Inside: Special Session Ahead?

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4 Things You Need to Know

  1. ROMA Award entry deadline is this Friday! Don't miss your chance to be recognized for the amazing work you do. Enter here >>
     
  2. Support your BATC Foundation and enjoy a tour of a stunning home! Join us for this year's Evening of Dreams. Learn more >>
     
  3. We're halfway there! Join us for Eggs and Economics to get your mid-year economic update and outlook. Register here >>
     
  4. Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We hope you all have a nice long relaxing weekend.
 

This Week's Top Stories

 
 

ICYMI: 2016 Session Concludes, BATC Successfully Protects the Industry

 
 

The legislative session came to a conclusion around midnight Sunday, producing a tax bill and supplemental budget spending, while leaving a comprehensive transportation bill and capital improvements (bonding) bill lost in the final moments of the session. Given the broad agreement on the need for transportation and bonding for infrastructure, it’s possible that Governor Dayton will call a special session to reconsider those two items. For BATC and the homebuilding industry, the 2016 session was a success. Read more on how we accomplished our three goals this session.

 
 

Builder Groups Back Effort to Halt Overtime Rule

 
 

Home builders responded quickly to the U.S. Labor Department's new rules that double the threshold at which a private-sector employee becomes ineligible for overtime to $47,476 annually, or $913 per week, from roughly half that amount. 

 

BATC Around Town

 

BATC Presents to Appraisal InstituteBATC Executive Director, David Siegel, joined Chad Smith from Residential Science Resources in presenting last week to the Appraisal Institute of Minnesota at its 18th Trends Seminar. Their talk was entitled Smart Homes for Smart Buyers: The Rise of Green. David and Chad discussed BATC’s Green Path program, the HERS Index, current trends regarding home buyers and energy efficiency and the value of energy testing. We continue working to strengthen our relationship with the appraisal community.

Meeting with Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association on Water Issues - Our government affairs team met last week with the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association to discuss regulatory issues surrounding water. The meeting revealed several areas of common interest and opened the door to joint efforts regarding this critical issue. Many experts suggest that water management will be one of the critical issues facing our industry and our state over the next 10 years. Learn more >>

Legislative Candidate Discussions - BATC staff and leadership have been meeting with legislative candidates over the past month and are now at full-speed as the pivot toward the November 8th elections has occurred.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BATC in the News

 

This Week's BATC Related Headlines

OUTFRONT Media Brings Digital Advertising to Minneapolis and St. Paul Skyway System
BATC is among the first organizations to use these new digital ads. Read more >>

Ian Peterson hopes for welcome market as David Weekley Homes expands to Twin Cities
Star Tribune did a Q & A with BATC member David Weekly. Read more >>

 
 

Millennials Choosing Suburbia After All?

 
 

A new survey reveals millennials are moving to the suburbs when they are ready to buy homes. The 2016 National Association of Realtors® Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study (released in March) reveals that the Millennial generation is buying homes more than ever before and 51 percent of them are buying homes in the ‘burbs.

 
 

Contracts…Your Best Friend, or Your Worst Enemy?

 
 

Small Volume Builders and Remodelers Roundtable Lunch and Learn

Join us to make sure your contracts are protecting you! Our panelists will share best practices for new home and remodeling customer contracts, and let you pick their brains during the Q and A.

Panelists: Don Skelly, President of Hanson Builders
and Tim Hassett, Attorney with Felhaber Larson Fenlon and Vogt

June 15 |12:00 - 2:00 pm, includes lunch | at BATC

 
 

Member Rebate Program Deadline Extended!

 
 

Don’t Leave Money On The Table

Builder and remodeler members can claim for any completed residential addresses from January – March 2015 that used any of 50+ manufacturer brands.

The deadline to submit has been extended to May 27th.   

 
 
 
 

Join Us to Celebrate You!

The BATC 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! 

 
 
 
 

Two Great Opportunities!

EPA Lead Renovator Recertification
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.  

June 28, 2016 • 8 am - Noon | at BATC | $149 

Understanding the MN Residential Energy Code
Contractor University and the Minnesota Energy Code Compliance Collaborative present three sessions to help increase understanding of compliance with the Minnesota Residential Energy Code. 

July 29, 2016 | 7:30 am - Noon | $29 per person (includes breakfast and all sessions) | at BATC | 3 Credits Available

Sessions: Insulation and the New Residential Energy Code, Balanced Ventilation and Testing: HRVs and ERVs, Best Practices for High-Performance Enclosures, “Ask A Code Official” Forum

 
 

Green Path Full Speed Ahead!

 
 
 

So far this year 7,425 homes have been Green Path tested! 

 
 
 
 
 

Upcoming Calendar of BATC Events

 

May 27
ROMA entry commitment and payment due [Register]
June 10-26 (Fri-Sat-Sun)
Artisan Home Tour
June 15
Small Volume Builders and Remodelers Joint Roundtable 
June 21
BATC Member Appreciation Bash
June 28
EPA Lead Refresher Course [Register]
July 8 
Builder of the Year, Remodeler of the Year, and Associate of the Year entry due [Register]
Rising Star nominations due [Register]
July 19
Eggs & Economics: Mid-Year Economic Forecast [Register]
July 29
Reggie entry due [Register]
Bennie entry due [Register]
MN Residential Energy Code Course [Register]
August 3
BATC Golf Open
August 5
Trillium entry opens [Register]

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