey are likely to shape future conversations about development incentives, site selection, and local funding priorities. If the assessment demonstrates clear shortages of specific housing types, elected officials will face pressure to translate findings into concrete actions during budget cycles and planning sessions.

Next steps include the village executing the contract with Envision Group and the county allocating its share of the funding. Officials say the study will be used to pursue grant opportunities and to stimulate private sector interest in developing homes that meet local workforce needs. The assessment is positioned as a practical, evidence based move toward addressing persistent housing constraints that affect jobs, schools and community vitality in western Holmes County.