Building the future: Assessing the feasibility of a housing construction workforce

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is committed to the responsible operation of government, preservation of heritage, promotion of sovereignty, and the protection of natural resources for elders and future generations, while enhancing the health, economic well-being, education, and the inherent right to live as Ojibwe People.

• Project purpose

  As part of Leeach Lake's investment in long-term, systems-level change to support the well-being of its nation, this study assessed the community, social, and economic feasibility of a vertically integrated housing construction workforce. A thriving construction workforce could increase affordable housing, generate sustainable jobs, reduce unemployment, and foster economic prosperity within Leech Lake communities.

• Objectives

  • Determine the feasibility and viability of a housing construction workforce program.

  • Identify methods for developing affordable housing for tribal members.

  • Outline ways to increase homeownership for the community.

  • Provide actionable recommendations and data to support Leech Lake's Phase II application for EDA funding.

• Outcomes

  Through rigorous research, including a community survey, advisory board consultations, key opinion leader interviews, and financial analysis, we worked in partnership with Leech Lake Tribal College and local architect and engineering firm Widseth to provide guidance on construction-focused training programs, a housing manufacturing facility, and diverse mortgage and financing options. The findings were used by Leech Lake in a grant application to secure additional funding from the EDA's Build Back Better program.

• Timeline

  Sep 2020–Jun 2021

• Project team

  Michael Brydge — Project supervisor, tool design, data collection and analysis, secondary research, financials, economic multiplier effect, and report writing

“Sweet Grass was a pleasure to work with and met our high expectations for a complicated project involving many third-party partners and the federal government.” —Dan Evans, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

---