Life Change Happens Here

 FAQs

IMPACT

    • Age of our buildings (70 to 91 years old) 

    • Physical wear and tear (current Cullman Farmhouse is in need of $350k in foundation repairs) 

    • Inadequate/limited space at the farm--one space for multiple functions 

    • Failure to address buildings now will lead to a disruption of services, could cease to operate in 2-5 years 

    • Elevates an experience that is more dignified and safer 

    • Improved retention/graduation rates: consistently, our most significant response from Men’s Program exit surveys reflects the inadequacies in their facilities 

    • Surroundings influence outcomes—where people feel safe and comfortable, they stay longer—and the longer they stay, the stronger their chances of lifelong recovery 

    • Allows us to serve more participants 

    • No national standard of “success”  

    • Measurement of success is program completion (see graph) 

    • 1 out of 3 participants completes the program 

    • Program completion is realistically step one of success 

    • Capacity increases from 240 to 414 participants served annually (+174) 

    • Bessemer Men +20 

    • Cullman Farm +20 

    • Bessemer Women’s Aftercare +18 

    • CLCC Dorm +85 

    • CLCC Cottages & Apartments +31 

    • Average age 40 years old 

    • 82% male 

    • 24% identify with a race category other than white 

    • 79% homeless or housing insecure 

    • 24% did not finish high school or earn GED 

    • 60% self-report they were unemployed for 6 or more months prior to enrollment  

    • 66% have one of more children 

    • 45% do not have a valid driver’s license 

    • 60% list stimulants (such as cocaine and methamphetamines) and/or opioids (such as heroin and fentanyl) as their drug of choice  

    • Self-reported 4.5 overdose episodes prior to applying to The Foundry 

    • Average of 3 treatment/recovery programs before applying to The Foundry 

    • 67% have an active or unresolved legal issue 

    • 64 out of 67 Alabama Counties served 

    • Employment readiness-92% are gainfully employed one year after graduation 

    • Economic impact-Over $4.5M in new wages flowing into local economies 

    • Community solution to addiction crisis in Alabama 

    • The Foundry owns the property in Bessemer 

    • 55-year presence and reputation in the community 

    • Rapport, Relationships, Reputation 

    • We feel called to be here and in each of our three locations 

    • Micah’s story (Foundry serves as a “light in a dark place”) 

    • The overall vision of a safe, life-giving community will be incomplete 

    • However, we are phasing this Master Plan to ensure we meet the needs of our participants by cutting it into “bite sized pieces” 

    • In order to meet the goal, we will present giving opportunities to: individuals, corporations, foundations 

    • We are choosing to not incur any long-term debt 

    • Position The Foundry to be debt free ($1.38million) 

    • Contribute to our endowment to address future scholarships  

    • Position ourselves for future expansion 

Process

    • Board Operational Committee toured the Old Chapel to address whether to repair or to build  

    • “I don’t think we’re thinking big enough” – Ben Nevins 

    • State of all facilities reviewed and vision cast 

    • Maintenance building demolition January 2026 

    • Groundbreaking ceremony 

    • Phase 1/Building 1-Bessemer Dorm 

     

    Stage 1:   Pre-Work/Civil (estimated 3-4 months) 

    • Site Survey, Geotechnical Survey, and Environmental Study 

    • Consultant Selections (Civil Engineer, Construction Manager, etc.) 

    • Turner Batson Agreement Finalized 

    • Price Check of conceptual design 

    • Confirmation of durations for subsequent stages  

    • Estimate of $100-150k for this stage 

      

    Stage 2:  Design and Preconstruction (estimated 8-9 months) 

    • Schematic Design  

    • Design Development and Price Check from contractor 

    • Construction Documents and Price Check from contractor 

    • Civil design and logistics planning 

    • Permitting with City of Bessemer 

    • Estimate of $500k - $600k for this stage 

      

    Stage 3: Construction and Occupancy (estimated 12-14 months) 

    • Site work/utility relocations (this could possibly be done in Stage 2, if we could get adequate permitting (in ballpark of $100-$200k) 

    • Construction of Residence Hall ($9m in fundraising budget) 

    • Purchase and installation of furniture 

    • Estimate of $10m for this stage 

    • Anticipated 2-year fundraising phase 

    • Each project will have its own timeline based on percentage of goal reached 

    • Construction projects start and end times may overlap 

    • 5-year pledges / Anticipate at least 5 years of construction for all 3 phases 

    • We will proceed at the pace of funding 

    • Cullman “Come and See” luncheons scheduled for Jan 14, Feb 18, and Mar 18  

    • Private tours can be scheduled at your request 

    • Tours at CLCC will begin prior to Phase 3 

    • Individual meetings available 

    • Out of State meetings available (Micah and Edmund to California) 

    • Webpage 

    • Joey Daly, Chief Development Officer                                                                    

    • Phone: (601) 590-3460.      

    • Micah Andrews, Chief Executive Officer 

    • Phone: (205) 966-5552.      

FUNDING

    • Partnership with outside consultants on plans and cost analysis 

      • Third Lens 

      • Turner Batson 

      • BL Harbert 

    • Phase One      
      $15,000,000 

    • Phase Two      
      $8,500,000 

    • Phase Three   
      $8,500,000 

    • Possibly, but we are working to minimize operational impact 

    • Seeking 85% of funding from new donors, highly invested current donors, foundations, and corporations before going public to our database 

    • Separate account established for Master Plan project 

    • Building at the pace of giving partners’ generosity 

    • Seeking public funding from Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Federal Home Loan Bank, and New Market Tax Credits (can apply to every project) 

    • Private individuals and specific events 

    • Planned tours & presentations for pastors, mission pastors, and other leadership 

    • 60 churches and faith partners giving to The Foundry over the past 3 years 

     

  • Yes – multiple opportunities at all locations: $150,000 - $2,000,000 

    • Creative funding opportunities 

    • Story of a farmer selling pigs 

    • Yes – Each board member has made a 5-year pledge to the campaign. 

    • We have established a giving plan for our entire staff to support the campaign.