Become One of the Founding Ten

We are looking for ten skilled, dependable people to form the company’s original trades team.

The Founding Ten will include:

• One working superintendent or master carpenter

• Two remodel and finish carpenters

• One qualified electrician

• One qualified plumber

• One HVAC technician

• One landscape and hardscape lead or equipment operator

• Two grounds and general field technicians

• One painting, drywall and flooring specialist

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Together, this team would be capable of completing remodeling, carpentry, landscaping, property maintenance, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, painting, flooring and other common residential projects.

How the Founding Process Works

This project will move forward carefully and in stages.

1. Assemble the Team

We will begin by identifying the right person for each of the ten founding seats.
Expressing interest does not require anyone to leave a current position or make an immediate commitment. Prospective members can continue their present employment while the complete team, business structure and launch plan are assembled.

2. Launch and Prove the Model

Once the ten seats are filled, licenses are verified, initial customers are identified and sufficient working capital is secured, the company will prepare to launch.

The first 12–24 months will be used to prove the operating model by measuring:

• Customer demand

• Revenue and profitability

• Scheduling and team coordination

• Fair and sustainable customer pricing

• The services most needed by the community

• The company’s ability to support housing benefits

• The long-term fit of the founding team

3. Introduce Housing Support

As the company becomes financially capable, the goal is to begin contributing toward the housing costs of its founding team members.
This provides a meaningful housing benefit during the pilot period without requiring the company to undertake a major development before the business model has been proven.

4. Build the Permanent Community

If the pilot succeeds, the next phase will be the development of a purpose-built residential community for the team.
The current vision includes ten private, thoughtfully designed one-bedroom homes arranged around a shared green, with a company shop and work-vehicle area located separately from the residential setting.

These would be comfortable, year-round homes—not temporary labor housing.
The founding team could also help construct the community they would ultimately call home.

More Than a Job
The Trades Project is not intended to recruit ten people simply to fill positions.

The objective is to find ten founding members who want to help build the company itself.
The long-term opportunity is intended to include:

• Fair and dependable wages

• Stable, year-round employment

• Progressive housing assistance

• Quality permanent housing if the model succeeds

• Profit-sharing opportunities

• A pathway to earned ownership

• A meaningful voice in the company’s future

• The opportunity to build something with lasting value
   

Final ownership, vesting and profit-sharing terms will be established before launch with appropriate legal and financial guidance.
Who We Hope to Meet

The Trades Project may be a fit for someone who:

• Takes genuine pride in their work

• Is dependable, capable and accountable

• Values teamwork and respectful leadership

• Wants to help shape a company from its beginning

• Would consider living and working in Northern Michigan

• Finds housing assistance and future company-provided housing appealing

• Is interested in earning ownership rather than remaining only an employee

• Believes homeowners deserve clear communication, reliable scheduling and fair treatment
   

Couples are welcome to express interest, including couples in which both individuals possess skills that could contribute to the company.
Why Northern Michigan Needs This

Northern Michigan is an extraordinary place to live, but the shortage of attainable housing makes it difficult for skilled workers to move here and remain here.

That shortage affects the entire community.

Homeowners struggle to obtain needed repairs. Construction schedules grow longer. Projects become more expensive. Businesses have difficulty recruiting employees. Skilled people who would like to live here often cannot find a financially realistic way to do so.
The Trades Project is based on a simple belief:

If we help skilled people build stable lives here, they can help Northern Michigan build, repair and care for the places that make this community home.

It is about expanding local capacity, creating good careers and developing a fair, dependable and sustainable way to serve the community.

Become an Early Customer or Supporter

We would also like to hear from homeowners, property owners and businesses interested in supporting the pilot by becoming early customers.
An early expression of interest will help demonstrate demand, identify the services most needed and ensure the Founding Ten have a strong project pipeline before launch.

No project commitment is required at this stage.

Community and Funding Partners

The Trades Project welcomes conversations with people and organizations interested in helping bring the model to life, including:

• Private investors

• Charitable foundations

• Community organizations

• Workforce-housing advocates

• Municipal and economic-development partners

• Landowners and developers

• Building-material suppliers

• Vehicle, tool and equipment partners

• Construction, legal and business advisors
   

Support could involve working capital, land, future housing development, equipment, materials, professional guidance or other forms of partnership.

Help Build What Comes Next
The Trades Project is currently in its founding stage.
We are now gathering the people, customers, advisors and partners who believe Northern Michigan can create a better connection between skilled careers, attainable housing and dependable property services.

If you see yourself as one of the Founding Ten—or see another way you could help—we would be glad to hear from you.

All initial inquiries are confidential and nonbinding. Submitting an expression of interest does not create an offer of employment, ownership, housing or investment.