Build UP, high school districts form partnership to address housing and workforce development crisis in UP

UPPER MICHIGAN (WLUC) – An economic development organization is using its housing development fund to address the housing crisis in the Upper Peninsula.

According to a survey commissioned by InvestUP, the “biggest challenge” facing the Upper Peninsula is the lack of affordable housing. The lack of affordable housing not only increases housing costs, but also hinders development, including the ability to attract and retain workers.

InvestUP’s housing development fund, Build UP, seeks to address this challenge with cash collateral and housing infrastructure loan programs. However, Build UP has now added a new program, the Career and Technical Education Partnership Program, that tackles this challenge in new and creative ways by working with local high school districts (ISDs) to address the regional shortage of skilled workers needed to build new homes , while introducing new apartments to the market.

According to the InvestUP press release. thanks to a $1 million investment from Build UP, the partnership will support career and technical education (CTE) programs in Delta Schoolcraft ISD and Copper Country ISD. It is also expected that an agreement with ISD Eastern UP will be signed soon.

In total, students will build six new homes in five communities. Construction on homes in Escanaba and Houghton is expected to begin this fall, with construction expected to begin next year on homes in Cedarville, L’Anse and Manistique.

The partnership between Build UP and ISD effectively brings back the past when local craft programs had the funds to build a house, which was then sold to the public after students completed it. In recent years, local schools have been unable to provide students with this important experience due to limited budgets. Instead, students were generally only allowed to build some house components on school grounds.

Build UP will cover the costs of materials and supplies necessary for students to gain hands-on experience by building new homes in their community. Once completed, the homes will be sold and Build UP’s costs for materials and supplies returned to the program to sustain itself, while allowing schools to retain the balance of the sale proceeds and therefore strengthen CTE programs.

Build UP CEO Marty Fittante says the partnership truly benefits the district and schools, and most importantly, the students.

Participating ISDs shared their enthusiasm for this partnership, including the valuable experience students will gain in real-world residential construction, how it sets the stage for the long-term development of school construction industry programs and what it means for community development.

Delta-Schoolcraft ISD Superintendent Doug Leisenring said, “Delta-Schoolcraft ISD values our partnership with Build UP. Our construction industry programs are eager to engage in hands-on instruction in an actual workplace, as opposed to a traditional classroom setting. This innovative partnership provides our students with a more effective learning environment, better preparing them for a variety of career opportunities in the construction industry after high school.”

Both as a builder with Moyle Construction and as a member of the ISD Copper Country Advisory Committee, Andy Moyle plays a unique role in evaluating partnership opportunities.

“As a developer and builder, our project schedule is 12-24 months. Faced with a talent shortage in industries, projects are postponed for years or simply do not happen at all. This means less community development, fewer opportunities for businesses to grow, and fewer job opportunities. Balancing supply and demand for skilled trades would be very positive. Programs like CTE Home Build will help address the long-standing skills shortage crisis,” Moyle said.

State policymakers have also offered support to the initiative, recognizing it as a model for meeting community needs through public-private partnerships.

State Senator Ed McBroom praised the partnership, saying, “I am pleased to see this creative and timely collaboration taking place. Leaders across UP have a long-standing reputation for working together to most effectively achieve many goals, and this partnership shows that commitment, especially to students, is alive and well.”

John Damoose, state senator from the 37th district, also expressed his appreciation for this collaborative and creative approach: “After years of stagnation in the craft industries, the state is now experiencing a resurgence as a result of initiatives like these. As we strive to build more homes, train more students and increase production, these types of programs will play a major role in getting students interested in different industries and skill sets.”

On state funds received by InvestUP to oppose Build UP, Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, continued: “This is exactly the type of use that policymakers envisioned for this funding, and I appreciate this creative approach that provides students with a real-world experience and helps highlight and strengthen industries in Michigan.”

While the initial focus was on building six homes, the vision is that the scale of the Build UP CTE partnership program will extend far beyond the first phase and reach other ISDs throughout the region. Said Fittante, “today’s announcement is just the first step as we envision a permanent solution across the UP under this program to address two of the most pressing challenges facing the region – housing and skilled labor shortages. In fact, other ISDs have already expressed interest in this partnership. More coming soon!”

More information about the Career and Technical Education Partnership Program and other Build UP initiatives can be found at http://investupmi.com/