Monday afternoon, a groundbreaking event was held at Soldier Ridge Estates in The Woodlands Addition, located in Fort Dodge. The housing project is an initiative of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance to encourage single family home construction.

Growth Alliance CEO Dennis Plautz said these types of projects is what economic development is all about. Plautz said, "Economic Development is creating an environment, a community, and a region that allows you to be competitive, when you go out and recruit companies to come into your area. This housing need we currently have, and the project we're doing for that need, is a good example of those community development aspects that we need to do."

Doyle Construction will build 2 one-story homes on lots 14 and 15 in The Woodlands Addition and Kolacia Construction will build 2 two-story homes on units 1 and 2 in Soldier Ridge Estates.

Lisa Wilson owns the two lots, and said that the area is the perfect place for this project. "Right now it's one of the only locations in Fort Dodge that has other construction going up. The schools are very close. The water park is very close. And this the side of town where the mall and all the retail is on. People like living out here."

The housing project is being implemented due to the increase in demand for single-family homes in Fort Dodge.