Barron County Habitat for Humanity plans to open a ReStore that would accept donations of new and used building materials, furniture and appliances for resale to the public. Income from the ReStore would be used to support the construction of more Habitat homes with low-income families in Barron County.

The goal is to open the store next April at a site to be determined, said intern Becky Andert a student at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. Andert has surveyed more than 50 ReStore managers nationwide, prepared a feasibility study and a business plan and talked to area contractors, appliance retailers and home supply businesses about the possibility of donating to a local ReStore.

“Individuals and companies have the opportunity to donate new or used building material to the ReStore,” she said. “They will be resold to the public at 25%-75% of the original cost. ReStores provide low-income homeowners and renters the opportunity to furnish and repair their homes with quality materials that might not otherwise be available to them at a cost within their budget.”

Andert has also submitted a grant application to the Department of Natural Resources for the majority of startup costs. Each year, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Demonstration Grant Program offers $500,000 to projects to solve problems associated with hard-to-recycle material. A ReStore meets the criteria because building material currently takes up 40% of the area landfills. The grant will be awarded Nov. 30, she said.

Habitat Executive Director Terry Warren attended a national ReStore conference in Madison in 2005. “Getting the ReStore started is something I have wanted to see happen for a long time.” Warren said. “And the potential here is unbelievable. The thing that excited me most is the benefits this can provide to the community. It’s a win-win-win situation for everyone involved. Besides providing income for the Habitat program and reducing waste in our landfills, the ReStore will also offer a new way that volunteers can help support our work.”