Excitement is running high for a modular home factory under construction in Arviat that will eventually produce up to 40 homes a year while at peak production.
The 42,000-square-foot factory is expected to start production during the first quarter of 2025. The site will also include a 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse for materials storage.
The factory is being developed by Sakku Investments Corp., which is the development arm of the Kivalliq Inuit Association
The Arviat factory will employ about 40 full-time staff, including journeyperson carpenters, plumbers and electricians. Up to 30 per cent of the workforce will be apprentices trained to acquire skill sets for construction jobs with contractors in Northern communities.
Arviat mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. said once the factory starts the production of houses, he sees it as a win-win for every situation, in terms of creating employment, and providing houses that are made in the North for the North.
“I have no definite number of how many local jobs will be created by this because it's more of a regional thing,” said Savikataaq .
“There will be people working here in Arviat at the factory who may not be local. There will be apprentices there for the trades, so, definitely, I am looking forward to seeing local Arviatmiut along with other people from the region working within this factory.
“Once it's finished, this will be the biggest building we have in Arviat. It will be nice to see big infrastructure like that in our town. It's nice to see something like this finally coming to Arviat instead of going to other parts of the territory.
“There will be a lot of families who will benefit from this operation, so we're all happy about that.”
