Mercedes-Benz donates $200K to Habitat Tuscaloosa's Operation Transformation project

Jasmine Hollie, The Tuscaloosa News
·2 min read

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International on Monday donated $200,000 to a Habitat for Humanity initiative that will ultimately build a whole new neighborhood in west Tuscaloosa.

"... We love working with our friends at Mercedes because they are efficient and they are very safety-conscious, and they also make sure that everything they do, they put the same kind of quality work into these homes as they do into their amazing cars," said Ellen Potts, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa. "And so we are so grateful for this amazing commitment."

May 2, 2022; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Mercedes-Benz USI announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa in their Operation Transformation initiative Monday outside a home under construction on Ash Street where Barbara Bonner will live. Michael Goebel, president and CEO of MBUSI, talks with Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Mike Daria outside the house being constructed. The new program will give students in building related programs at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy a chance to hone their skills on Habitat job sites. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News

The $200,000 donation will benefit Habitat's Operation Transformation, which aims to build homes for 40 families in Tuscaloosa's West End community.

The donation announcement was made on Ash Street at the site of a new MBUSI-sponsored Habitat home that will soon be dedicated to Barbara Bonner. Officials from Mercedes, Habitat and Tuscaloosa City Schools were in attendance.

MBUSI team members have united with Tuscaloosa Center for Technology Academy students to build the Bonner home, which is expected to be complete in June, Potts said.

Michael Goebel, MBUSI president and CEO, said he believes the longtime partnership between the Vance-based plant and Habitat Tuscaloosa is "extremely important" because of the impact the organization has made on the community.

"It is very important that we, as a company, like a lot of companies in this community, participate in this project," he said.

May 2, 2022; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Mercedes-Benz USI announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa in their Operation Transformation initiative Monday outside a home under construction on Ash Street where Barbara Bonner will live. Habitat Executive Director hugs MBUSI President and CEO Michael Goebel at the build site. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News

"In this specific case, I think it's a dream for the Bonner family, that they get an opportunity now to be also a homeowner. And I think they are significantly proud about that. And the quality of life for them, for their family, but also for the community is really increasing," Goebel said.

The partnership between Habitat Tuscaloosa and MBUSI has led to the construction of eight homes since 2014. Goebel said he and his team enjoy working alongside the the nonprofit organization.

"We want to give back to this great community, to this city, to everyone who (has been) supporting us over the last 25 years so tremendously," Goebel said.

According to Habitat Tuscaloosa's website, Operation Transformation will build homes on 40 lots recently purchased from Barr Realty. On this property, 40 families will have the opportunity to become Habitat homeowners and purchase their homes at fair market value through 0% interest, 30-year mortgages, while each homeowner contributes at least 250 hours of labor.

One feature of the initiative includes allowing students at Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy to learn general construction skills by participating in work at the build sites.

For more information about Operation Transformation program, go to www.habitattuscaloosa.org.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Mercedes-Benz donates $200K for Habitat Tuscaloosa project