How this EDA Grant is Boosting Jobs and Fighting Housing Shortage Across Native American Tribes in South Dakota

The Need for Tribal Economic Development

Across all 9 tribal Reservations in South Dakota there is a severe lack of housing for tribal members that affects quality of life. Additionally, Native American construction organizations have limited capacity as they are often a one-man operation. Lakota Funds, a Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based on the Pine Ridge Reservation, has a mission to promote economic sustainability and development for Native people. The CDFI is reaching across Indian country to serve its mission by shortening the gaps in housing and growing the Native home building and construction industry across all tribal Reservations in South Dakota.

“Coming from remote areas that have experienced generational poverty, our community members face additional challenges when it comes to securing employment. For example, they may not have the funds necessary to purchase safety equipment needed to work on construction sites. Reliable transportation is another common barrier,”

Justin Williams, Workforce Development Training Coordinator for South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition tells Lakota Times.

Lakota funds will be the lead for the Building Jobs, Building Homes project while partnering with South Dakota State University. This project will address the severe housing shortage on Tribal lands by training Indigenous people in construction trades and as certified appraisers and inspectors.

EDA Grant for Building Jobs, Building Homes

Lakota Funds was awarded a $5 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) under their Good Jobs Challenge. The CDFI was one out of 32 organizations awarded. The Good Jobs Challenge supports workforce training systems to establish sectoral partnerships that train and place workers in good jobs. The project description says that Lakota Funds will manage the program through South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition, and

estimates at least 100 new jobs will be created and salary enhancements given to certified inspectors and experienced construction workers.

The EDA grant will support training programs throughout South Dakota. An construction internship had already been established at South Dakota State University with students stationed at different sites in the state. The training includes an OSHA-safety certification and fall prevention training and equipment. The program also provides administrative support services to contractors. This will lift Native American contractors to grow their businesses and employ more community members.

Beyond barriers surrounding home construction, there is a significant lack of qualified appraisers and home inspectors that work in tribal communities. The program is working to fill that gap, too, by increasing the number of appraisers able to work on Trust lands. It will also offer mechanical, electrical, and plumbing certifications and help tribes adopt modern building codes.

After receiving certifications, many of the students will be hired on a permanent basis. Additionally, with the EDA grant, the program is able to expand their capacity and provide master’s degrees.

“The Building Jobs, Building Homes project works to help increase home ownership for Native American families throughout South Dakota,”

said Tawney Brunsch, Executive Director of Lakota Funds in the EDA press release.

“The Good Jobs Challenge is helping to do just that, creating a new workforce of skilled construction industry professionals to create the homes that are in great demand.”

Lakota Funds help Native families achieve homeowner by offering construction and mortgage loans. They also have vehicle loans available as transportation is an issue many face in Indian country.

Statewide Construction Internship Update

The EDA Good Job grant has allowed the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition’s statewide Construction Internship to grow its capacity. In the summer of 2023, 138 individuals applied for the program with 50 paid interns matched and placed with local contractors according to the Lakota Times article. When the interns completed the program, 38 individuals accepted offers for full time jobs.

Construction interns on site. Credit to the Lakota Times.

“The internship program is making strides at meeting the demand for skilled labor in South Dakota’s reservation communities. This year, 38 interns are starting new careers that will help create homeownership opportunities for Native American families,”

Williams tells Lakota Times.

The program has been operating across multiple reservations such as Cheyenne River, Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Lake Traverse and is looking to expand with an additional partner site on Crow Creek.

Additionally, each site has customized services to address unique needs within the communities. One site had a van for transportation for the interns. The Pine Ridge site promoted savings with a match program. The interns could receive up to $1,000 for saving $500.

Tanisha Fast Dog, an intern at the the Rosebud site, Ojinjinkta Housing Development Corporatio, told the Lakota Times.

“The Internship really helped me out. I always wanted to be a carpenter but finding a job was tough. Thankfully the internship not only gave me the experience but also led to a job offer from the site I was placed at; I’ve been working with them since. I owe a lot to the internship for getting me where I am now, it’s been incredibly rewarding.”