Thank you for an amazing CHUCK Grand Opening!
The CHUCK brings us closer to our shared vision: A world where everyone has a place to call home. Because of you, we get closer to that world every day.
Habitat for Humanity Tucson celebrated the Grand Opening of the CHUCK (Connie Hillman Urban Construction Knowledge) center on March 31st, 2023.
The inaugural dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by local partners, elected officials, staff, volunteers and the community.
The CHUCK Center was pioneered as a solution for two of the most pressing issues facing Arizona: the lack of affordable housing and a growing need for a skilled workforce in the trades. In Pima County, 75,000 households need affordable housing, and 100,000 skilled tradespeople are needed in the Arizona construction industry.
Couldn’t make it? Catch the video below!
Video created by Alex Blackmon with All Trades Media.
Habitat for Humanity Tucson celebrated the Grand Opening of the CHUCK (Connie Hillman Urban Construction Knowledge) center on March 31st, 2023.
The inaugural dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by local partners, elected officials, staff, volunteers and the community.
The CHUCK Center was pioneered as a solution for two of the most pressing issues facing Arizona: the lack of affordable housing and a growing need for a skilled workforce in the trades. In Pima County, 75,000 households need affordable housing, and 100,000 skilled tradespeople are needed in the Arizona construction industry.
The facility is a cornerstone property in the Flowing Wells neighborhood and a community asset for generating new job and housing opportunities throughout the City of Tucson, Pima County, and Southern Arizona.
This project is a great example of mutual investment from the private and public sectors. We could not have created this 15,000 square foot state-of-the-art center without a skilled construction company like SUNDT, without public support from the State of Arizona and the City of Tucson, or without private donations from generous community members and volunteers.
Our vision was achieved through grants from the State and local government and donations from our partners who believed that every person deserves an education; access to employment with fair, livable wages; and a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.
Workforce Development
Our Vision
The CHUCK Center strengthens and empowers Habitat Tucson’s mission to build more homes and partner with more families.
The CHUCK also enables Habitat Tucson to improve supply chain operations, expedite the production of modular wall panels by building indoors, and serve as a learning center for local tradespeople.
The CHUCK features over 15,000 square feet of storage, classroom, residential, construction, and office space. At the CHUCK, Habitat staff, Volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and students will experience hands-on learning opportunities. Our goal is to create a pathway into the trades and bring deeper construction knowledge to Southern Arizona.
Our Workforce Development classroom is set for 30 students with 16 – 18 tables and equipped with technology.
We are currently holding classes in conjunction with Pima Community College (PCC) every Wednesday as part of the Building and Construction Technologies curriculum at PCC. Students receive for-credit lab hours for participation at the CHUCK Center.
By building a skilled labor force, our whole community will benefit from the CHUCK Center
The Workforce Center will create a pathway into the trades by exposing students to all phases of affordable home construction.
We are so grateful to our founding partners for making the CHUCK Center possible, especially:
Connie Hillman Family Foundation
The Stonewall Foundation
Bank of America
Office of the Governor in partnership with the Arizona Department of Housing;
Dorothy Harmsen and Bill Harmsen, Sr. Charitable Foundation;
Arizona Construction Trades;
Sam and Roni Swift;
Del E Webb Foundation;
John and Kathy Kitagawa;
Long Realty Cares Foundation;
Union Pacific;
Bob and Lisa Swift;
The John and Helen Murphy
Foundation;
Barbara Kelly;
Gary and Becky Ratcliffe;
Dave and Sally Clement;
Laurence M Quicili;
Judy Dare;
Robert and Dorice Beren;
Steve and Donna McKinnis;
John and Jude Trang;
City of Tucson;
Pima County;
Anonymous (2)
Thank you to all of our amazing supporters!
Public officials in attendance:
Marisol Flores-Aguirre, Office of the Governor
Keon Montgomery, Arizona Department of Housing
Karina Jajou, Arizona Department of Housing
Jason Pu, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Tammy Thomas, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Liz Morales, Director, City of Tucson Housing & Community Development
Greg Wilson, Pima Community College, Dept. of Applied Technology
Kim Briggs, Pima County District 1
Kevin Dahl, Ward 3
Steve Kozachik, Vice Mayor City of Tucson, Council Member Ward 6.
And other Elected and Public Officials
