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Higher Purpose Homes Named 2026 Company of the Year at the EDIE Awards

Higher Purpose Homes accepting the 2026 EDIE Awards Company of the Year on stage, with the award announcement shown on the screen behind them.

The Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) has named Higher Purpose Homes its 2026 Company of the Year. The award was presented at the EDIE Awards on September 24, 2026, during EDCC’s Drive|Lead|Succeed Conference in Cripple Creek.

Why EDCC recognized Higher Purpose Homes

EDCC recognized our off-site construction model for addressing housing shortages while creating a new manufacturing opportunity in Southwest Colorado.

“Higher Purpose Homes is tackling a real barrier to economic growth: the shortage of attainable housing. Its model brings together local entrepreneurship, manufacturing jobs and a faster way to build homes.”

Kim Woodworth, Executive Director, Economic Development Council of Colorado

You can read EDCC’s announcement here.

How our framing works

We build floor, wall and roof panels indoors at our shop in Bayfield while excavation and foundation work happen on site. When the foundation is ready, our crew and a crane set the frame, so the project reaches dry-in sooner. Building indoors also reduces jobsite waste and keeps our team working year-round. For a step-by-step look, see how the prefab framing process works.

Part of a larger housing effort

In February 2025, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade selected Higher Purpose Homes for the state’s Innovative Housing Incentive Program, which supports Colorado manufacturers using off-site construction to add housing. That selection is tied to 95 projected housing units over three years, including about 30 deed-restricted affordable homes.

More on what this means locally is on our Community Impact page and in our post on prefab framing for attainable housing in Southwest Colorado.

Thank you

The 2026 EDIE Awards Company of the Year trophy awarded to Higher Purpose Homes.

“We are incredibly grateful for all the support provided to us by Region 9. Their assistance has been critical to our success.”

Ethan Deffenbaugh, Co-Founder, Higher Purpose Homes

Thank you to EDCC for the recognition, and to our shop and field crew, our suppliers, and the builders, developers and homeowners we work with.

Planning a build?

If you’re a builder, developer or owner-builder planning a project in the Four Corners or across the Southwest, book a discovery call and we’ll talk through your plans.

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What Homeowners Say

Hear from the families and communities we’ve served about their experience working with Higher Purpose Homes.
 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5 
 Based on 4 reviews 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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 Cvetomir Cankov profile picture 
 
 
 Cvetomir Cankov 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
My wife and I worked with Higher Purpose Homes in 2026 to get our forever home built and we couldn't be happier. Ethan and Nick are knowledgeable, professional, and willing to help with anything related to home building. I particularly appreciated their willingness to share their knowledge as we navigated designing our home and being our own general contractor. In addition, they paired us with absolute master craftsmen who cared deeply about the quality of their work and it shows in every detail of the home.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google Google 
 
 Cyrus Lewis profile picture 
 
 
 Cyrus Lewis 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Higher Purpose Homes pre-framed the entire first floor of our new home build in Durango.  As our permitting process delayed our build, we didn't pour our foundation until October.  We went with Higher Purpose home to expedite the framing process ahead of winter.  After the foundation was poured, they arrived the next day with the entire first floor pre-framed and a crane to set it in place.  They erected it within two days and the carpenters were able to finish the framing and get a roof on before the snow fell.   A huge win.  Everything aligned perfectly from our architectural drawings to the finished product through their detail pre-fabrication process.  Awesome results.  Super happy.  Thanks Higher Purpose Homes!!!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google Google 
 
 Mary Beth Miles profile picture 
 
 
 Mary Beth Miles 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nick and Ethan with Higher Purpose Homes — and their entire team — were amazing to work with. They helped turn our dream project into a reality, delivering the work on time and under budget. The speed and efficiency with which they got us off the ground and completed the framing allowed us to take full advantage of the summer building season and get dried in quickly, which was a total game changer!

Higher Purpose Homes was truly a pleasure to work with. We’d gladly recommend them to anyone looking for high-quality, reliable service, and we’d absolutely work with them again.

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