In the shadow of the State Capitol, more than 300 Iowa bankers joined together to make the dream of homeownership come true for the family of Randy and Maria Wallace. On Monday, April 7, bankers from across the state began building a home for the fourth annual “Home by the Dome” project, a partnership between the Iowa Bankers Association and Habitat for Humanity.

Iowa’s First Lady Mari Culver and legislative leaders kicked off the build by helping hammer the first nail and raise the first wall. The project is meaningful to volunteers like Tom Pohlman, president of Ames National Corporation, who has helped build two homes.

“I really enjoy the opportunity to get outside and get my hands dirty on a very worthwhile project,” said Pohlman. He also noted the significance of the project as a banker.

“We help people realize their dreams whenever we help them buy or improve a home. In this instance we just went one step further in demonstrating our commitment to Iowa by assisting Habitat for Humanity in meeting the low-income housing needs in the state,” Pohlman said.

Bankers will complete work on the home by Monday, April 14, before it is transported to its final address. Thanks to the guidance of Habitat for Humanity, Randy Wallace is certain that he is well prepared to be a successful homeowner. “I want this dream for my family,” he said.

Financial cosponsors of the project are the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Wells Fargo and the IBA. The mortgage for the Wallace’s home will be serviced by the IBA’s mortgage banking subsidiary, Iowa Bankers Mortgage Corporation (IBMC) which provides loan servicing functions at no cost for the Habitat for Humanity offices in Des Moines and Council Bluffs. IBMC collects payments, performs escrow functions and remits funds to Habitat on 115 loans totaling $7.6 million.

Click here to view the 2008 Home by the Dome Photo Gallery.

Above: Iowa’s First Lady Mari Culver was present for April 7 kickoff.
Top: State employees and volunteers prepare to raise the first wall of the 2008 Home by the Dome in front of a crowd gathered at the foot of the State Capitol.

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