A group of St. Louis' largest home builders has announced a new stimulus program that focuses on putting people back to work and giving consumers a break.
The promotion is called The Neighborhoods Built by Your Neighbors Program. It is a fund created by a consortium of local unions to help stimulate new homeownership. The program is exclusive to St. Louis Union Homebuilding Partnership members.
Partnership members are Bridgewater Communities, Centex Homes, Consort Homes, Fischer & Frichtel, McBride & Son Homes, McKelvey Homes, Payne Family Homes and Pulte Homes.
"This program is a testament to the relationship between St. Louis' leading home builders and its union trade partners," said John F. Eilermann Jr., chairman and CEO of McBride & Son Cos. "And most importantly, it shows how the best way to stimulate our local economy and get people working again is to all work together."
The program, which runs only during February, provides cash to buyers for use at closing. Cash amounts range from $2,000 to $10,000 based on the sale price of the home. It is limited to participating builder's communities in Missouri.
Nine local unions are contributing to the fund, which allows for an average $5,000 per home. Certificates will be distributed on a first-come basis.
"Our local unions are truly putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to stimulating the economy," said Ken Kruse, president of Payne Family Homes. "They have committed $600,000 in cash for use at closing to homebuyers. That really says a lot."
The union contributions are based upon man hours by trade on an average St. Louis home.
"When we met with all of the union trades, someone commented that this might be the first time that all the trades participated together," said Ken Stricker, president and CEO of Consort Homes.
Participating unions include: Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District 2, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1, Sheet Metal Workers Local 36, Greater St. Louis Construction Laborers, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craft workers, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 513 and Cement Mason's Local 527.
"This program is not about federal government handouts or bailouts," said John Fischer, CEO of Fischer & Frichtel. "This is about neighbors coming together to make a difference. That fact is when union trades people are working, they are buying other goods and services, and the economy grows."
See www.STLUnionBuilders.com for details. ¨
