Wolf River Development Company has launched a new nonprofit aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities on the Menominee Reservation and has broken ground on its first housing project in Keshena.
The Dream Catcher Housing Initiative, a 501(c)(3) organization formed by WRDC, is partnering with Mavid Construction Services, LLC on the first new multi-home construction project on the reservation in more than 25 years. The project is located in the Pine Meadows addition of Keshena and includes extending Pine Meadows Road into a new cul-de-sac.
Plans call for three new single-family homes in this initial phase. Each house will include three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, with optional upgrades such as a garage, deck and an additional bedroom. The homes are expected to be available for purchase in late 2025, with the project slated for completion in early 2026.
All homes developed under the Dream Catcher Housing Initiative will be available for purchase by Menominee tribal members through a residential land lease on Tribal Trust land.
“Tribal families encounter many barriers trying to fulfill the dream of homeownership on their reservation lands,” WRDC CEO Crystal Chevalier said in a statement. “The Dream Catcher Housing Initiative was created to help make those dreams a reality by knocking down barriers and paving a path for tribal members to become homeowners.”
Chevalier noted that WRDC and DCHI are tribal businesses led by tribal leadership, and said that leadership “understand[s] how critically important the work of building homes on the reservation is.” She called the quick move from planning to breaking ground on three homes “a powerful reminder of what’s possible when Tribal and business leaders work together.”
Zoar Fulwilder, managing partner of Mavid Construction, said the company shares WRDC’s goal of expanding homeownership for Menominee citizens. “The Dream Catcher Initiative is more than construction: it’s a step toward a future where Native families design, build, and own the homes that shape their lives and communities,” Fulwilder said.
WRDC and Mavid Construction say they plan to continue the partnership to develop additional homes in the future. More information on pre-approval requirements, eligibility and the application process is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Interested Menominee tribal members can find updates and additional details on WRDC’s website at wolfriverdevelopment.com.
