Dream Catcher Initiative Breaks Ground, Expands Homeownership in Keshena

Wolf River Development Company on November 19, 2025 broke ground on the first project under its newly formed Dream Catcher Housing Initiative, a 501(c)(3) created to expand homeownership opportunities for Menominee tribal members. The initial phase is located in the Pine Meadows addition in Keshena and will extend Pine Meadows Road into a new cul de sac to serve the site.

The construction plan calls for three single family homes, each with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, with optional upgrades available for buyers. WRDC said the homes will be sold to Menominee tribal members through a residential land lease arrangement on tribal trust land. The organization is partnering with Mavid Construction Services, LLC to build the homes. WRDC has scheduled project completion for early 2026, and it expects the homes to be available for purchase in late 2025, which suggests presale processes and buyer preapproval will be completed before final construction is finished.

For local residents the project is significant on several levels. Directly it brings short term employment and contracting opportunities in the construction phase, and it signals a move toward expanding the housing supply on the reservation. For tribal members the residential land lease model allows families to obtain housing on trust land without converting land to private fee simple ownership. That model can reduce upfront land costs, while also introducing financing and mortgage considerations that differ from off reservation home purchases. WRDC and local lenders will need to coordinate to ensure preapproval and loan products fit leasehold arrangements, and WRDC has said additional eligibility and preapproval details will be posted on its website.

Economically the Dream Catcher Initiative is modest in scale but potentially catalytic. Three homes will not solve broader housing shortages, but a visible build and successful sale process can lower barriers for future phases and attract additional development partners. By targeting Menominee tribal members specifically, the project aims to channel housing investment into the reservation community, supporting household stability and long term wealth building associated with homeownership.

Next steps include completion of road work and homes, rollout of eligibility and preapproval guidelines, and WRDC and Mavid Construction Services planning for subsequent phases. Residents interested in eligibility criteria or timing should monitor WRDC's website for the announcement of application and financing details.