TN Builder News | January 20, 2021

NAHB is wrapping up the Winter Leadership meeting and is inviting all HBA members to participate in the virtual IBS-X. We are actually pretty interested to see how it works.

In this issue

General Assembly Outlook
Do you know your legislator?
Social Media Feature – Do Business with a Member
IBS-X the virtual experience. Helpful links to the Builders Show Feb 9-12

Priorities for the General Assembly

The week after next the General Assembly will reconvene to begin their regular session. Monday night February 8^th the two chambers will hold a joint convention to hear Governor Bill Lee’s “State of the State” Address.

It is a safe bet the Gov. Lee will repeat themes on personal responsibility during COVID and the importance of getting all students back in the classroom to recover any learning losses. In most school districts your students have been back in school, which is great, kids need that routine. In recent weeks, Gov. Lee has been more vocal in expressing frustration that the two largest school districts Nashville and Memphis have not fully reopened.

Lee recently explained his perspective on the past year and his philosophy for 2021 in an interview with the Washington Examiner. It is a long article and insightful. Here is the intro:

“Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is a big believer that wearing masks is an effective weapon against the coronavirus but adamantly opposes government mandates, arguing that forcing people to don face coverings is counterproductive.”

We expect the Senate will focus early on budgetary related bills. Senators want to get these essential items ready in case an exposure interrupts the regular order of legislative session. The House has signaled they will take a different approach holding budget hearings and working regular bills. Either way, our association is prepared to move quickly to pass our priority items and stop any bad bills that emerge.

The major challenge for Associations like ours this year will be the limited access to the Legislative office building. In an attempt adhere to pre-contact tracing protocols access to state buildings is restricted. This is why is very important that Builders and Associates have good personal relationship with your area legislators. This year we will have to use many voices to reach elected officials before they act on legislation.

Do you have a good friendship with a legislator? Have you shared with them the challenges of your business during the last 10 months? If so, send our team a note. Email Charles Schneider, we like to know who is keeping their elected officials up to date on our industry.

You should also print out the old-fashioned face-book contact card we made for each local HBA. Download the pdf for your area, by visiting this link on our website.

If you don’t know your legislator, you should get to know them. First, they are presented with all kinds of legislation that can impact your business. Second, most of them would be interested to lean more about your business. Explaining your challenges and working with your peers to offer solutions, can often lead to a common sense fix.

Are you an active Facebook-er?

Help Spread our Membership Values on Social Media.

Anyone who has be to a Home Builders Association meeting anywhere in the country knows, HBA members hold a core value to do business with other members. We want to support fellow members who are committed to our association and advocate for our industry.

Now NAHB has created a profile ring for your Facebook photo. It looks like this.

Add yours now. Go to this link on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes s.

Once there, type NAHB into the search box at the top of the tool and you’ll see the “Let’s Do Business / NAHB Member” frame. Select the profile ring and add it to your profile picture. It was actually a lot easier than we thought it would be.

Stat of the Week: Mothers & the Workforce

According to a new Gallup survey, only 47% of parents whose kids are in school virtually are working full time, compared to 71% of parents whose children are back in brick-and-mortar schools.

IBS- X is slated to be the biggest gathering of residential construction professionals (and companies) all year.

It means that if you don’t attend, you’re throwing away several opportunities to make connections or find a product or service that could improve you and your business and take you in a new and improved direction.

It’s really, really inexpensive. Same Builders’ Show benefits for less. For NAHB Members? An Expo Pass is 100% FREE.

Education Sessions @ IBS are often the most talked about resource by members.

Check out more than 100 educational opportunities in 9 areas of focus.

· Live sessions offered in real-time just like the in-person IBS

· Semi-live sessions blending pre-recorded elements with live speaker interaction through video and chat

· On-demand recordings available at your convenience through March 31, 2021

Upcoming Events: HBAT

The mission of the Home Builders of Tennessee is to advocate for the residential contracting industry and our business ecosystem. We have a series of activities this spring to keep you up to date on legislative proposals that may impact your business and your bottom line.

Government Affairs calls (via Zoom)

Designed as a 30-minute update of upcoming legislative activity for the week.

Directors and members who have expressed an interest are sent a weekly agenda and an outlook calendar item.

Spring Legislative Days

Due to COVID restrictions, we cannot hold our typical legislative conference with hundreds of people. Instead, we are encouraging local HBAs to indicate a Monday or Thursday in March. If you are interested speak your local president or EO.

West TN, Greater Knoxville & Ocoee Region have dates reserved.

HBAT Board Meetings

Spring Board Meeting – virtual meeting

March 11-13, 2021, we are building a Zoom agenda allowing all committees to meet

Summer Meeting – in person meeting (Destin , FL)

May 23-26, agenda forthcoming.

Fall Meeting – Middle TN. date to be determined.

Paycheck Protection Program Round 2 Applications

The PPP2 application began last week. Contact your banker or financial advisor for more information.

If you got a PPP loan in the first round:

You may be able log in and apply right away. You will need your business tax ID, the email address of the primary signer and the social security number of the primary signer.
You are allowed to use the same payroll calculation you used in the first round, regardless of how your payroll has changed since then.
If you use the same payroll calculations, you do not need to complete the calculator tool or upload payroll documents.
If your new loan request is for more than $150,000, you will be required to upload documentation to prove that you meet the revenue reduction requirement.

If you did not get a PPP loan in the first round:

Contact your banker or financial advisor before applying. They will help you get ready to use the online application.
You will need to be able to show your payroll from 2020. Most institutions have a helpful tool to calculate your eligible loan amount.
Don’t wait!

Participate in Member Savings Programs

Home Builders preach the benefits of doing business with a member. We want you to do business with like-minded people who support our industry. We also encourage you to take advantage of savings by participating in Rebate Programs.

Builders and Remodelers, if you’re not participating in this rebate program, you’re leaving money on the table. Register and claim your rebates www.HBATrebates.com

NAHB has Additional Savings Programs for Business Savvy Members

Whether it’s a discount on a product or service or a more efficient way to operate, the smart business person is always looking at ways to cut costs and maximize returns.

Through agreements with more than 20 national companies, NAHB offers exclusive discounts on a variety of products and services that can benefit your business, employees and family.

Make the most of your membership and check out the discounts here.

This online pdf flyer maybe easier to see on your phone.

TN Builder News | January 20, 2021

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