• Gobble gobble! Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
   
• Thanks for your food donations! We helped Team Bel dominate the competition. See below.
   
• Only one week left! Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase Entry Deadline Dec.3rd. See below.
   
• Need to reach BATC members? Get your 2015 BATC advertising in order. Contact Kori or Brad today!
   
• Community members gathered to welcome Marco Solt! Read more below on the awesome kick off to the project.

We wouldn't be BATC without you! We're so thankful to have such amazing members and staff. Thank you for all that you do for us. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Minnesota Ranks 37th on the Thanksgiving Misery Index! Meaning we're much happier on Turkey Day than our neighboring states of Iowa which ranks #2 and Wisconisn which ranks #5. The ranking comes from Estately.com which looked at States' conditions that increased the likelihood of a terrible Thanksgiving.

The six criteria included the likelihood of a food poisoning episode, the likelihood of relatives getting drunk and making a scene, the likelihood of a political arguments, dietary restrictions, NFL teams losing, and black friday shopping. Read More >>

We sure like wild rice casserole, at least according to our google search history! The New York Times decided to take a more scientific approach to each States' favorite thanksgiving dish by using google search history. Topping out Minnesotan's favorites also were snicker salad, broccoli bacon salad and cookie salad. Read more >>

Thank you to all who helped us support TEAM BEL for the KARE-11 Food Fight. Team Bel won the fight with 496,749 pounds of food. In all 1,429,000 pounds of food was raised by all four teams. The real winner is 2nd Harvest! Watch here >> 

Friends, family, supporters and Ramsey, MN residents gathered Friday to welcome SPC Marco Solt into the community of Ramsey.  Marco Solt will be the recipient of the newest BATC Foundation partnership – a specially adapted home to be built next year for Marco, his wife Eugenia (Gena) and their son Devin.  The home will be built with the support of BATC Foundation partner Homes for Our Troops and local Build Partner Accent Homes, Inc. Read more >>

If you’re interested in getting involved with this very special project, contact Perri Graham-Raff, (651) 697-7563.

Don’t miss your best consumer-directed marketing opportunity! Enter the Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase online now at Paradeofhomes.org. Contact Emily 651-697-1954 for your user name and password.  Or download forms at BATC.org (click on the Marketing tab).

Deadline is Dec. 3rd!

Check out our videos online on how to enter >>

Met Council Chair Sue Haigh announced her resignation earlier this week following nearly four years as the leader of our region's planning agency. Haigh announced the resignation via press release. Read more >>

Construction of new homes fell slightly in October after a big surge in the previous month, but the weakness was largely driven by the volatile apartment sector. Read more >>

According to a writer for The Atlantic the best advice for young people seeking the American Dream isn't "go west, young man" or "go east, young woman." It's: "check out Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City." Read more >>

Millennials will soon be the largest group of employees and consumers. Badgeville.com put together a infographic that explains what everyone needs to know about this generation. Read more >>

Generation X is struggling to come into its own! The Star Tribune took a look at the impact of being sandwiched between the  two largest generations. Read more >>

Eric Belsky, Managing Director of the Joint Center of Housing Studies at Harvard University, reveals five financial reasons people should consider buying a home. Read more >>

December
New Building/Energy Code Courses [Register]
December 2014-June 2015
BATC-U Lead Recertification Course [Register]
December 10
EPA Lead Refresher Course [Register}
January 7
Lead Refresher Course [Register]
January 8
Industry Forecast and Dinner Meeting [Register]
January 21
IBS Hospitality Suite in Las Vegas
February 18
Builder Day at the Capitol
February 19
Job and Career Fair at Mall of America [Get a Booth]
February 24
Foundation Annual Recognition Lunch with Belinda Jensen

For a complete list of events, visit our website at WWW.BATC.ORG.