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0445 SUMMARY technical and financial assistance will be required. Such assistance is in. part available in state government; however, sources of technical as- sistance are fragmented, and those having the technical expertise often do not have ready access to needed funding. There is an urgent need for up-to-date, comprehensive contingency plans at all levels of local government. Local government officials are faced with a tremendous amount of uncertainty relative to the timing and magni- tude of energy development. They are criticized for failure to antici- pate new impacts, but often lack the basic data (e.g., accurate employ- ment estimates, construction schedules) to develop such plans. Local officials seldom have the financial support to carry out a comprehensive financial analysis of various alternatives. Most energy-impacted communities will have an immediate need for sizable quantities of temporary housing for construction workers. The financing of mobile home pads may not represent an attractive investment opportu- nity because of high costs and uncertainty of the duration of demand. Further, physical appearance of most mobile home parks is a problem in many areas in the Rocky Mountain Region. Nevertheless, mobile homes still offer the most practical solution to the temporary construction worker housing problem. The risks involved in providing large quantities of mortgage money in energy-impacted areas is a matter of concern. The demand for funds is likely to outstrip local commercial bank and savings and loan resources. Experience has shown that escalating housing costs severely limit the por- tion of the market that can qualify for mortgage financing. Major Recommendations I. Develop a system and criteria for identifying areas likely to experi- ence adverse short term socio-economic impacts from energy development. II. Create an Energy Impact Assistance Fund to provide front-end financing for energy-impacted areas in the state. ix