ICI Homes broke ground on a new lot in Oakmont Thursday morning, but unlike the dozens of custom homes surrounding the construction site, the profit from the new home will go to charity. 

Through ICI Homes for Hope, the company is looking to contribute more towards charity than it did in the past. Joe Blanco, division president for ICI Homes, said the company has always supported charities through small projects, like building a ramp or painting a house, but recently the leadership thought ICI Homes could do more.  

“We got to a point where we said, ‘We need to figure out how we can do a little more,’” Blanco said at the groundbreaking. “What’s something a little larger that we can do to bring all of our vendors together, everybody that we work with in the home building industry, to try to affect change a little more in our community.” 

Unlike nonprofits that build homes for low-income owners, the home in Oakmont will be built similar to the surrounding houses and sell at market rate. But the net profit that the company would normally get will instead go to four Alachua County charities—Pace Center for Girls, Rex and Brody Foundation, Junior Achievement of Alachua County and the UF Norman Fixel Institute.  

Blanco said the last time the company used this fundraising structure was in Jacksonville, and the project raised around $126,000 for a single charity.  

“We’re hoping this one has a little bigger impact for Gainesville,” Blanco said. “Certainly breaking in between the four organizations, we’re working very hard. Our vendors have really stepped up to help so far, so we’re excited that what is going to bring to this community.” 

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward and Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce President Eric Godet attended and spoke at the groundbreaking.  

Ward said the area needs more connections between its different sectors like ICI Homes has coordinated.  

“There are so many great nonprofits in our community, but until we make the connection between the nonprofit community, the government community, the neighbors. . . and the business community, we won’t really thrive the way that we know Gainesville can,” Ward said.  

Godet highlighted the growth of the Alachua County community—22% over the last five years. He said the community needs more creative solutions to keep up.  

“With that, we have to think out of the box. We have to be creative, and I thank ICI Homes and everything they do,” Godet said.