LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE ASSESSING THE FEASIBILITY OF A HOUSING CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE

(2020 - 2021)

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Cass Lake, MN - https://www.llojibwe.org/

Sweet Grass is working with the LLBO to produce a feasibility study for their proposed construction industry workforce development program. Sweet Grass is conducting research and analysis of a community survey, advisory board, key opinion leader interviews, secondary market data and research, and providing financial analysis and projections. This effort involves working with the Leech Lake Tribal College (LLTC) to provide construction focused training programs, developing a panelized housing manufacturing facility, and offering a variety of mortgage and financing options to Band members to buy the affordable housing the facility will produce. The goal of this project is to increase affordable housing on the reservation, create livable wage jobs, reduce unemployment and generational poverty, and build a vibrant tribal economy to keep money on the reservation rather than having it go to neighboring communities.