It takes a village: Community effort at Habitat for Humanity build in Brigham City, Utah. Utah Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (URMCA), on behalf of the national organization, spearheaded the effort.
In March 2021, Build with Strength, backed by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, announced it would be partnering with Habitat for Humanity International to fortify decent, affordable and sustainable housing across the United States. Build with Strength began donating concrete for the construction of Habitat homes and has been working directly with local Habitat organizations to support home builds across 16 locations. Build with Strength is a coalition of architects, builders, engineers, emergency services personnel, policymakers and others committed to solving challenging housing issues. This partnership with Habitat is designed to help further address these issues on a large scale.
“We have a responsibility as an industry to have a positive societal impact. Our partnership with Habitat represents a commitment to that responsibility in communities across the country,” said Mike Philipps, president of the NRMCA, at the time of the announcement. “The NRMCA members are proud to supply concrete in all of these markets and to be supporting this initiative. But to help more families have homes that are both affordable and resilient means that much more. Our hope is to expand this partnership so that we can continue supporting Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
The partnership kicked off one year ago in Butte County, CA where the town of Paradise is located. That town, sadly, became famous for its near obliteration by the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history.
“The town of Paradise was 90% destroyed by wildfires. Residents have had their lives turned upside down,” said Nicole Bateman, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Butte County, at the time of the announcement. “We are grateful for our partners in the concrete industry for stepping in to help with the rebuilding process. Their generous donations will not only provide affordable housing but also resilient homes that can withstand the elements that come with wildfire prone areas.”
“We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with Build with Strength,” said Julie Laird Davis, vice president of corporate and cause marketing partnerships at Habitat for Humanity International, at the same time. “One of the most important pillars of our organization is building stronger communities. Build with Strength holds similar values and will be an integral part in ensuring that more families have access to safe, durable, and affordable homes.”
Other industry groups contributing to the projects as Build with Strength Coalition partners include the Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturing Association and the American Concrete Pumpers Association.
Altaview Concrete provided all the concrete to fill the basement ICF walls for the Habitat for Humanity Northern Utah of an ICF home in Utah
Now, almost exactly one year after the initial announcement, Utah is getting its first ICF Habitat for Humanity home! Located at 889 S 500 W, Brigham City, the Builder’s Blitz has benefited from countless volunteers from the community and area businesses.
“It was important to us to join with Habitat for Humanity Northern Utah to build a safe and resilient home for this deserving family,” said Scott Reynolds, COO Altaview Concrete. “Our participation is in keeping with our company values of being good citizens and impacting our community in a positive and proactive way.”
Habitat for Humanity Northern Utah, URMCA, Geneva Rock, Altaview Concrete, Jack B. Parson , ICF Manufacturers Association, American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA), and National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, are all working together to deliver a sustainable and resilient concrete home for a wonderful family in Brigham City, Utah.
Jack B Parson Ready Mix Company provided all the concrete to fill the main floor ICF walls for the Habitat for Humanity home in Brigham City, Utah
Pictured in top image from left to right, Tom Peterson, Brad Stevenson, Ryan Smith, Robin Troxell, Jeff Hadfield, Randy Christensen, Patrick Matchy, Stan Summers, Guy from Parsons, Susie Witt, Danika Haro, Trisha Jensen, Mason Russell, Julie Campbell, Karen Rustan, Dianne Nawyn, Anna Rivers.
“We are grateful to be supplying concrete to support Habitat’s initiative in providing families with homes that are both affordable and resilient,” said Derrick Pack, Jack B. Parson Ready Mix Concrete Vice President at Staker Parson. “ICF homes can help hardworking families, like the one we’re helping today, by providing them a safe, durable and affordable place to live.”
Three of our generous URMCA producer members each provided over $10,000 worth of ready-made concrete to this important project, along with the labor and expertise for their respective pours. Geneva Rock Products provided all the concrete for the basement floor, garage floor and driveway. Altaview Concrete provided all the concrete to fill the basement ICF walls. Finally, Jack B Parson Ready Mix Company provided all the concrete to fill the main floor ICF walls.
In collaboration with the Utah Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (URMCA), Geneva Rock donated $10,000 worth of concrete to the Habitat for Humanity organization
“Building a Better Community is our mission and a core value of Geneva Rock,” said Charlie Keller, Area Manager of Logistics at Geneva Rock. “Everything we do every day is about improving our communities.”
Brad Stevenson, Executive Director, Utah Ready Mixed Concrete Association and his wife, Robin, at the Habitat for Humanity Northern Utah build
“At Habitat for Humanity, our goal is to build homes with safety and resiliency in mind,” said Susie Witt, a Habitat for Humanity representative. “ICF construction helps provide families with these strong and safe homes and we are grateful to be part of that.”
Geneva Rock Products, Altaview Concrete, and Jack B Parson Ready Mix Company, are all Producer Members of the URMCA.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower.
About NRMCA
NRMCA, a non-profit trade association based in Alexandria, VA, represents the producers of ready mixed concrete and the companies that provide materials, equipment and support to the industry. It conducts education, training, promotion, research, engineering, safety, environmental, technological, lobbying and regulatory programs. For more information on NRMCA’s Sustainability Initiatives, visit www.nrmca.org/sustainability.
About Build With Strength
Build With Strength is an initiative led by NRMCA that seeks to educate the building and design communities and policymakers on the benefits of ready mixed concrete and encourage its use as the building material. No other material can replicate concrete’s advantages in terms of strength, sustainability, durability, safety and ease of use. To learn how to improve building performance, including reducing carbon footprint, visit www.BuildwithStrength.com/design-center.