Ulster County, New York, has contracted a national modular construction consultant to develop a comprehensive strategy for building affordable homes in a local factory - one of the more structured local-government efforts in the region to address a persistent housing shortage through offsite manufacturing.
Background
County Executive Jen Metzger announced on May 7, 2026, the award of a professional services contract to The Mod Squad Team, LLC, a national modular and offsite construction consulting firm, to produce a Modular Construction Strategic Plan and a Modular Facility Implementation Plan. The initiative is backed by a $50,000 Empire State Development grant and advances a resolution passed by the Ulster County Legislature directing the Planning Department to address housing affordability through modular methods.
The county has faced mounting pressure to expand housing supply. Ulster BOCES workforce training expert Peter Harris has been confirmed as one of the first members of a newly formed Housing, Offsite Manufacturing, and Employment Council, signaling that workforce development is embedded in the plan from the outset. The effort also aligns with Ulster County Executive Order 1-2023 and the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, linking affordable housing production to sustainability requirements.
Details
The Mod Squad Team has assisted more than 30 modular factory projects nationwide, according to county officials. The scope of work covers market feasibility, regulatory considerations, workforce pathways, site selection, operational phasing, and the structure of competitive public-private partnerships, according to Mid Hudson News.
The plan's intended outcome is the development, through a public-private partnership, of a modular or panelized construction facility in Ulster County dedicated to producing new affordable housing, as outlined in the county's official solicitation documents. The facility would also serve as an educational and workforce training hub.
Industry data cited by Hudson Valley One indicates modular construction can compress project build timelines by 30 to 50 percent and reduce costs by 10 to 25 percent compared with conventional stick-built methods, primarily by shifting most labor into a controlled factory environment where foundation work and module assembly can proceed simultaneously.
"Ulster County's housing challenges demand both innovation and practical, scalable solutions," Metzger stated. "By taking this step toward establishing local modular construction capacity, we are positioning ourselves to build high-quality, energy-efficient housing faster and more affordably, while creating well-paying jobs for our residents."
Planning project manager Kai Lord-Farmer framed the initiative as addressing intersecting pressures. "We can address the rising cost of building affordable housing, the need to create meaningful career pathways for our younger residents, and our responsibility to build for the future of our climate," Lord-Farmer said, according to Hudson Valley One.
The newly formed Housing, Offsite Manufacturing, and Employment Council will draw stakeholders from housing, construction, workforce development, and environmental organizations to guide plan development alongside the consultant.
Outlook
The strategic and facility plans are expected to identify specific sites, regulatory hurdles, and financing structures needed to attract a private operator for the manufacturing facility. If the county proceeds to implementation, the project could serve as a replicable model for other Hudson Valley municipalities and smaller jurisdictions nationwide facing similar intersections of labor shortages, housing cost pressures, and infrastructure gaps. No construction timeline or capital budget for the facility has been announced.
