Associated Builders and Contractors Receives $90,000 Grant from Turner Foundation for Green Building Initiatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recently announced it has received a $90,000 grant from the Turner Foundation, Inc., Atlanta, in support of its national green building initiatives, with a focus on green certification and training.  

“ABC is pleased to receive this important national recognition of and support for our strong green building initiatives,” said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. “The Turner Foundation, founded by media mogul Ted Turner, clearly sees the critical role merit shop construction plays in green building and sustainability practices nationwide, and we welcome this great opportunity to expand and strengthen our efforts.”  

“We are pleased to recognize ABC for its commitment to playing an integral and important role in the construction industry's move toward greater sustainability,” said Michael Finley, president of the Turner Foundation, Inc. “We look forward to ABC expanding and enhancing its green contractor certification program, as well as its green building education and training programs. Working with partners such as ABC helps to engage, organize and empower new constituencies to ensure the future protection of our environment,” Finley said.  

Pickerel said that ABC will use the funding in its green contractor certification program, launched in June 2009, with a focus on obtaining third-party certification to assess and perform onsite inspections of participating construction firms.   In addition, ABC will use the funding to develop tools and resources in green building and sustainable building practices for training initiatives focused on craft professionals, including apprentices and craft trainees, as well as journeymen and foremen.    

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Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 79 chapters representing 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms with two million employees. Visit us at www.abc.org and www.greenconstructionatwork.com.