Chipola and Auburn Break Ground For Habitat Project

Dozens of volunteers and officials attended a ground-breaking ceremony Feb. 25 for the Chipola Street Development in Marianna.  

The project is a collaboration between the Auburn University Rural Studio and the Chipola College Building Construction program. Together, these partners are working with the Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity to provide four small, efficient homes for local community members. 

Chipola College President, Dr. Sarah Clemmons, said, “Chipola is proud to join forces with Auburn and Habitat to help build safe, affordable homes for four local families. I want Darwin Gilmore, Chipola’s Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, and Scott Phelps, our building construction technology instructor, for leading our construction students in this project. Our students are getting on-site training in construction, but they’re also participating in service learning which may be even more important.”

The building site is located at 2836 Chipola Street, Marianna, FL 32446. Learn more at www.chipolahabitat.org/chipolastreetdevelopment, www.chipolaworkforce.com, and ruralstudio.org