The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners will vote Wednesday, Aug. 26, on whether to formally approve Bold Fox as the developer for the county's long-sought housing project.

The vote, listed as an action item on the board's agenda, would cap a search that stretches back more than two years. The board authorized a contract with R.S. Scott Engineering for pre-engineering work on the housing project in March 2024, and commissioners reassigned the purchase agreement to the Brownfield Authority that May.

The project hit a setback in December 2025 when a previous developer backed out after soil testing revealed rocky conditions on the site. At the July 9 meeting, commissioners said they wanted to review all developer proposals before committing. Commissioner Austin Kimberling told colleagues at that meeting that housing is one of the most important issues his constituents raise.

A 2024 Housing Needs Assessment by Community Research Services identified demand for 40 to 56 market-rate rental units in the St. Ignace area, with projected rents of $1,375 to $1,650 per month for households earning $35,000 to $120,000. The study also found demand for roughly 24 workforce housing units and 16 affordable units. Nearly 48 percent of Mackinac County's housing stock is seasonal or recreational, squeezing year-round supply.

Details about Bold Fox's specific plans for the site, including the number and type of units, have not been made public.

Opioid funds and Brownfield Authority also on the agenda

Commissioners will also discuss opioid settlement fund disbursements. The board unanimously approved the Opioid Committee's first-round grant recommendations on July 23, distributing $86,642.40 to six organizations including the 92nd District Sobriety Court ($22,676), the Mackinac County Sheriff's Department ($22,298.40) and the LMAS District Health Department ($18,606).

Commissioner Judy St. Louis-Scott, who chairs the county's opioid committee, said in the county's funding announcement that the awards support organizations already working to help residents affected by substance use. The county has said it expects to continue investing settlement funds in coming years.

The Aug. 26 agenda lists the opioid item as a discussion, not an action item, suggesting commissioners may be reviewing the rollout or planning future rounds rather than approving new grants.

A letter of interest for the Mackinac County Brownfield Authority is listed under new business. The board approved the authority's bylaws in November 2025. It is unclear whether Wednesday's item is related to the $1.5 million MSHDA grant that Commissioner Daryl Schroeder reported pursuing through the authority in December 2025.

The agenda also includes a letter from a concerned citizen regarding the housing project under communications. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Annex Boardroom at 100 S. Marley St. in St. Ignace.