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150 U.S. Bank employees don hard hats and tool belts to make homeownership a reality for Minnesota families
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 14, 2024 / U.S. Bank employees joined thousands of volunteers to build 30 affordable homes in St. Paul, Minnesota, during Habitat for Humanity's 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.
Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog
On a stretch of land on the east side of St. Paul, Minnesota, where people used to swing golf clubs, thousands of volunteers recently swung hammers instead. And among them were 150 U.S. Bank employees who participated in Habitat for Humanity's 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which aimed to build 30 homes over the course of five days and bring the dream of homeownership to local residents.
The homes are part of a new affordable housing development called The Heights, located on a former golf course, that eventually will include 1,000 housing units, community greenspaces and amenities and create 1,000 jobs. The homes in this all-electric community will feature solar panels or shingles, heat pumps, water conservation measures and more. The Carter Work Project launched Habitat's construction efforts, and U.S. Bank served as a diamond sponsor for the event, with support provided by U.S. Bank and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance.
"Supporting homeownership is both a business and philanthropic focus at U.S. Bank. Safe and affordable housing helps support thriving communities," said Reba Dominski, chief social responsibility officer at U.S. Bank and president of the U.S. Bank Foundation.
When the first group of U.S. Bank volunteers arrived at the build site, they were greeted with piles of lumber, tools and construction professionals ready to help them begin work. Over the course of the five days, volunteers built and framed walls, put in windows, installed sheeting and drywall and helped raise roofs. Some were newcomers to the event, and others, such as Impact Finance Senior Vice President Bill Carson, were repeat Carter Work Project participants and eager to put on their hard hats again.
"It really changes everyone's perspective on what it takes to give back to the community. It's a great way of team building, it's a great way of getting your hands literally dirty, and not looking at a community in terms of a spreadsheet or dollars and cents, but really thinking about how this brand-new community is going to have an impact on the future of St. Paul and its residents," Carson said.
This year's Carter Work Project held special significance. 2024 marks the project's 40th anniversary, and President Carter celebrated his 100th birthday on the event's second day.