In our series on the connection between affordable housing and economic development, we want to highlight how building affordable housing can be a powerful tool for economic development in our community and beyond.
As Phase 1 nears completion with 6 new affordable units complete at Karwick Village, we’re spotlighting the local contractors and suppliers who made it happen. These partnerships aren’t just good business; they’re intentional investments in our local economy that demonstrate how affordable housing drives economic growth. Investing in local housing means investing in local contractors and suppliers to complete the projects.
Why Local Matters:
When communities invest in building affordable housing, the economic impact extends far beyond the homes, neighborhoods, and communities themselves. Local contractors hire local subcontractors, who in most cases purchase from local suppliers. Local crews and jobsite workers spend their paychecks at community businesses. Every dollar circulates through the local economy multiple times; this is the economic multiplier effect in action.
This is one of the reasons why affordable housing should be viewed as an economic development tool for communities. Whether building roads, upgrading water systems, or building homes, these jobs support existing businesses and generate ongoing economic activity. Building affordable housing creates the same opportunities to stimulate the local economies as building higher-dollar housing communities. When developers prioritize local contractors and suppliers, those benefits multiply. Major construction contracts translate to significant revenue for local companies and steady paychecks for workers who live, shop, and pay taxes in the community.
This was true and continues to be so at Karwick Village. In phase 1 of development, we hired numerous local contractors and suppliers to keep funds within Michigan City and La Porte County, where possible. As we prepare our project to move into phase 2, we will continue to emphasize local whenever possible.
Phase 1 Local Partners Karwick Village:
Pavey Excavating:
We hired locals from the first shovel in the ground at Karwick Village with Pavey Excavating. They helped us prepare the ground at Kawrick Village for our site work including excavation, underground utilities, and set the stage for the foundations of our buildings at Karwick Village. Pavey Excavating is located in La Porte County, keeping this vital work local to our economy.
A&T Concrete:
A&T Concrete, also located in La Porte County, is another major local contract we sourced for the construction of Karwick Village. Each foundation, five in total, was sourced and poured locally from this company, which sources local workers and drivers to deliver and pour the foundations for the buildings at Karwick Village.
DS Plumming:
DS Plumbing out of La Porte helped support all underground and indoor plumbing work at Karwick Village. This vital infrastructure is key to providing safe, habitable homes at Karwick Village. Their work onsite continues, as they recently completed the underground plumbing for building #3 at Karwick Village, with the 4# residential building still to be completed.
Suppliers:
Von Tobel:
This employee-owned company, founded in Indiana more than a hundred years ago, was a key supplier of materials for framing and siding buildings at Karwick Village. The Michigan City location employs local workers, and by utilizing their services for the buildings at Karwick Village, we kept these vital funds in the local economy.
Meyer Glass and Mirror
The windows for all units at Karwick Village were purchased locally from Meyer Glass and Mirror in Michigan City. This was a conscious choice to keep the funds and craftsmanship local. The windows in the units at Karwick Village in our first six completed units were hung with pride by local craftspersons. While Homeward Bound Village purchased the windows for Karwick Village, Meyer Glass and Mirror also generously donated an entire building’s worth of windows for this project.
The Bigger Picture
These partnerships created construction jobs, delivery routes, and skilled trade opportunities. They supported families, generated tax revenue, and strengthened our business community. Local companies’ problem-solved with us, they invested in our vision, and they became advocates for affordable housing simply by contributing to this worthy project.
Phase 2: Keeping it Local
As we complete Phase 1 and get ready to move into Phase 2, our local-first commitment continues wherever possible. More homes mean more contracts, more jobs, more economic impact, all staying right here in La Porte County.
Affordable housing is economic development. Building affordable housing creates jobs and supports local businesses while solving one of our community’s most pressing challenges. Phase 1 brought 6 new affordable housing units and significant local investment.
We look forward to future partnerships and to working within the local economy to support the upcoming Phase 2 of construction at Karwick Village, our Community Center building, and the remaining two buildings that will bring an additional 6 units to Karwick Village Cooperative.
And they’ll be right there with us for Phase 2.
