Eastern Ridge Home Builders Association 

Shooting For Scholarships Event Raises Over $10,000

The 3rd Annual David G. Cook Shooting For Scholarship Clay Shoot held on Friday, September 18 raised more than $10,000 for its scholarship fund administered through the Fond du Lac Area Foundation.

While this year’s event looked a bit different due to pandemic restrictions, the event was a great opportunity for family, friends, and industry professionals to honor Dave’s legacy while giving back to the next generation of building trades professionals.

“I am honored to be able to present these scholarships in memory of Dave, who passed recently. I’m so pleased that he was able to watch this scholarship grow over the past two years,” shared Kathy Cook, President of Cook’s Construction of Brownsville. “Dave was proud to help ease the financial burden for college students while promoting opportunities within the building trades industry for future generations.”

To date, the David G. Cook Scholarship Fund has awarded $6,000 in scholarships to area students pursuing a career in a field related to the building trades industry. Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year will open in February 2021. For more information, contact the Eastern Ridge Home Builders Association at (920) 922-9067.

2020 Q1 Data Shows 20% Increase Over Q1 2019

The latest single-housing permit numbers show a drastic increase in quarter one 2020 as compared to the same time period in 2019.

The number, compiled by information required to be submitted by municipalities to the Department of Safety and Professional Services, shows 1,613 permits in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 1,941 in the first quarter of 2020.

“This 20 percent increase in new home permits is great news for the homebuilding industry and economy overall,” said Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) Executive Director Brad Boycks. “While time will tell the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fact that we had a strong start to the year is encouraging not only for construction companies, but for lenders, insurers, interior designers, retail, and all other industries that see benefits from new home construction.”

The homebuilding industry has long been a marker for economic strength. Although the effects of coronavirus have not all been seen, it has been positive for the economy that home construction has been allowed to continue with proper precautions throughout Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Orders.

“We are hopeful that construction on homes will continue by owner choice even through the hardships we’re facing now,” said WBA President Jeff Dorner. “We saw steady permit pulling and building through the spring and summer of 2019, and are hopeful to see the same type of growth this year thanks to construction being exempt from shutdown orders.

Article provided courtesy of the Wisconsin Builders Association.