Route 1 nonprofit Community Forklift recently received a $750,000 grant from the federal government to expand its operations.

Located at 4671 Tanglewood Dr. in Edmonston, Community Forklift resells donated housing materials and furnishings.

Rep. Glenn Ivey recently helped the nonprofit get a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to train its truck crews, who pick up material at construction sites, and buy a new electric vehicle to make deliveries.

Executive Director Trey Davis said the training could help Community Forklift crew members get hands-on experience that they might later use to get a job in a related field.

“If you can deconstruct a building, then those are some of the skills that you can use in going into construction trades,” he said.

Over the summer, Community Forklift held regular “First Friday” events with live music and food trucks. It also works with other local groups, such as Emma’s Torch in D.C.’s Woodridge neighborhood.

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