With so much news coverage focusing on the destruction of homes as a result of the area’s recent tornadoes, it is refreshing to spend a few moments on a newly constructed home. Grand Island Habitat for Humanity is building a home with the entire process taking less than a week.

The construction starts today at 1015 N. Beal in Grand Island. The goal is to have it enclosed and ready for interior work by Monday. The home will be finished by Friday. By any measure, that is a lightning-quick schedule.

The Grand Island project is the first of its kind in this area and part of the nationwide Home Builders Blitz. The national Blitz started in 2006 and has since blossomed around the country.

The entire project is being constructed by area home building professionals. Materials are all donated by local businesses. Over 30 firms are involved, making a logistical ballet on the site to make sure materials and construction crews are available at the right times.

A Saturday Salute goes to Brian Fox and the Central Nebraska Home Builders,  who were instrumental in getting the local project started. Amos Anson, of Famos Construction, Inc. is the general contractor of the Blitz.

The Blitz is an impressive and noble commitment by the construction crews and donating businesses. With cost of labor and materials rising daily, to have these participating Blitz companies commit to such a sizable donation is remarkable. At a time when the economic challenges to the construction industry is indeed severe, the donation of time, talent and materials is worthy of public thanks.

While the national Blitz is an annual project, local Habitat executive director Dana Jelinek is hopeful that the Blitz can occur every other year in this area. To ask local firms to commit to annual project would be seeking more than may be possible. If the economy is kind to the region in upcoming years, perhaps an annual Blitz project would be achievable.

It will be fun to watch the home come together on such a fast time frame. It will be even more fun to see a family move into it and experience the thrill of a new home.

Congratulations to all who are devoting their talent and material to the Blitz.