In Southeast Alaska, 70% of Tribal citizens served by Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority are renters – nearly double the rate across Alaska and the U.S. Although many own land passed down through their families, almost no new affordable housing had been built in the region’s villages for 20 years.

In 2019, the region’s Tribes made housing a priority. Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority responded with Success Starts with Me, an innovation designed to prepare Tribal citizens to build and own homes on Tribal lands.

Modular housing is traditionally built far from the communities that need it. Most factories are located hundreds of miles away, sending oversized loads across state lines and local construction jobs elsewhere. Neighborhoods receive the homes but miss out on the opportunities.

Module – which designs, manufactures, and builds sustainable housing – aims to change that gap. It’s Last Mile Network innovation seeks to lower the barriers that communities face when trying to build new housing. It’s a housing solution designed for efficiency and local impact.

Across the country, older multifamily buildings are expensive to operate and maintain. Owners spend huge resources repairing failing facades and outdated heating systems — and residents pay the price in higher utility bills, poor ventilation, and unsafe indoor temperatures year-round.

Hydronic Shell Technologies’ Thinking Outside the Box innovation adds an energy-efficient electric HVAC system within a new insulated outer shell.