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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
James Phillips
423-863-3998
info@kingsporthomebuilders.com
Home Builders Association announces special partnership with TCAT
The Home Builders Association of Greater Kingsport is proud to announce a partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology to offer local students hands-on experience with a special renovation project taking place within the Model City.
The two organizations made this announcement during Friday’s opening ceremony of the 50th annual Kingsport Home Show taking place at the Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center this weekend.
According to the announcement, the HBA of Greater Kingsport has purchased a house in the Highlands neighborhood and under the partnership, students in TCAT’s construction program will completely redo the house from the inside out, including demolition, framing walls, installing insulation, plumbing, electrical work and flooring.
In addition to hands-on experience, students will also have the opportunity to shadow HBA plumbers, electricians and HVAC workers, ask questions of them and see how professionals perform their trade while on the job site.
“Our local home builders association serves many purposes here in Kingsport, but two of the most important are education and making a positive impact on our community,” said James Phillips, president of the HBA of Greater Kingsport. “We feel like this project accomplishes both of those objectives.”
Students in the work-based learning program at Dobyns-Bennett High School will also be participating in the partnership.
Members of the HBA will be providing all the materials for the renovation and once the work is done, the organizations will sell the house with the proceeds going towards the purchase of another house and donated back to TCAT.
“This partnership does several things. It trains students, improves the community and helps in workforce development,” Phillips added. “Hopefully, this will be the first of many homes these organizations remodel or build from the ground up.”
TCAT’s Building Construction Technology Program started in Kingsport in the spring of 2022. An integral part of it starting was due to the critical need of skilled people in the area of building construction, said TCAT President David Hicks.
“Homebuilders in Kingsport were instrumental in helping us start the program and are still active as we continue to build the program,” Hicks said. “This partnership is another example of community partners and educational institutions working together for the greater good of the community.”
The Home Builders Association of Greater Kingsport is a trade association that was organized and chartered in 1970. The HBA is dedicated to providing quality-housing choices in a range of affordability for the consumer.
If you would like to be a part of this project, please contact the Home Builders Association of Greater Kingsport at info@kingsporthomebuilders.com or by calling 423-378-5501.
Photo captions: Home Builder Officials & TCAT Officials