Union Contractors & Cleveland Building Trades Partner With Habitat for Humanity

More than 50 Construction Employers Association (CEA) members and fellow union contractors are donating their time, talent, funds and materials to build a Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity house from start to finish, a first charitable venture of its kind for CEA. Guest speakers for the Grandview Ave. groundbreaking ceremony on April 18 included Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia Fudge, Mayor Justin Bibb, Congresswoman Shontel Brown, and Cleveland Council President, Blaine Griffin.

Tony DiGeronimo, vice chair of CEA and president of Precision Environmental Co., brought the concept of building a Habitat house to CEA to determine participation interest and their response was overwhelmingly positive. 

“Our members and the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council jumped at the chance to give back through this project, demonstrating again our dedication to investing in Clevelanders,” said CEA’s CEO Tim Linville. 

This will be the 14th house Cleveland Habitat has built or rehabbed on Grandview Ave., and the 83rd in the Greater Buckeye area since 2016.  Cleveland Habitat has used its affordable homeownership program as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. 

Council President Griffin commended Cleveland Habitat and CEA for advancing the hopes and dreams for a family and a neighborhood.  

“It is amazing to see the transformation of the community,” said Griffin.  “CEA’s generosity is an investment by the private sector and its union employees in changing the lives of Clevelanders, and it complements other nearby neighborhood improvements including those from Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.” 

“This partnership with CEA represents hope,” said John Habat, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. “It is an affirmation of the significant impact Habitat has on families and communities.  We are honored that CEA is dedicating its professionalism and skills to help a family – and revitalize a neighborhood.” 

This partnership is unique in several ways.  

“CEA is fully paying for construction of the house, and its members and union employees are building it from the ground up to move-in-ready completion,” explained Habat. 

This is an all-union build – a first for Cleveland Habitat. 

“Working together on this great cause is a welcome challenge for participating contractors,” said Linville.