COLUMBIA, MO (June 17, 2025) – Job Point, Ameren Missouri, representatives from the City of Columbia and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors gathered in the growing heat of the day at 903 N. Garth Ave, the site of Job Point’s latest Affordable Housing project. One solitary wall stood along the south side of the poured cement slab, showcasing that construction was already underway by students in Job Point’s YouthBuild and Adult Carpentry programs.
Funding for this project has been made possible through the public/private partnership with the City of Columbia, Ameren Missouri and other community partners. The impact of this project goes beyond the creation of new affordable homes; it also provides an unparalleled opportunity to support this community and address the ongoing labor shortages in the trades through on-the-job training. Not to mention the way it will change the lives of the students involved in the project.
At 10:00 am, the crowd gathered around the brightly colored golden ribbon and one giant pair of scissors. Students held up signs on the edge of the crowd as John Scalise, President and CEO of Job Point stepped forward to speak.
“Without the support of great community partners, this project would not be possible,” Scalise said. “Thank you so much to the City [of Columbia] and to Ameren for the financial and ongoing support of our community. It’s nice to be able to give a hands-on experience as well as the in classroom education experience and to give the youth here and adults the opportunity build a home. It’s a great circle to be a part of and it has direct impact on the community. We really thank you for your generosity and your time. We’re truly grateful.”
“Ameren is about powering quality life. I think Job Point is doing that in two different ways, through supporting job training for young adults trying to further their career as well as investing in economic development infrastructure,” Reyna Spencer, Ameren Community Program Manager for Community Engagement and Impact said. “Congratulations to the local team.These are the spaces that Ameren wants to be in and see all of our communities thrive. We are always here to help and support our communities.”
Through Job Point’s YouthBuild and Adult Carpentry Programs, students work alongside industry professionals as they build the home from the ground up. They learn about all aspects of the building process, from surveying the site, working with the City, designing a home, working with contractors and the precision required when actually constructing the home. Since 2003, Job Point students and staff have constructed or renovated 42 homes in central Missouri.
The team hopes to complete the construction of this home by the beginning of 2026 and make it available for purchase to an income-eligible homebuyer once it has been inspected and approved for occupancy by the City of Columbia. As the cost of construction materials, interest rates and home prices have been on the rise, for many, the lingering dream of homeownership has been slipping away. Even this modestly designed 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in Columbia’s Ward 1 will cost more than $200,000 to build by the time it’s completed later this year.
But thanks to the generosity of Ameren’s Charitable Trust and other sponsors in Job Point’s Affordable Housing Initiative, this home will be available for sale at a much more affordable $150,000 with down payment assistance for income-eligible homebuyers. Funds allocated from Ameren’s Charitable Trust come from corporate earnings and are not part of a business expense charged to customers.
About Job Point
Job Point is Missouri’s premier employment center and Community Development Corporation. Since 1965, we have been linking people and jobs by providing career planning and job placement assistance. We specialize in preparing individuals to enter the workforce, while meeting a critical need of the business community. The organization is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, with services extending to Moberly, Boonville and the surrounding communities. Since 2003, Job Point’s YouthBuild program has helped over 1,100 youth and young adults reclaim their education and build the skills they need for life-long learning, leadership and personal and professional success. Through YouthBuild and the Adult Carpentry programs, Job Point has constructed more than 30 affordable homes in Columbia, MO.
