February 4, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 4, 2013
For further information,
Contact: Amanda Shell
Moxley Carmichael
(865) 255-0661
Scott and Christi Branscom, owners of Grace Construction, have capped off a milestone year by receiving the 2012 Builder of the Year award from the Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville (HBAGK). The Branscoms received the award the HBAGK annual meeting on Jan. 29 at the Square Room in downtown Knoxville.
“We are grateful to receive such a prestigious award from the Greater Knoxville Home Builders Association to complete a prosperous year for Grace Construction and the housing industry,” said Scott Branscom. “Residential construction has seen a significant resurgence in 2012, and Grace Construction and the entire Knoxville market truly saw the benefits of that trend.”
After the real estate bubble burst in 2007, the residential housing industry faced several years of decline and a slow road back to growth. In 2012, however, the industry showed a 30 percent increase in building permits over 2011, according to the national Economic and Statistics Administration. In the last couple of months of 2012, the HBAGK has documented an 18 percent increase in building permits filed in Knox County.
The HBAGK award confirms Grace Construction as leaders in the construction industry, who have helped lead the way for this resurgence in Knoxville. In 2012, the National Home Builders Association cited Knoxville as one of the housing markets with the most sustained recovery.
The Branscoms kicked off a successful year in 2012 as lead builders on the Knoxville build of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. A little more than a year ago, Grace Construction coordinated more than 4,000 skilled workers, subcontractors and unskilled volunteers working around-the-clock to construct a more than 4,000-square-foot home for the Watson family and an 1800-square-foot duplex to serve single mothers at the Restoration House, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and mentoring to single mothers in Knoxville, with only 106 hours from groundbreaking to unveiling.
“The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build was such a rewarding experience,” said Christi Branscom. “It was such as honor to lead a project that brought together the entire home building industry for a great cause. One of the greatest benefits that came out of Extreme Makeover was the great partnerships and friendships.”
Because of an increased volume of work, Grace Construction recently hired Laura Maddox, formerly of Southern Magnolia Homes, and expanded their operation to include starter homes in addition to the specialty larger custom homes.
Grace Construction has had a successful year in both the residential and commercial industries. In 2012, Grace Construction was tasked with building Rolling Strong workout facilities at numerous Pilot Flying J Travel Centers nationwide in partnership with SNAP Fitness. Grace Construction celebrated the opening of the third Rolling Strong location at a Pilot Flying J in Lebanon, Tenn., on Jan. 31.
“We are absolutely honored to be awarded the 2012 Builder of the Year award,” said Christi Branscom. “Grace Construction has had a great year, and we’ve experienced a dramatic increase in both residential and commercial sectors of our business. We look forward to an even brighter outlook for 2013. ”
About Grace Construction
With over forty combined years of hands-on experience in the real estate and construction industry, Grace Construction owners Scott and Christi Branscom combine their varied talents to offer a unique approach to development, design and construction in residential and commercial building and a complete array of real estate services. Grace Construction is a general contracting service managing residential and commercial projects from planning and site development through construction, with an investment in customer satisfaction.
