Between 2015 and 2023, the latest knowledge accessible, median rents right here rose by almost 30%, in accordance with the U.S. census. The variety of short-term leases within the county has almost tripled from Could 2024 to Could 2025, in accordance with knowledge from AirDNA, which tracks listings from Airbnb and comparable providers, as landlords more and more cater to metal trade employees.
“Housing is a big want,” stated Blytheville Mayor Melisa Logan.
“I used to say a ‘housing desert,’ however now I’m in a housing disaster.”
Logan stated she’s tried to search out options to those housing woes. She stated she spends time networking with builders and builders, hoping they may deliver initiatives to Blytheville.
She’s additionally inspired by steelmakers’ efforts to incentivize full-time staff to remain native. “For those who belief us to return and earn your residing,” Logan stated, “you must belief us sufficient to lift your loved ones.”
Roughly half of the county’s steelworkers dwell outdoors of Mississippi County, in accordance with Chitwood, of the Nice River Financial Growth Basis.
A brand new program known as “Work Right here, Dwell Right here,” sponsored by Massive River Metal Works, Hybar and different corporations, will give metal trade employees who keep of their jobs for no less than 4 years as much as $50,000 to construct or buy new properties within the space. 100 and sixty three have already signed up.
“You get these households in. They make the varsity districts higher. They carry in eating places, resorts,” stated Dan Brown, vice chairman and chief working officer of Massive River Metal Works. “The group begins build up.”
