Today, July 24, the Colorado Middle Income Housing Authority (MIHA), the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) joined the community of Frisco to celebrate the groundbreaking of Galena Apartments, which will provide 54 middle-income rental apartments for workers.
“Expanding access to housing people can afford is incredibly important for Coloradans, businesses and communities. To truly thrive, we need more housing now for people at every budget. I am thrilled we are taking this important step to help workers in our mountain region and Frisco access homes near work, school, and all that Colorado has to offer,” said Gov. Polis.
Galena Apartments will provide all-electric, energy-efficient homes within walking distance of downtown Frisco and built to meet U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home standards. The apartments will serve local residents earning 80% – 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), including but not limited to teachers, first responders, medical professionals, and local government staff.
“Housing isn’t just about where we sleep—it’s about where we belong. MIHA invests in communities like Frisco so the people who teach our kids, heal our loved ones, and keep our towns vibrant can build their lives in the same places they uplift daily. Frisco deserves that kind of rootedness—and so do the people who make it home,” said Peter LiFari, MIHA board president.
In July 2025, MIHA sold its first tax exempt bonds to support the acquisition and construction of Galena Apartments. The bond proceeds, totalling $18.6 million, will be loaned to the NHP Foundation, the developer and owner of the initiative.
The Galena Apartments development was also supported in part by a $4 million grant from DOLA’s Strong Communities Infrastructure program, which incentivized the adoption of land use practices that support strategic growth and housing people can afford by aligning local needs and policies with sustainable development goals. DOLA also awarded $375,898 from the Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) More Housing Now Initiative to support the infrastructure around this initiative.
“Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ mission is to strengthen Colorado communities, and we know workforce housing is one of the largest barriers that our mountain communities face. We’re proud to contribute to the Galena Apartments, bringing housing that’s affordable to the teachers, first responders and nurses who provide critical services to the people of Frisco. They deserve to live where they work,” said Maria De Cambra, executive director of DOLA.
Additional support comes from the Town of Frisco and Summit County. Demolition of the structure existing on the site was completed in June and work on the infrastructure is underway.
The Middle Income Housing Authority (MIHA) was established in 2022 by the Colorado State Legislature as a special purpose authority, independent from the state, whose purpose is to promote affordable rental housing initiatives for middle-income workforce and their families throughout Colorado.
