BATC Members and Staff Meet with Congressman Erik Paulsen 

As a part of NAHB’s Bringing Housing Home initiative, multiple BATC members, as well as BATC and BAM staff, met with Congressman Erik Paulsen at his Eden Prairie District office. The meeting kicked off with members discussing the current housing market and the burdensome role of government regulation.

Legislative Update: Talks Begin for Final Deal at Capitol

Legislative leaders gathered yesterday to craft a final deal on state construction projects, transportation funding, supplemental budgeting, and tax reform as the legislature looks toward its May 23rd constitutional deadline. Within those measures are several items of interest to BATC, including our proposed 10-day notice requirement for a housing moratorium, money for construction workforce outreach directed toward High School students, and resolution of the employee paid family leave requirement for businesses.

BATC’s Workforce Development Program Expands

About six months ago, BATC brought together 15 associations and organizations to discuss the labor shortage and determine the value of working together. Then, last month, The Builders Group (TBG) continued BATC’s initial effort, bringing together construction associations under its new Education Foundation. This exciting initiative, which we’re calling Construct Minnesota, resulted in two committees.

BATC in the News

This Week's BATC Related Headlines

Will new homes ever come back?
BATC President Meg Jaeger, Mega Homes, Inc., and Large Volume Committee Chairman Bill Burgess, Lennar Minnesota, were both quoted in last week's Minneapolis-St Paul Business Journal cover story. Read more >>

2016 Builder of the Year
Builder Online names CalAtlantic Homes as this year's Builder of the Year. Read more >>

Inside the May Hot Sheet

“Single-family starts are off from their strong showing in February but this slowdown represents a return to a long-run, gradual growth trend that is consistent with builder confidence levels, which are overall positive. While we are also seeing a monthly decline on the multifamily front, multifamily construction is expected to level off at a solid rate given the high level of rental housing demand.”
           - NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz.

April New Members

We had 20 new members join BATC in the month of April (3 Builders, 2 Remodelers, and 15 Associates). Help us welcome them all to the BATC family!

BATC Foundation Working on Three Exciting Projects for Veterans

Your BATC Foundation has some great projects lined up for 2016. This year's feature project will be a first-of-its-kind housing option for Homeless veterans and their families. The project will be in partnership with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and Rebuilding Together and will be the BATC Foundation's first HomeAid Twin Cities Build. The second two projects both involve helping veterans with much needed home repairs. Two of the three projects are in need of build partners.

Join us for an Evening of Dreams

This year's Evening of Dreams will be held on June 16th from 6 pm – 9 pm at Artisan Home #17 in Orono. Join us for cocktails, appetizers and musical entertainment by world-renowned guitarist Billy McLaughlin. 

This fundraiser for the BATC Foundation is an opportunity to enjoy an evening among the builders, designers, associate members and interested consumers in the beautifully appointed Artisan Home. Registration will open in mid-June!

The Last Sale!

The BATC Foundation will hold its final Builders WareHouse sale on Saturday, May 21.  Everything MUST go!  Featured will be several like-new appliances recently removed from more than 10 model homes.  These include refrigerators, stoves, cooktops, dishwashers, washers, dryers, microwaves and more!   

The sale will be held at 5905 Golden Valley Rd., Golden Valley (warehouse entrance is in the rear of the building), 9 am – 2 pm.

A Bash to Remember!

TheBATC Bash is our member appreciation party that's all about celebrating you. Come down on Tuesday, June 21 for food and drinks, plus networking with your peers. There will be great prizes too! 

Donations are being accepted! If you’d like to donate a prize please contact Nicole@batc.org or 651-697-7571. Prizes should be valued at a minimum of $50. If you are supplying any branded merchandise it should accompany a non-branded prize with at least $50.

Join us for Eggs and Economics

Experienced economist Toby Madden will provide both a short and midterm economic outlook and dive deeper into the Minnesota economy and real estate market.

When:  July 19, 2016 • 7:30 - 9:30 am

Where: Sheraton Minneapolis West
              12201 Ridgedale Drive
              Minnetonka (across from Ridgedale)

$39 per person (includes breakfast)

EPA Lead Renovator Refresher Certification Course

Fulfill your EPA Lead Renovator recertification requirements at BATC’s Contractor University. 

When: June 15, 2016 • 8 am - Noon

Where: Builders Association of the Twin Cities
               2960 Centre Pointe Drive in Roseville

$149 for the class

EPA lead certification and/or re-certification is required for any renovation that disturbs more than six square feet of interior or 20 square feet of exterior lead paint in residential or child-occupied facilities built before 1978. 

Upcoming Calendar of BATC Events

May 11
Member KickStart [Register]
June 10-26 (Fri-Sat-Sun)
Artisan Home Tour
June 15
Small Volume Builders and Remodelers Joint Roundtable 
EPA Lead Refresher Course [Register]
June 21
BATC Member Appreciation Bash
July 19
Eggs & Economics: Mid-Year Economic Forecast [Register]
August 3
BATC Golf Open

For a complete list of events, visit our website at www.batc.org