On October 24th, shovels hit dirt west of Gallup near the Mentmore neighborhood, marking the start of construction on a 20,000 square foot warehouse that will massively impact how SWIF serves the community.

The new facility will expand SWIF's Housing Program, which has built nearly 300 homes for veterans and families across the Reservation over the past 25 years. This warehouse means more homes built faster, with better materials management and increased construction capacity.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren joined delegates from the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development and SWIF personnel to mark this milestone. The partnership between SWIF and the Navajo Nation makes this expansion possible, strengthening our ability to address housing needs across the region.

Building More Than Storage

While construction will roll out in phases over the next two years, the completed warehouse won't just store materials. The facility will include dedicated classrooms and training spaces for the Industrial Workforce Program, creating a permanent home for hands-on training programs.

This means more students learning trades, more skilled workers entering the workforce, and more families getting quality homes. It's infrastructure that builds opportunity.

Every beam and wall going up over the next two years is an investment in both immediate housing needs and long-term workforce development—homes and family-sustaining careers.

We're grateful to the Navajo Nation, the Division of Community Development, and all partners who are making this vision a reality. The real work starts now.