December 12, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 12, 2014
For more information,
Contact: Amanda Shell Jennings
Moxley Carmichael
(865)255-0661
The Tusculum College men’s basketball team gather at a Greene County Habitat for Humanity home for a community service day on Dec. 12. The team installed the flooring in the home for Billy Bledsoe, which is being constructed with donated building materials from US Nitrogen and its contractors. From left to right are US Nitrogen Engineering and Technical Services Manager Lori Jones, Mason Fox, Ben Arnold, Gunnar Beamer, Johnathan Knight, Devan Carter, Cory Fagan, Darius Carter, Matt Shown, Malik Tyree, Javon Price, Chase Mounce, Anthony Eades, Taylor Hatfield, Zach Davis and Tusculum College Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Jones.
The Tusculum College men’s basketball team, as part of its community service day, installed flooring on Friday to help complete a Greene County Habitat for Humanity home in time for the holidays. Flooring is one of the final steps before Billy Bledsoe can move into his new home at 328 Pine St., in Greeneville.
The project is in partnership with US Nitrogen, the US Nitrogen construction team and its contractors, who are providing all building materials and labor. The combined donation is valued at approximately $50,000. A groundbreaking was held Oct. 29, and Bledsoe’s home is on track to be completed in time for Christmas.
A serious motorcycle accident several years ago left Bledsoe with disabilities that make it hard for him to move around freely. Until recently, he lived alone with his dog, Bandit. When his home was destroyed by fire, Bledsoe and Bandit had nowhere to reside. Bledsoe’s new one-story home will include two bedrooms, handicap-accessible bathroom, laundry room, living room and kitchen.
Sponsors of the project include Air Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc., Appalachian Surveying Consultants, C&C Millwright Maintenance Co., Eastern Industrial Supplies, Inc., Greeneville Builders Supply, Mico Industrial Services, Renfrow Brothers Industrial Contractors, RTF Systems, Summers-Taylor Inc., TEC Industrial Maintenance & Construction, United Rentals Inc., G&W Hauling/BoomCO, TEG Lease and US Nitrogen.
Bledsoe’s home is one of 30 Habitat for Humanity Homes being constructed across the state of Tennessee with a matching funds grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). The US Nitrogen Construction Team and its contractors’ in-kind donation will allow Greene County Habitat for Humanity to receive a $15,000 grant in matching funds to serve more families in Greeneville and Greene County.
US Nitrogen is a platinum partner with Greene County Habitat for Humanity. In addition to the current project, US Nitrogen has donated construction materials from the demolition of three houses to Habitat for Humanity. These materials are sold in the Habitat for Humanity thrift store, “ReStore,” to raise funds for its programs.
About Greene County Habitat for Humanity
A Christian housing ministry, Greene County Habitat for Humanity, along with other Habitat affiliates across the United States, helps bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. Greene County Habitat for Humanity provides houses to families that do not usually qualify for conventional home loans. The houses carry an interest-free, 20-year mortgage. Families accepted into the program have demonstrated a need for housing, such as living in overcrowded conditions, unsafe neighborhoods or substandard housing with utilities often costing more than rent or having disabilities with the need for handicap accessibility. Within the six- to eight-month process, residents complete training on homeownership, including budgeting, and complete 500 sweat equity hours before closing on the house. Greene County Habitat for Humanity has provided homes to 30 families in our community.
About US Nitrogen
Located in Greene County, Tenn. US Nitrogen is a state-of-the-art facility that will produce ammonium nitrate for industrial purposes. US Nitrogen’s state-of-the-art facility represents a more than $200 million investment in the Greene County community – the largest capital investment in Greene County history. The company will provide more than 80 technical, high-paying jobs to the region. US Nitrogen LLC is a subsidiary of Cleveland, Ohio-based Austin Powder Company, a global leader in industrial explosives used in mining operations around the world.
