Waséyabek Development Company (WDC) is continuing its mission of contributing to the long-term sustainability and economic self-sufficiency of the NHBP Tribe.

WDC is investing in growth to help support the Tribe for the next seven generations.

WDC’s headquarters, located in the historic Kendall building, expanded its office to the third floor, doubling its office space to accommodate the growing business and additional staff.

The additional space accommodates five private offices, eight height-adjustable open offices, a kitchen, and a large 20-seat boardroom with connected breakout space.

WDC would like to thank Camie Castaneda from NHBP Culture & Membership Services for providing the traditional smudging of the third floor prior to its official opening.

To learn more and view a full photo gallery of the new space, please visit the Custer’s highlight of the project: Custer Projects | Waséyabek Development Company (custerinc.com)

Michigan tribes collaborate to quantify statewide benefits of non-gaming tribal businesses

Grand Rapids, Mich. (July 8, 2020) – Non-gaming business entities from nine federally-recognized Michigan tribes presented Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with an economic impact study this week demonstrating that 38 non-gaming business entities, owned and managed by tribes in Michigan, generated a statewide economic impact of $288,756,091 in 2019.

“The purpose of the study was to quantify and provide empirical data used to consider the benefits of non-gaming tribal business entities in Michigan,” said study co-author Eric S. Trevan, Ph.D., who serves as a faculty member at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. “Specifically, this study analyzes jobs, business development and retention, expansion, and development investments. Ultimately, we’re considering how and in what way tribal business entities impact overall economic development throughout the state.”

The Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study found that the economic multipliers resulting from the overall 2019 economic impact led to 1,847 jobs with an average wage of $45,664. The study was co-authored by Jon Panamaroff, chief compliance officer & senior vice president of business integration for Koniag Government Services and chief executive officer of the Kodiak Brown Bear Center in Kodiak, Alaska. The MEDC provided underwriting.

“The economic impact reflected in the report clearly demonstrates that non-gaming tribal business entities have a significant, positive impact on jobs, wages, business development, expansion and the overall economic well-being of the State of Michigan and its local communities,” said Tom Durkee, Business Development Manager at the MEDC.

The 38 businesses that were subjects of the study are all minority-owned and operated and produce economic activity in 11 industry sectors, including utilities; construction; manufacturing; retail trade; finance and insurance; real estate and rental & leasing; professional, scientific, and technical services; management of companies & enterprises; administrative, support, waste management and remediation services; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and
accommodation and food service.

“A tribe’s business approach often focuses on much more than revenue generation,” said Deidra Mitchell, president and CEO of Waséyabek Development Company and coordinator of the study. “Many times, it also encompasses environmental stewardship, career development opportunities and community sustainment, all aimed at fulfilling the tribes’ socio-cultural mission on behalf of their citizens and their communities.”

The study was commissioned by 38 non-gaming business entities owned, controlled and managed by the following tribes in Michigan:
• Hannahville Indian Community
• Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
• Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
• Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe)
• Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians
• Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
• Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
• Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

This is the first of its kind collaboration among the Michigan tribes.

“This project highlights what tribes, operating as minority-owned business investors, can do when they work together,” said Mitchell. “While the overall impact is significant, it’s still small compared to the overall state GDP – and well below the population rate of Native Americans in Michigan. We see this as a baseline from which to further grow non-gaming tribal business activity and impact.”

About Waséyabek Development Company
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, is a 100% tribally owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. By fostering the development of a stable diversified economy for members of the Band, WDC seeks to contribute to the Tribe’s long-term sustainability and economic self-sufficiency by providing revenue and diverse employment opportunities for Tribal members.

Nation-building and tribal community expansion are supported by revenue generated through the profitable operation of WDC’s subsidiary companies, which have the added benefit of boosting the economies of the communities in which they are located. Our strategy includes a phased approach of passive and active investments with businesses operating in the commercial and federal sectors.

For more information, visit waseyabek.com.

Waséyabek Development Company, LLC proudly supports the Literacy Center of West Michigan (“Center”)!

On September 24th, WDC sponsored a virtual fundraiser to support the Center to raise funds and awareness of the need for literacy.

We believe inherent in any education is the ability to read, and Waséyabek is committed to supporting all efforts to advance literacy. Education is the one thing in life that cannot be taken from us, and literacy is the foundation of education.

Please visit the Literacy Center of West Michigan website for more information on how to get involved, at https://literacycenterwm.org/

 

 

 

Non-gaming investment will strengthen tribal communities and downtown business district

Grand Rapids, Mich. (Jan. 15, 2020) – Gun Lake Investments and Waséyabek Development Company today announced the joint acquisition of McKay Tower, located at 146 Monroe Center NW in downtown Grand Rapids. The acquisition represents a rare co-investment by the non-gaming economic development entities of two Michigan Native American tribes. For both tribes, purchasing McKay Tower represents an opportunity to have a positive impact for their tribal citizens and the entire community.

