20 Stories for 20 Years: 20 Years of Impact Beyond the Jobsite
At Thomas, building strong foundations has always meant more than concrete and steel. For the past two decades, we’ve believed that every project is an opportunity to strengthen the community around it, whether that’s through the purpose of the space itself or the relationships made along the way.
Our commitment to community is reflected in the work we choose to do and the way we choose to do it. From healthcare facilities and nonprofit partnerships to youth development and civic involvement, we look for ways to make a meaningful difference on and off the jobsite.
One example is our ongoing relationship with Eden Village, a tiny home community designed to provide permanent housing for individuals facing chronic homelessness. After partnering with LS3P for the initial build, our team recently returned to help construct a greenhouse through Work on Wilmington so they could tend to their community garden year-round. It’s just one small way we aim to keep showing up even after the ribbon is cut.
We also take pride in our long-standing involvement with the YMCA, supporting its mission not just as their builder, but as a community partner. From the NIR Family YMCA to our current work on the Midtown YMCA, we’ve been honored to help expand access to health and wellness. Our team continues to volunteer, donate, and participate in programs that help shape future leaders and the programs that support them.
Through our partnership with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, we support initiatives that drive progress across the region. This year, our EVP Jim Hundley serves as the Chamber’s Board Chair, continuing our legacy of civic leadership and reinforcing our belief that strong communities are built through collaboration, advocacy, and a shared vision for the future.
We’re especially passionate about investing in future talent. Through our involvement in the Chamber’s Career and Leadership Development Academy (CLDA), we help introduce seventh-grade students in New Hanover County to career pathways in construction and related industries. We also recently made a donation towards a scholarship at Cape Fear Community College to support students in the construction management program–an investment in our local workforce that will shape our industry’s future.
Many of the projects we take on are driven by a shared purpose–to serve the specific needs of the communities in which we build. That’s especially true in our healthcare work, where access and impact matter deeply. At MedNorth in downtown Wilmington, we’re expanding the clinic’s space to help it reach more patients and introduce new services to meet evolving needs in a critical part of town. Years earlier, we were selected to respond to the growing behavioral health crisis by expanding the Wilmington Treatment Center during the peak of the opioid epidemic at a time when mental health care was desperately needed.
As we reflect on the past 20 years, one thing is clear: community is something we build into every decision we make. Whether it’s a new facility, a volunteer project, or a leadership opportunity, our team is Always Building to be part of something bigger.
