FORT DEFIANCE —The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) celebrated the grand opening of its new District Office on August 22 in Fort Defiance.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, members of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, Miss Navajo Nation Ranisha Begay, local community members and NTUA staff joined together to celebrate this significant step towards community development.
This new building will be home to NTUA crew members and staff, providing a dedicated workspace and resources needed to deliver essential utility services to the Navajo people and their communities.
As a self-sustaining, tribally owned enterprise, NTUA manages infrastructure for electricity, water, gas, and communications, while also investing in renewable energy and supporting projects like the Light Up Navajo Initiative, all of which contribute to local job creation and economic uplift.
The previous building has been used since the 1970s and measured around 5,000 square-feet stationing only 26 employees. This has been a long-awaited project, and this new building measures 14,000 square-feet, increasing to 40 employees.
Construction began in June 2024 and completed in July 2025. The contractor was Land Corporation, and the design work was by Dyron Murphy Architects.
“I remember visiting the old building, paying a utility bill before I became president,” President Nygren said. “I’m excited to see the new building become a reality, knowing how NTUA continues to serve as a vital economic engine for the Navajo Nation.”