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looking at ways we can better ourselves
and better this community.
MOXXIE: So, you were a huge part in the
making of our Haywood Pathways Center,
what was it that grabbed you about having
a moms and kids shelter?
JIM: Well, I was actually the first contractor
on site when we began turning the old
jail into a mens and womens dorm, which is
now our Pathways Center. Being a part of
that process was incredible for me. When
the conversation about the moms and kids
shelter came up, it just grabbed me. I immediately
knew that I needed to be a part of
this new segment.
MOXXIE: Was the idea always to build
something, or did you look at other options
prior to building?
JIM: We actually looked at buying a Bed
and Breakfast first. But after analyzing
what we were doing and what we needed to
do with the sites and services we wanted to
provide, we kept coming back to this
campus. We knew we needed to be here.
Then it was the case of how we were going
to do it.
MOXXIE: Then you set focus on the site.
That had to be a huge weight off your plate.
What happened next? The floor plan?
JIM: Kindof. I come from a manufactured
housing background. I was a large dealer in
Alaska and Washington State. Looking at
this project, I felt like a modular, commercial
building would be the answer. We
could do it at an affordable price. Once the
ideas was presented, one of my partners
helped raise the seed money to get started.
From there, we came up with a plan and
started this process.
MOXXIE: How long ago was that?
JIM: It was about a year and a half ago. We
literally accomplished this project from
start to finish in about two years.
MOXXIE: That’s truly incredible. Nothing
of this scale typically happens in that short
of time. Especially when you have tons of
people involved. That’s truly remarkable.
JIM: I know, and you’re right. But we were
able to agree on a floor plan early on. We
made the initial deposit to the manufacturer
in February of 2018. The building was
delivered 8 months later on the 25th of
October. The ensuing six months, we spent
trimming out, finishing and making all the
connections of putting the HVAC.
MOXXIE: And here you are, set to open
publicly tomorrow, June 21st, 2019. What a
feat!
JIM: Yes. All of that has lead us up to this
moment and where we are today.
MOXXIE: So tell me, what was the biggest
sacrifice for you personally during this
process?
JIM: Well, I think my wife actually made
the biggest sacrifice in all of this because
she and I are business partners. While I was
here building the moms and kids shelter, all
during the winter of 2018 and '19, she was
back in her office keeping things together
and keeping the business going. So the
community owes her a great debt of gratitude
for allowing me to do this for me. This
is what I do, I love building, love people,
and love to help people.
MOXXIE: You have worn a lot of hats in
this community and you are a known figure
here. Your heart and compassion and what
you give back is truly remarkable. In two
days, you will have another project, that
because of your efforts, contributions and
passion, becomes a reality. How does it feel
knowing that after all the hours and energy
you have put into this project, that it will be
open to serve the public?
JIM: It’s very humbling, and I’m just so
happy that I have been able to contribute
my time and energy to this project. This
project is going to be so helpful to so many
people going forward. If there is a legacy
project, then this is probably my legacy
project. This building will be here years
after I am gone, and I know that it will help
a lot of people. At this point, this is one of
the biggest projects of my career, and I just
feel blessed that I am able to be here and I
am able to help do these things.
MOXXIE: Jim, we know that so many
people recognize you for this and for so
many other things you have done. We are
so honored to be here with you today and to
be able to tell your story to our community.
Now that this project is complete, what is
next for you?
JIM: Right now I am involved with Longs
Chapel and several other organizations and
teams of people building additional transitional
housing for people in the community.
People that are leaving the moms and kids
shelter will sometimes need a transitional
home, so we are working to build additional
housing for these situations. I am also
involved in a project with Richard Bates
and Mountain Projects where we are looking
at building an additional 10 houses for
workforce housing, for our first responders
and our school teachers in our community.
It will provide housing for people that are
working in our community and for the
services they are providing to all of us.
Interviewed by: Jennifer Allen