Grand Opening of Bello Rio Apartments Creates Affordable Homes for
Farmworker Families in East Wenatchee, Washington
East Wenatchee, Wash. – (May 28, 2008) – The Housing Authority of Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee with the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH), Washington State Office of Community Trade & Economic Development, the Farmworker Housing Trust, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise) celebrated today the grand opening of Bello Rio Apartments, a newly constructed community of 26 townhomes for farmworker families earning 50 percent or less of area median income in East Wenatchee, Washington. Located in Douglas County, the development is available to eligible agricultural workers, including those who work in packing sheds, warehouses, fields, orchards and dairies. Bello Rio is located at 2017 Northwest Cascade Avenue.
“We are proud to partner with the Housing Authority of Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee to create and preserve affordable homes for families living and working in rural communities,” said Charles R. Werhane, vice president and chief operating officer, Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. “This public-private partnership helps ensure that farm workers - vital to the local and national economy - can raise their families in safe and decent affordable housing.”
The Bello Rio project was financed with a variety of funding sources, including a $3.3 million low-income housing tax credit equity investment from Enterprise in partnership with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program; funding from the Washington State Office of Community Trade & Economic Development’s Housing Trust Fund; Douglas County 2060 Funds; the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust and pre-development funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank, Banner Bank of Wenatchee and Enterprise.
“It is estimated that there is a need for 1,500 housing units for agricultural workers who reside year-round in Douglas County. Bello Rio is significant because it begins to address this need by providing quality, safe and affordable housing for Douglas County's farm and agricultural workers,” said Alicia McRae, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Chelan County.
Bello Rio Apartments features two-, three- and four-bedroom townhome units with patios or decks. The family-friendly community has walking paths, benches, playground structures and open green spaces. Bello Rio is in close proximity to local schools, public transportation, shopping and local parks and recreation facilities.
In Washington, Enterprise has financed more than $393 million in equity, loans and grants to rehabilitate or develop 4,300 units of affordable housing and more than 77,600 square feet of commercial and retail space.
The Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH) is a private, statewide nonprofit organization that develops housing for farm workers and other rural, low-income residents of Washington State. ORFH has been providing direct, comprehensive development services to local nonprofit organizations, housing authorities, municipalities and other organizations and individuals interested in developing farmworker housing for the past 29 years. Visit www.orfh.org for more information.
Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. is a leading provider of the development capital and expertise it takes to create decent, affordable homes and rebuild communities. Enterprise leverages low-income housing, new markets and historic rehabilitation tax credits, short and long-term debt, and development services to capitalize projects that make a catalytic difference in communities. Enterprise has privately raised over $9 billion to finance more than 240,000 affordable rental and for-sale homes, create vital communities and help transform the lives of low-income Americans, particularly those at the lowest end of the economic scale. Currently, Enterprise is investing in communities at a rate of $1 billion a year. Visit www.enterprisecommunity.com to learn more about Enterprise's efforts to build communities and opportunity.
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