Ameris Bank Donates $10,000 to Lifecycle Building Center to Advance Brick Reuse and Sustainable Community Development in Atlanta
Ameris Bank has reinforced its commitment to environmental sustainability and community development by donating $10,000 to Lifecycle Building Center (LBC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to building material reuse in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The contribution will support LBC’s innovative Brick to Brick program, an initiative designed to recover, restore, and redistribute reclaimed bricks from demolition and renovation projects, reducing construction waste while making affordable building materials available for community projects.
The donation highlights Ameris Bank’s ongoing efforts to invest in programs that generate both environmental and social benefits. By supporting Lifecycle Building Center’s newest initiative, the bank is helping establish what is expected to become the first large-scale brick reuse operation in the United States, creating a sustainable model that combines waste reduction, workforce development, affordable construction materials, and neighborhood revitalization.
Supporting a Circular Economy Through Material Reuse
The construction industry generates millions of tons of waste every year, with a significant portion ending up in landfills despite many materials remaining structurally sound and suitable for reuse. Bricks, in particular, are often discarded during demolition projects because of the labor-intensive process required to remove old mortar and prepare them for reuse.
Lifecycle Building Center’s Brick to Brick program addresses this challenge by recovering vintage bricks from buildings slated for demolition or major renovation. Once collected, each brick is carefully cleaned to remove mortar before being prepared for resale and reuse in future construction projects.
Rather than allowing historically valuable building materials to become landfill waste, the initiative extends their useful life while preserving architectural character and reducing the demand for newly manufactured bricks.
Ameris Bank’s financial support will help expand the nonprofit’s ability to carry out this labor-intensive process through investments in specialized equipment and facility improvements.
A Community Investment with Environmental Impact
The $10,000 contribution represents more than a charitable donation—it is an investment in environmental stewardship and community resilience.
According to Ameris Bank, the funding will specifically support the Brick to Brick fundraising campaign, enabling Lifecycle Building Center to purchase industrial brick-cleaning equipment and make infrastructure improvements necessary to launch the expanded reuse operation.
These enhancements will significantly increase the nonprofit’s processing capacity, allowing more construction materials to be recovered and diverted from landfills while creating a sustainable supply of reclaimed brick for affordable housing developments, nonprofit projects, historic restorations, and community construction initiatives.
By helping finance these improvements, Ameris Bank is supporting a long-term solution that benefits builders, nonprofits, homeowners, and neighborhoods throughout metro Atlanta.
Brick to Brick Program Creates Multiple Community Benefits
The Brick to Brick initiative delivers value across several important areas simultaneously.
First, it reduces environmental waste by preventing usable construction materials from entering landfills.
Second, it preserves historically significant building materials that may otherwise be permanently lost.
Third, it provides affordable reclaimed bricks that reduce construction costs for community organizations, nonprofits, and residents.
Finally, it creates employment and workforce development opportunities associated with material recovery, processing, and distribution.
This combination of environmental sustainability and economic development makes the program an example of the growing circular economy movement, where materials remain in productive use rather than being discarded after a single lifecycle.
As cities continue emphasizing sustainable development, programs such as Brick to Brick demonstrate how reuse initiatives can contribute to both environmental conservation and local economic growth.
Lifecycle Building Center’s Broader Mission
While the Brick to Brick initiative represents an exciting new chapter, Lifecycle Building Center has spent more than a decade promoting building material reuse throughout metro Atlanta.
Founded with the mission of strengthening communities through responsible resource management, the nonprofit works to rescue usable construction materials before they become waste.
Rather than allowing salvageable items to enter landfills, LBC carefully recovers, processes, and redistributes a wide range of building products, including:
- Cabinets
- Doors
- Windows
- Flooring
- Hardware
- Furniture
- Lighting fixtures
- Plumbing fixtures
- Electrical components
- Architectural materials
- Commercial building supplies
These materials are either donated to charitable organizations or sold through LBC’s Reuse Center in southwest Atlanta at deeply discounted prices.
The organization’s work helps reduce construction costs while simultaneously extending the life of valuable building resources.
Significant Environmental Achievements Since 2011
Lifecycle Building Center has built an impressive record of environmental and community impact since its founding in 2011.
Over the past decade, the nonprofit has successfully redirected approximately 14 million pounds of reusable building materials away from landfills.
Instead of becoming waste, these materials have been placed back into productive use throughout local communities.
The organization’s efforts have generated approximately $7 million in community savings, making affordable construction materials available to individuals, nonprofit organizations, affordable housing developers, schools, churches, and community improvement initiatives.
In addition to discounted sales, Lifecycle Building Center has donated free building materials to more than 450 nonprofit organizations, supporting projects that might otherwise have faced significant financial barriers.
These accomplishments illustrate how material reuse can simultaneously benefit environmental sustainability, economic development, and community revitalization.
Ameris Bank Highlights Community Partnership
Ameris Bank views its support for Lifecycle Building Center as part of a broader commitment to investing in organizations that strengthen local communities while promoting long-term sustainability.
