Safer Homes, Stable Employment

Gary, IN

It's no secret that times have been difficult lately. Unemployment has been on the rise and layoffs have become a reality, particularly in the construction sector. However, stimulus funds provided to the Hammond and East Chicago housing authorities have not only improved the condition of public housing in those communities, but provided work and prevented layoffs for Precision Builders, a Gary-based company.

Precision Builders received approximately $1.27 million in stimulus funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for kitchen upgrades and new entry doors at public housing complexes in Hammond and new roofs for public housing complexes in East Chicago. These contracts have provided employees of Precision Builders with a steady supply of work and have improved business for subcontractors and suppliers utilized by Precision. In fact, the work at Hammond and East Chicago housing authorities prevented the company from potentially laying off employees.

"It's allowed us to keep more guys employed, which is good right now," said Melanie Morgan, Precision Builders vice president, "If we hadn't received those contracts, we would've been scrambling, looking for more work to do."

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