Utah's legislature has approved $1 million in funding for a new housing advocacy group that has almost no public presence, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy was launched in February by developer Craig Weston, who is one of three partners in Kane Creek Preservation and Development.
According to the group's website, it "advocates for affordable housing for first-time homebuyers, workforce housing, and housing stock in general for Utahns."
Weston tells the Tribune the group's goal is "nothing short of a complete overhaul of housing policy in Utah."
He says the group has bipartisan support and aims to both shape land use processes and help the public "better understand the underlying issues and challenges."
Steve Waldrip, a former state legislator who is now Gov.
Gary Herbert's senior advisor for housing strategy and innovation, says the group will focus on "non-political, nonpartisan advocacy for Utah housing."
Waldrip says the money will be subject to "full and complete" accountability measures and won't be "anything that's hidden or secretive at all."
However, some residents of Moab, where Kane Creek is planning a massive development, are concerned the money will be used to fund a campaign against the project.
Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy will be led by an
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