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Boom town: Sheboygan is flush with opportunities

Job growth leads to housing shortage
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The housing market in Sheboygan County is so hot right now, it's sizzling .

"We've had some homes with multiple offers within hours," according to Barry Kreft of Shorewest realtors. 

Some homes are getting snapped up quickly at above asking price.

"Some are selling over list price," Kreft said.

So why are homes selling so quickly?

The county has about 3,500 jobs available right now.

The county's unemployment rate is 3.4 percent, the lowest the area has seen in 16 years.

"We're looking at jobs that pay in the upswing of $14, $16, $18 dollars an hour. These are entry level jobs in our manufacturing plants," says Austin Van Treeck with the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation.

Other available jobs include marketing, hospitality and nursing.

Some companies are getting creative in finding ways to bring in workers from other cities.

"They're physically being bused here seven days a week to work in our companies like Kohler, Johsonville or Nemak," Van Treeck said.

To fix the housing shortage the county and city  have been focusing on building apartment homes trying to attract workers to the area.

In the next two years, roughly 600-700 apartments will be built.

The first complex is expected to be complete this summer.

The county has also launched a new campaign called "Someplace Better," hoping to show families what Sheboygan has to offer.