Fond Du Lac Times

Fond du Lac County is experiencing significant economic expansion, driven in part by new housing developments across several municipalities. The county's location provides easy access to Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Sheboygan through major highways like I-41, U.S. 151, and State Highways 23 and 26. This has attracted companies seeking growth along key transportation corridors.

With eight business and industrial parks nearing capacity, local leaders are considering where the next park might be established and whether there will be enough workforce to support further development. Recent efforts to increase multi-family and affordable housing are intended to address this need.

In Campbellsport, Village Administrator Charlie Kudy has promoted a range of housing initiatives. These include 44 multi-family units and 16 duplexes—totaling 32 units—in Twin Village Estates, as well as 62 single-family homes added since 2020. Only 15 lots remain available for development.

Ripon has also made housing a priority under City Administrator Adam Sonntag. The city is moving forward with a 64-unit market-rate apartment complex scheduled to break ground this summer. Additionally, Ripon plans for 25 new single-family and duplex units in 2025, supported by the city's downpayment assistance program. Fourteen condos are being developed on the east side near SSM Health’s Community Hospital as part of Lakeview Villas Phase I; Phase II is set for 2026 and 2027. On the west side of Ripon, four duplexes—eight condos in total—are planned.

The City of Waupun and Village of North Fond du Lac are also expanding their housing stock with new units expected in 2025 and 2026. However, rising infrastructure costs remain a challenge throughout the county.

According to local officials, combining new industrial acreage with expanded workforce housing is seen as crucial for sustainable growth in Fond du Lac County. "These economic strategies only succeed when the workforce can live nearby," said one statement from municipal leaders. "The meaningful work of all four municipalities listed above is making business growth, expansion and access to workforce possible in Fond du Lac County."

For more information about economic development efforts in Fond du Lac County, Lisa McArthur serves as Vice President of Economic Development at Envision Greater Fond du Lac.