A local point person on housing development has been appointed, and at a glance, at least, this new official seems to have a solid blend of skills and experience to take on what will be a significant challenge.

Antonio Adan will be responsible for the development of housing initiatives for the county and the surrounding region.

“I am excited and honored to take on this role,” Adan said in a press release. “Marquette County is a community I deeply care about, and I look forward to leveraging my experience and network(ing) to make a meaningful impact in the housing sector.”

Adan has served as a project manager for the county since June, demonstrating his construction management skills and experience coordinating interdepartmental efforts.

Prior to joining Marquette County, Adan has held various similar positions elsewhere.

Aside from his professional qualifications, Adan has been involved in community development through volunteering. He’s served on the boards of Marquette Downtown Development Authority and Connect Marquette as well as the city of Marquette’s Ad-Hoc Housing Committee.

Funding for the position came from the Marquette County Land Bank Authority, InvestUP and the Lake Superior Community Partnership with funds from the Michigan Office of Rural Development, the Community Foundation of Marquette County.

This is a big job. Housing is consistently noted as among the most difficult of local issues to solve.

We plan to monitor Adan’s progress and report back to our readers.