The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce has narrowed the field down to four firms in its search for a consultant to complete a housing needs assessment for Whitefish.

The Whitefish affordable workforce housing task force recently created a sub-group to vet the proposals, according to chamber executive director Kevin Gartland. The group narrowed the field from six total and will soon conduct interviews.

Once a consultant is brought on-board, a community kick-off meeting will happen in order to gather information and discuss housing issues, Gartland noted. The study is tentavily set to begin in mid-June.

Following a workforce housing summit last September, a task force was created to begin addressing affordable housing, and to bring recommendations to the city on how the community could tackle the problem. The housing needs assessment is the first phase of the project and the next step will be to develop a strategic plan to ultimately provide the housing needed in Whitefish.

The last housing study completed for Whitefish was in 2007.

Gartland said the city of Whitefish will apply for a Community Development Block Grant planning grant to develop the action-oriented plan. The grant application is due to the state by July 1.

For more information on affordable housing, check out the chamber of commerce website at www.whitefishchamber.org under ‘Whitefish Chamber’ (tab at the far left) then click on ‘Workforce Housing Initiative’.