The Door County Economic Development Corp. is happy with the gains it has made over the past seven years, but Executive Director Michelle Lawrie wants to ensure the organization stays on track moving forward.

In its 2019 housing study, the DCEDC found that the county was hundreds, if not thousands, of housing units short of what was needed for the community, especially in terms of affordable and workforce housing. Due to the pandemic, Lawrie said the area saw a net gain in migration, and the study served as a catalyst for communities to find ways to bring more housing to the area.

With the 2026 edition of the housing study, Lawrie said she wants to talk with employers and community leaders to see how far they have come and what still needs to happen to meet their needs moving forward.

She added that people's desire to move to Door County has helped efforts to increase housing options in the area, but infrastructure needs such as sewer, water and broadband service continue to be hurdles in some communities.

The DCEDC hopes to begin preliminary work in the coming weeks on the approximately six-month study, with plans to release its findings early next year. The city of Sturgeon Bay recently became the latest community to support the endeavor. Lawrie added that she is working to get more municipalities and school districts on board to help fund the study.