MARSHALL — The Marshall area’s affiliate of Habitat for Humanity has new leadership, after merging with an affiliate serving west central Minnesota. On Tuesday, Lyon County Commissioners learned more about the merger from Kayla Klein, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota and Habitat for Humanity of Redwood River.

“We were approached by the Marshall affiliate . . . to potentially look at acquiring them,” Klein said.

Klein said Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota operates out of Willmar, but staff travel to Marshall at least once a week. Habitat is also planning a groundbreaking for a new home in Marshall this summer.

During the merger, Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota took a look at operations of the Habitat ReStore in Marshall. The ReStore recently closed down.

“We did a deep dive of our due diligence, and we determined that the ReStore, unfortunately, was not being sustainable in a way that was being helpful to building homes,” she said. “So, we made the hard decision to close that.”

“We are going to serve Lyon and Redwood Counties now, moving forward,” Klein said.

She said Habitat plans to build one home in each of the two counties each year.