Bluegrass Materials Awards $5,000 Grant to Habitat for Humanity; Supports Work With Harford Technical High School

From Bluegrass Materials:

A unique, collaborative program that builds affordable homes while teaching students the ins and outs of construction was recently awarded a $5,000 grant by the Bluegrass Materials Churchville Quarry to support the program’s ongoing goals of sustainability and education.

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna and its Habi-Tech Green Build program is a joint program with students of Harford Technical High School. The students build the homes under the guidance of school instructors before they are trucked to the home site for final construction. Students learn all aspects of home building, including drafting, materials management, framing, electrical, insulation, drywall, siding, painting and roofing.

Ensuring the roofs of these homes are expertly installed and durable is paramount to the success of the project. Pinnacle Roofing & Home Exteriors, a trusted name in the industry, can play a crucial role in this process. Also, this roofing contractor can bring their expertise and commitment to quality craftsmanship, ensuring each roof is not only functional but also enhances the sustainability and longevity of the homes.

By partnering with Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, Pinnacle Roofing & Home Exteriors can exemplify their dedication to community involvement and support educational initiatives that build a brighter future for aspiring builders and homeowners alike.

“With its emphasis on hands-on education, green construction and building a better future for our community, Habitat for Humanity’s work with the Harford Technical High School aligns perfectly with Bluegrass Materials’ community goals,” said Will Bulluck, operations manager for the Maryland Division of Bluegrass Materials. “As a local business, we are proud to support the work of Habitat for Humanity and their innovative work with the students of our community.”

“We are excited that Bluegrass Materials is assisting with this unique and exciting green home,” said Habitat’s Executive Director Karen Blandford. “When the house rolls out of the school and is transported to the site in Aberdeen, it will be because community partners like Bluegrass Materials believed in the hard work of the students and the hard work of the new Habitat homeowner.”

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, which began in 1993, has built or rehabbed 90 homes and made 350 home repairs for people with lower-income jobs who are willing to participate with sweat equity. It builds simple decent houses that are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with no-interest loans. The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat homes.

The Habi-Tech Green Build with Harford Technical High School is now building its sixth home and its fourth with green, energy efficient technology and materials built into the design. Since 2006, more than 600 students have come through the two-year program.

According to Habitat for Humanity, the Churchville Quarry grant will help cover land costs for the newest Habi-Tech home, which will be moved to its permanent location this spring in Aberdeen, and allow the program to install more efficient heating and water systems.

The Churchville Quarry Community Liaison Committee (CLC), an advisory group to the quarry of neighbors, business leaders and school representatives, evaluated the grant applications. The CLC selected Habitat for Humanity’s application as part of a competitive process after reviewing applications from 14 Harford County programs. This year, the first year of the program, two grants will be awarded.

The Bluegrass Material Churchville Quarry Grant program supports community-oriented Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education projects, youth and outdoor recreation programs, and community environmental sustainability and enhancement initiatives that support the preservation or beautification of Churchville and greater Harford County.

Located on Calvary Road, the Churchville Quarry has been active since the 1920s. Bluegrass Materials acquired the site in 2014 where it produces aggregates for roadways and other construction purposes. Other quarries in the Bluegrass Materials Maryland division are Texas, North East, Marriottsville, Medford, Frederick, Beaver Creek and Warfordsburg.