Winnebago Tribe's Housing Development Taking Shape

By: Associated Press

Updated: Tue 7:39 AM, Jun 15, 2004

The Winnebago Tribe's $20 million commercial and housing development is beginning to take shape.

Since being announced early last year, a discount department store has located on 40 acres northeast of town and two homes have been built.

A distribution center has also been built for HCI Distribution, an arm of Ho-Chunk Incorporated, the diversified company owned by the tribe.

Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation Executive Director Judi Meyer says a retail store featuring American Indian crafts and decorative products and a local office supply store are planned. A complex to house six small businesses and six one-bedroom apartments is also planned.

Meyer says at least two, maybe three more homes will be built this summer and four more houses are expected next year.

The development is incorporating tribal village design with houses and townhouses. Groundbreaking took place last June, with Gov Mike Johanns and other state and tribal leaders on hand.

Winnebago is located on the Missouri River 75 miles north of Omaha and has a population of about 770.

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