Tassy and Mark Selby looked at the existing houses on the market in Clewiston and didn't like what they saw - fixer-uppers they thought were overpriced at more than $250,000.

Then the couple, both in their 50s, heard about Orchard Park of Clewiston, where new concrete-block houses started at $135,500, including the lot. The Selbys, who expect to move from a mobile home into their new $160,000, three-bedroom house next month, were the affordable housing development's first buyers.

"If you can get a new house for $150,000, why buy an old one?" said Tassy Selby, staffing specialist for the Hendry County School Board.

Orchard Park, a development of 79 single-family homes, was established by a partnership formed this year between contractor Brian Sullivan and Clewiston based U.S. Sugar Corp. Construction started in June, and houses range from $92,000 to $156,000. Lots are priced from $36,000 to $42,000, and buyers also have to pay $7,500 in impact fees.

Living space varies from 1,067 to 1,445 square feet.

Twenty houses have been sold, mostly to teachers, police officers, firefighters and other essential service personnel.

Two houses have been sold to U.S. Sugar employees, Sullivan said.

He expects to sell out within a year.

Employer-assisted affordable housing is part of a growing trend, said Steve Webster, spokesman for the Florida Workforce Housing Network, a Web-based information clearinghouse.

"Employer-assisted housing is red-hot," he said.

As the home-building market has slowed, more builders are becoming interested in affordable housing, Webster said.

"Every one of the market builders in Florida is doing everything they can to build homes under $200,000," he said.

"It's the only niche where there is any activity."

U.S. Sugar executives knew there was a need for decent affordable housing for their employees and people whose jobs are essential to the community.

"We have stepped in because of the severe lack of housing in Clewiston," U.S. Sugar spokeswoman Judy Sanchez said. "We provided the land up front as our contribution to the 50-50 partnership."

Sullivan put $660,000 into the partnership, based on the value of the 26.2-acre parcel.

"It enables us to provide workforce housing that is affordable to people in the community," Sanchez said.

Sullivan said it's a struggle to get vital workers such as teachers to move to Hendry County because home choices are so limited.

"The housing they could afford was pretty bad," he said. "Now we have nice houses, quality houses, in a nice subdivision with all underground utilities and nice lakes."

There's a first-time home buyers' down payment and a closing-cost assistance program for those who qualify. The federal government provides $30,000 that is forgiven if the buyers live there for 10 years, Sullivan said.

"You can't buy a lot unless you build a house you are going to live in. It's not for investors," he said.

Tassy Selby couldn't be happier. She's spreading the word about Orchard Park and said she knows of people living near the coast who are considering buying in Orchard Park and retiring to Clewiston to enjoy smalltown life.

"I like Brian. I like his work," she said. "He is a guy who, when he says he will do something, he gets it done."