The National Center for Craftsmanship (http://www.nccraftsmanship.org) is a Colorado based 501c3 educational non-profit organization. Their mission is to preserve, enhance and sustain quality craftsmanship in their communities. One of the Center’s primary goals is to build and develop the next generation of community craftspeople. They provide young people and adults an opportunity to learn basic and advanced trade skills through participation in applied, hands-on projects. Over the past three years they have developed their DeConstruct training program model that maximizes benefits in the three primary areas of sustainability: environmental, educational, and economic gains.

The Center’s non-profit status in conjunction with a Colorado State Enterprise Zone project designation provides the Center with significant financial tools to achieve our goals. Owners of unwanted buildings donate all or part of these structures to the Center as “learning laboratory” assets. The value of the donated asset is determined by an independent, third-party appraiser. Additional cash donations are provided to fund the training program. The combination of in-kind and cash donations activate a set of tax incentives that offer significant financial returns. Typically, the value of these tax deductions and credits more than off-set the cost of deconstructing the buildings. The tax incentives for deconstruction may be transferable to investors should the current building owners be unable to fund the project and/or show tax liability.

A typical NCC DeConstruct project is developed first by identifying an unwanted building and meeting with the owner. Once the parties agree to move forward with the project, a donation agreement is signed whereby the terms of the in-kind material and cash donation to the Center is elaborated. NCC, at its discretion, engages professional educators, trainers, private contractors, and volunteers to deconstruct the building per the agreed upon scope of activities. Critical to the successful completion of the project is a documented educational activity consistent with the Center’s mission.