NEWPORT NEWS—indieDwell, an industry leader in steel modular housing manufacturing, will invest more than $2 million to establish its first East Coast manufacturing facility in Newport News. The new facility and related administrative offices will occupy a portion of 520 21st Street. Virginia successfully competed with other states for the project, which will create 220 jobs when fully operational. The Newport News indieDwell manufacturing facility is expected to produce at least 300 new ownership and rental units per year.
“The affordable housing deficit in Virginia and across our country has deepened amid the pandemic, and indieDwell’s innovative modular units are an important part of the solution,” said Virginia Governor Ralph Northam. “We are proud to welcome the mission-driven company to the commonwealth and look forward to collaborating with indieDwell and the many local partners involved in this project to build strong, resilient, and sustainable communities.”
Founded in 2018, indieDwell is a Public Benefit Corporation and a Certified B Corporation with a mission to manufacture healthy, durable, energy efficient, sustainable, modular housing to help solve the affordable housing crisis. The company currently has manufacturing facilities in Caldwell, Idaho and Pueblo, Colorado, and is actively expanding into other states. indieDwell is committed to paying a living wage with benefits coupled with profit sharing and ownership for all employees.
“We selected Newport News for our expansion after considering a number of locational advantages,” said Pete Gombert, executive chairman and co-Founder of indieDwell. “Our Newport News facility is strategically located in the Mid-Atlantic region with access to the interstate highway system, and, most importantly, a strong workforce. Workforce development is one of indieDwell’s guiding principles, and our sincere desire to work with the Southeast Community neighborhood to create new jobs and construction trade training was a driving force behind our decision to select Newport News.”
Virginia Housing worked with the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the City of Newport News to secure the project for the commonwealth. Virginia Housing approved a grant of up to $500,000 from its internally generated REACH Virginia funds, with the award amount being based on the number of jobs projected to be created. The company is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
For additional information about indieDwell, visit their website at www.indiedwell.com.