ZenniHome celebrates one year in new location “This facility (NGS) took out enough scrap steel to build 6,500 Zenni homes. And we’re buying steel that was recycled from this facility.” Bob Worsley, entrepreneur and co-founder of ZenniHome, is celebrating a milestone. Last year on December 15th, the company announced its partnership with the Navajo Nation and finalized an emergency operating…
FBI, DOJ, and Navajo Nation team up to solve missing persons cases After the FBI published a public list of 183 Native Americans who went missing across New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, the ongoing crisis has gained national attention. The list includes 115 men, and 68 women, who have been missing for more than 500 days on average. Among many other…
Building a Navajo Boat Dock, another step in a long history of pushing for river access “First in time, First in right” has been the go-to foundation of water law in the American Southwest. If this is true, then why until recently have the native tribes along the Colorado River not had a say in water use? As many are saying, Lake…
ETD, Inc. is proud to have provided comprehensive NEPA compliance services for the Painted Desert Power Solar Project, a landmark 750 MW photovoltaic solar and battery energy storage system located on Navajo Nation land within the Cameron Chapter. Contracted by Navajo Power, we were responsible for ensuring that this transformative renewable energy project adhered to all federal and tribal environmental…
HUD funds New Homes in Native Communities through NAHASDA and Section 184 Loans For over 40 years, the Southwest Indian Foundation (SWIF) has been providing assistance to the “poorest of the poor” in desert southwest reservation areas (SWIF, 2021). One of SWIF’s programs includes new housing, which is funded through U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Native American Housing and…
ETD Inc. proudly managed the annual indoor air quality (IAQ) testing for all Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise-owned casinos, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for both guests and employees. These casinos, vital to the economic development of the Navajo Nation, depend on high standards of air quality to maintain the health and well-being of everyone who enters the facilities. Our…
The Oljeto Wash Watershed Restoration Project focuses on revitalizing a historic farming area impacted by severe flooding and overgrazing. Located in a small canyon, the upper reaches of Oljeto Wash are home to farms that have existed since the early 1900s. However, erosion and stream incision now threaten the land. After invasive plant removal, ETD created a restoration plan for…
The Baahaali Chapter Comprehensive Land Use Plan is a community-driven guide for sustainable growth. Its primary goal is to provide clear guidelines for housing, recreation, public facilities, and economic development. The plan supports Baahaali’s vision for future development, ensuring that growth happens in an organized and balanced way. Community Engagement The Land Use Plan was shaped by the input of…
Economic Diversification for Navajo Nation: A Path to Sustainable Growth For many years, coal mining and power generation were the main economic drivers for the Navajo Nation. However, with the closure of the Four Corners Power Plant (FCPP) and Navajo Mine in 2014, and the 2019 shutdown of the Kayenta Mine and Navajo Generating Station (NGS), a major shift occurred.…
Greasewood Springs Chapter selected a parcel of land along Navajo Route 15 to be master planned for several commercial developments. The following developments were specifically identified: a gas station and convenience store, fast food, laundromat, post office, RV park and campground, bus stop, picnic area, local vendor stations, and a parking lot. ETD began master planning by working with the…
The Tolikan Chapter Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) is a roadmap to the desired future of the community. The purpose is to: (1) improve public involvement through cooperation and understanding. (2) facilitate economic development, public facilities, and housing projects. (3) preserve the landscape and improve the way rangelands are managed; and (4) implement an effective and efficient local government system.…
ETD Inc. completed an Environmental Assessment for the Bluestone Community Development Project in Houck, Arizona, sponsored by the Navajo Housing Authority (NHA). Located about 10 miles west of the Arizona-New Mexico state line, the project involves constructing 160 homes on 80 acres of private fee simple land owned by NHA. The community, designed with sustainable practices, will include apartments, group…