“We are excited to invest in such an iconic and visible property in downtown Grand Rapids,” said Deidra Mitchell, president and CEO of Waséyabek Development Company. “It’s a great building with a great legacy. It has many new enhancements, and it serves as a beacon of commerce in the downtown area.”

McKay Tower is the fifth tallest building in Grand Rapids. It is a mixed-use development featuring commercial, retail and office space, a first-class event venue, conference rooms and three floors of luxury apartments that include a roof-top lounge and deck with exceptional views of the city. No operational changes are planned for the building. Under this new co-investment, the building will continue to offer apartment, office, retail and commercial space for leasing, as well as venue space for special events.

“When McKay Tower came on the market, we believed it represented an attractive acquisition opportunity and we were excited about the opportunity to continue its historic legacy in downtown Grand Rapids,” said Kurtis Trevan, CEO of Gun Lake Investments. “As we continued to explore the opportunity, we thought it could be a great opportunity for us to partner with Waséyabek Development Company.”

The history of the building dates back to 1914 when Grand Rapids National Bank constructed a four-story building on the site. In 1926, 12 additional stories were added; two more stories were later added in 1940. In 1942, the building was renamed McKay Tower after being purchased by local resident, Frank McKay.

“As a Native American tribal community with deep ancestral roots in the region, we have a historical bond with the land around Grand Rapids,” said Bob Peters, Tribal Council Chair for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians. “We are proud of Gun Lake Investments to have invested in such an important property on behalf of our citizens.”

The sale of the building from Steadfast Property Holdings to Waséyabek Development Company and Gun Lake Investments totals $17.5 million.

“Our tribal members and the downtown Grand Rapids area will benefit from this rare partnership,” said Jamie Stuck, Tribal Council Chair for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians. “McKay Tower will be effectively managed, generate jobs and career development opportunities, promote economic activity in Grand Rapids, and will be a source of pride for our tribal communities.”

About Gun Lake Investments
Gun Lake Investments (GLI), which is 100% owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan, makes direct investments into a diversified portfolio of real estate, operating companies, and credit. Founded in 2014, GLI is focused on assisting the Tribe in achieving financial sovereignty and diversifying its economy away from gaming. For more information, visit gunlakeinvestments.com.

About Waséyabek Development Company
Waséyabek Development Company (WDC), LLC, is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. By fostering the development of a stable diversified economy for members of the Band, WDC seeks to contribute to the Tribe’s long-term sustainability and economic self-sufficiency by providing revenue and diverse employment opportunities for Tribal members.

Nation-building and Tribal community expansion are supported by revenue generated through the profitable operation of WDC’s subsidiary companies, which have the added benefit of boosting the economies of the communities in which they are located. Our strategy includes a phased approach of passive and active investments with businesses operating in the commercial and federal sectors. For more information, visit waseyabek.com.

McKay Tower
For more information, visit mckaytower.com.

Baker Engineering, LLC, a subsidiary of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, sponsored a team of mechanical and electrical engineers for the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) School of Engineering Senior Capstone Program. This team of engineering students was tasked with designing and building a small engine altitude testing apparatus capable of simulating altitudes from sea level to 20,000 feet. The project had a timeframe of seven months, kicking off in January and concluding the end of July.

Friday, August 2^nd, GVSU hosted their Engineering Design Conference 2019. All of the teams presented their finished projects, and sponsors were invited to participate in the celebration event. Baker Engineering representatives Mark Dorner, Levi Roodvoets, and Noah Hopson received the Outstanding Industry Sponsor award in recognition of Baker’s dedication and commitment to the School of Engineering Senior Capstone Program.

“It was a team effort between the students and the team at Baker. The award is a reminder of the teamwork needed to make any project, especially one this challenging, a success,” Baker Senior Project Engineer, Levi Roodvoets, said about the award.

Noah Hopson, Project Engineer at Baker and graduate of GVSU, has firsthand experience with the capstone program from the sponsor and senior team positions. “I was lucky to have a challenging, multi-disciplinary project during my own capstone experience. I thought it was important to offer the same type of challenge and support as we discussed the possibility of sponsoring a project at GVSU that offered a real value for Baker Engineering. Some projects are lower priority or wishlist projects that may never see use, but we have real engine testing applications for our project as soon as it is delivered.”The GVSU senior team did a tremendous job from start to finish. They took home the most prestigious award – the Project of the Year. The team consisted of Brian Arcangeli, Olen Berezecky, Dylan Coolidge, Nathan Esch, Edward Whaley, and former Baker intern Grant Borregard. The team was guided by Baker’s engineers who have extensive knowledge and experience in a wide range of thermal-fluids and research and development. GVSU professors and lab supervisors also assisted and provided technical support. Overall, the contributions of the GVSU staff and sponsorship teams helped to set the 2019 capstone program apart from the rest.

Baker is proud to sponsor such a successful team, support GVSU’s capstone program, and mentor these young professionals into the workforce!