Commenting on the partnership, Carl Insel, Atlanta Market President for Ameris Bank, emphasized the importance of supporting innovative environmental initiatives capable of generating lasting community benefits.
According to Insel, the bank is proud to serve as one of the leading sponsors of Lifecycle Building Center’s Brick to Brick fundraising campaign.
He noted that the financial contribution will help fund facility improvements as well as specialized brick-cleaning equipment necessary for launching the expanded reuse program.
Insel also highlighted the broader significance of the initiative, describing it as the first large-scale brick reuse operation of its kind in the United States.
He explained that the project will reduce landfill waste while making high-quality reclaimed brick available for valuable community construction projects throughout the Atlanta region.
Ameris Bank believes initiatives like Brick to Brick demonstrate how private sector organizations and nonprofit partners can work together to create meaningful environmental and social impact.
Workforce Development Opportunities
Beyond environmental sustainability, the Brick to Brick initiative is expected to generate valuable workforce training opportunities.
Cleaning reclaimed bricks requires specialized equipment and skilled labor capable of safely processing recovered materials without damaging their structural integrity.
As production capacity increases, Lifecycle Building Center anticipates expanding workforce training programs that prepare individuals for careers related to material recovery, construction recycling, warehouse operations, logistics, and sustainable building practices.
These training opportunities may particularly benefit residents from underinvested communities by providing practical skills connected to growing sectors of the green economy.
The combination of workforce development and environmental stewardship further strengthens the long-term community value created by the initiative.
Serving Underinvested Communities
Lifecycle Building Center places particular emphasis on serving neighborhoods that historically have experienced limited investment.
According to Shannon Goodman, co-founder and director of Lifecycle Building Center, the organization’s Reuse Center primarily serves residents from underinvested communities along with nonprofit organizations seeking affordable building materials.
By reducing material costs, LBC enables organizations to stretch limited project budgets while completing renovations, housing developments, community facilities, educational spaces, and neighborhood improvement projects.
Goodman noted that Ameris Bank’s donation arrives at a particularly important time as the nonprofit prepares to launch its brick reuse initiative.
The funding will enable the purchase of much-needed equipment while significantly expanding the organization’s processing capabilities.
Once operational, the new equipment is expected to allow Lifecycle Building Center to repurpose approximately twice the amount of construction material it currently processes.
This increased capacity will amplify both the environmental and economic impact of the nonprofit’s operations.
Oakland Exchange Demonstrates Practical Success
A notable example of the brick reuse concept can already be seen through the Oakland Exchange redevelopment project located immediately north of Lifecycle Building Center.
The project involves the transformation of the historic Cut Rate Box warehouses, approximately 100 years old, into a mixed-use destination featuring residential, office, and retail space along Atlanta’s Beltline Westside Trail.
Working in partnership with Choate Construction, Lifecycle Building Center successfully salvaged historic bricks removed during the renovation process.
Rather than disposing of these century-old materials, the organization preserved them for future reuse in construction projects throughout the community.
This successful collaboration demonstrates the practical viability of recovering and reusing high-quality building materials during major redevelopment efforts.
As similar urban revitalization projects continue across Atlanta and other cities, the Brick to Brick model offers a scalable approach for preserving historic materials while reducing construction waste.
Expanding Sustainable Construction Practices
The growing emphasis on sustainable construction has increased interest in reclaimed building materials among developers, architects, builders, and homeowners.
Reclaimed brick offers several advantages beyond environmental sustainability.
Many older bricks possess distinctive colors, textures, and craftsmanship that are difficult to replicate with newly manufactured products.
Historic materials also contribute unique architectural character to restoration projects while reducing demand for energy-intensive brick manufacturing.
By making reclaimed brick more widely available, Lifecycle Building Center helps support environmentally responsible construction while preserving elements of architectural heritage.
Ameris Bank’s financial support will help expand access to these materials throughout metro Atlanta.
The partnership between Ameris Bank and Lifecycle Building Center represents a meaningful investment in both environmental sustainability and community development. Through its $10,000 donation, Ameris Bank is helping launch an innovative brick reuse initiative that promises to reduce landfill waste, preserve valuable historic materials, create workforce development opportunities, and provide affordable construction resources for neighborhoods across metro Atlanta.
As Lifecycle Building Center continues expanding its operations, the Brick to Brick program has the potential to become a national model for sustainable construction material reuse. Combined with the nonprofit’s long-standing success in diverting 14 million pounds of usable materials from landfills and generating $7 million in community savings, the initiative further demonstrates how strategic partnerships between financial institutions and nonprofit organizations can produce lasting economic, environmental, and social benefits.
By supporting projects that strengthen local communities while advancing responsible resource management, Ameris Bank continues to reinforce its commitment to sustainable investment and community-focused philanthropy, helping build a stronger and more resilient future for the Atlanta region.
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