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Grand Altitude Federal Credit Union Leads Workforce Housing Innovation with GoWest Foundation Grant

Posted by on December 3, 2025

Grand Altitude FCU

Housing stability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing communities across the GoWest region — particularly for essential workers who form the foundation of local economies. To help address this growing gap, Grand Altitude Federal Credit Union has been awarded a planning grant from the GoWest Foundation to identify innovative workforce housing solutions in Lander, Wyo.

The grant supports a collaborative initiative designed to assess local rural housing needs and identify viable solutions to increase housing access for the “missing middle” workforce, including teachers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and city employees.

 

Building a Community-Led Approach

Since launching the project, Grand Altitude Federal Credit Union has convened five stakeholder meetings with community leaders — including elected officials, school district leadership, the Lander Chamber of Commerce, local foundations, and GoWest Foundation staff. Together, this group is working to define what “attainable housing” means for Lander and build alignment around shared goals.

“Our goal with this grant is to strengthen Lander by making housing attainable for the people who serve our community — teachers, healthcare workers, and public service employees,” said Brian Rohrbacher, Grand Altitude Federal Credit Union’s President and CEO.

These meetings represent the first milestone in a multi-phase approach that includes:

  • Conducting a community housing needs assessment
  • Collecting data through community surveys, listening sessions, and focus groups
  • Developing and evaluating potential housing solution concepts
  • Sharing findings with local leaders and organizations
  • Identifying a project that is ready for implementation and community investment

 

Project Planning

The planning and engagement groundwork is well underway, and the project committee is aligned on next steps, which include:

  • Hosting community events
  • Finalizing resident and workforce housing surveys
  • Evaluating how grant dollars can best be deployed to support implementation

Grand Altitude and the project community has emphasized that the grant will be used to support attainable housing strategies that help retain and support the current workforce — rather than focusing solely on attracting new business development.

 

A Model for Credit Unions Making Community Impact

The work underway in Lander demonstrates how credit unions can play a catalytic role in developing solutions to community challenges. With access to GoWest Foundation grant support, Grand Altitude Federal Credit Union is helping build momentum toward solutions that improve quality of life and strengthen the local economy.

Through thoughtful collaboration, leadership, and data-driven planning, this project is laying the foundation for long-term impact — not only in Lander, but as a blueprint for other communities facing similar housing barriers.

Learn more and start the grant application process for your credit union HERE or contact the GoWest Foundation team to discuss grant project ideas.

Posted in GoWest Foundation, Regional Member News, Top Headlines, Wyoming.

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