TCBN: Local Construction By The Numbers

TCBN: Local Construction By The Numbers April 1, 2026 Two years ago, The Traverse City Business News (The Ticker's sister publication) took an analytical look at the state of housing construction across northern Michigan with Lauren Tucker, executive officer of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Northwest Michigan, digging into data to get a clearer post-COVID snapshot of the industry. Now, as another construction season ramps up, Tucker and other leaders share updated numbers — from permits and job growth to timelines, lumber supply and what to expect heading into summer 2026. Below are are a few snippets from the full story. As always, click here to subscribe to the TCBN or to find out where you can get it on newsstands.  12 percent: That’s how much job growth NMC’s Construction Technology Program Coordinator Carolyn Andrews estimates the NoMi region has seen since 2020. “Especially around Traverse City,” said Andrews, adding that a boom in residential building and recent infrastructure investments – which includes the city’s upcoming $4 million-plus reconstruction of Slabtown’s Monroe Street – are big factors in the increase. That’s good news for students in NMC’s construction programs, which partner with the HBA of Northwest Michigan, Builders Exchange of Northwest Michigan and several contractors to fill out job-site opportunities and connections for their cohorts.  178: The current number of regional job openings for construction laborers, while demand for carpen...