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Isaiah 117 House, a local non-profit organization that cares for children awaiting foster placement, will soon break ground on an expansion project at their resource center in Elizabethton.

On Wednesday, November 1, at 1 p.m., the non-profit will host a public groundbreaking and donation announcement for a new national training center and meeting space thanks to a generous contribution from Eastman Credit Union. The event will officially begin the construction of the Eastman Credit Union Training Center, the first phase as part of a three-phase project and will feature representatives from both Isaiah 117 House and Eastman Credit Union.

“We are so grateful to Eastman Credit Union for coming alongside us as we seek to change the way foster care begins, everywhere”, said Ronda Paulson, founder, and executive director of Isaiah 117 House.

Since 2018, Isaiah 117 House has experienced unprecedented growth, from one house in Carter County to over 50 locations across 12 states in just five years.

“The growth we have experienced tells us the problem of children waiting in child welfare offices for foster placement is huge, but we believe our God is bigger,” said Paulson. “This new space will allow us to continue to expand and support locations across the country by providing more office space for support personnel and a training center for our growing team.”

“Part of our mission at Eastman Credit Union is to help build stronger communities. The impact of Isaiah 117 House is life-changing for thousands of children, and this organization is bringing communities together in a powerful way.  We are honored that our donation will spearhead this expansion project,” said Kelly Price, ECU’s president and CEO.  

The new building will also allow the organization to host community training events at their resource center, says Paulson. “We have dreamed of hosting local volunteer training and even foster care training classes at our home office, and this space will allow us to do that.” 

Preston Construction is leading the almost 2000-square-foot training center project that is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024, as well as future phases of the overall projects.

The groundbreaking is open to the public and will be held at the Isaiah 117 House Resource Center in Elizabethton. Parking for the event will be available near the Mayflower Seafood Restaurant in the Betsytowne Shopping Center at 1733 US Hwy 19E, Elizabethton.

Isaiah 117 House provides for the needs of children awaiting foster care placement, whatever they may be, in these critical moments between removal and placement. Isaiah 117 House has locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.