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Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has awarded a total of $20 million to modular housing developers to boost production of such homes throughout Oregon. The developers will prioritize supplying modular housing that is affordable to state and local governments following a wildfire or other disaster, building low-income housing, and building middle-income housing.

Housing is considered modular when sections are built in a factory and then assembled at the intended site. Use of modular components can help accelerate affordable housing production because it can lower construction costs and reduce construction schedules compared to traditional building methods, an OHCS press release states.

OHCS created the Modular Housing Development Fund to distribute the $20 million allocated through House Bill 2001 in the 2023 legislative session. The agency worked quickly to distribute money, opening applications for funding this past November. After consideration of 17 eligible applicants, the agency intends to award $5 million each to Blazer Industries of Aumsville, InteliFab LLC of Klamath Falls, Pacific Wall Systems of Phoenix, and Zaugg Timber Solutions of Portland.

OHCS spokesperson Delia Hernandez stated in an email that a scoring panel reviewed each application based on the following evaluation criteria: investment outputs, community and industry impact, a category prioritization plan, experience and business plan budget, a reporting plan, and an equity-centered management plan.

Award recipients will use the money for facility expansion, unit design standardization, equipment purchases, and technology advancement, Hernandez stated.