Inside: Celebrate the Spring Parade of Homes! No Images? Click here
 
   
 

3 Things You Need to Know

  1. Two roundtable options coming up! Inbound Marketing and Houzz Workshop. Details below!
  2. Celebrate our latest BATC Foundation Project: Bluebird House grand opening Feb. 16th. Details below.
  3. Embrace the Ides of March! Builder Day at the Capitol set for March 15th, mark your calendar today. Registration opens soon.

 
 

This Week's Top Stories

 
 
 
 

Save the Date for Builder Day at the Capitol

 
 
 
 

Join us on March 15th, 2016!
Your work in building and remodeling homes is vitally important to our state's economy. Builder Day at the Capitol is your opportunity to share and give a voice to the positive impacts of the homebuilding industry at the Capitol. Watch the video above to see how you can make a difference at this year's event. More details to come.

 
 
 
 

BATC Moratorium Bill Introduced

 
 
 
 

Today, a city can move to impose a moratorium on housing without notice to any affected landowner. Over the years BATC has attempted to fix this glaring unfairness in Minnesota law and is back in 2016 to lead the discussion. With recent housing moratoriums in Golden Valley and Minneapolis, and a current moratorium on housing applications in Lake Elmo, there is strong interest in balancing the rules to better protect property owners.

HF 2585 was introduced yesterday and would require a 30-day public notice and hearing prior to the imposition of a moratorium. It also requires a super-majority vote of the council. The House Chief Author is former Waconia Mayor, Rep. Jim Nash. Look for this bill to receive a House hearing in early March after session gavels in.

 
 
 
 

Twin Cities Residential Construction Off to a Good Start

 
 
 
 

Residential construction started the year with a significant boost in activity compared to January 2015. Month over month, January saw a 31 percent increase in the number of permits pulled and a 32 percent increase in the number of units, compared to 2015. Mulitfamily production maintained it’s steady course, making up 44 percent of total activity.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BATC in the News

 
 
 

This Week's BATC Related Headlines

No Slowdowns For Tear Downs in Minneapolis Under New Housing Rules
Eighteen months after BATC led the charge to lift a housing moratorium in SW Minneapolis, building activity remains steady. Read more >>

BATC Executive Director Earns Executive Officer Recognition
NAHB recognized BATC's David Siegel for his 150 hours of commitment to professional development in the building industry.
Read more >>

 
 
 
 

Join Us for a Roundtable!

 
 
 
 

Small Volume Builders Committee Roundtable
February 17th, 12:00 noon, lunch served (open to builders only) at BATC
Inbound Marketing
Learn how to effectively leverage today’s technology to attract targeted prospects to your website. Get your free website review/score too. Presented by Jenna Engel, Inbound Marketing Specialist at Jul Creative.

Free! RSVP to Wendy@batc.org to save your space and learn how to get your free company website review.

Remodelers Roundtable
February 18th, 2:00 pm at BATC
Houzz Workshop
Bring your laptop and be prepared to build your own Houzz profile, or learn best practices to make your current page better. Learn about Ideabooks and more so you’ll be able to attract new clients and promote your brand with Houzz.

Free! RSVP to Katy@batc.org to save your spot.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spread the word! 

The fourth annual BATC Job & Career Fair will be at the Mall of America Rotunda on February 18, from Noon to 4 PM featuring 35 businesses (up from 20 in 2015) with more than 200 jobs openings! Booth spaces are filled. 
Details: www.TCBuilderJobs.org

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Help Us Celebrate the BATC Foundation's Latest Project

 The BATC Foundation along with Homeward bound and build partner Vujovich Design invite you to celebrate the finished remodel of the Bluebird House, which provides services to four medically fragile individuals.

When: Tuesday, February 16, 3:00 pm.
Where: 6452 Bluebird Circle, Maple Grove, MN 55369

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You Are a Member. Now What?

Our new KickStart Membership Events will boost your BATC ROI. Members old and new are welcome to join us next Wednesday.

You Will Discover:
- How to best use BATC’s consumer marketing
- How we communicate
- What’s happening in the industry
- Getting your CE credits
- Best way to connect and network
- How members serve the community
- Feb. 10, 2016  from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm at BATC.
- Free to all members.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Design and Win!

Fun, Funky, Classy, Stylish Little Library Designs Wanted by February 19th! 

Get out your drawing pencil and show us your design chops! The BATC Young Professionals and SPAAR Community Engagement Committee are ready to build three Free Little Libraries from your designs. Winning designers will be named on the libraries and included in our press releases/events. And to add even more incentive, we’ll be awarding prizes worth up to $100 including; Cities 97 Studio C Passes, Mall of America ride wristbands, Spirit Mountain lifts tickets and more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Celebrate the Parade of Homes Spring 2016...

With food and beverages, networking with other Parade of Homes Participants and win great prizes. Hosted by the 2016 Spring Parade of Homes title sponsor, The Tile Shop.

Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 5:30 - 8:30
At The Tile Shop Showroom in Plymouth
RSVP to justin.frost@tileshop.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

UPCOMING FEBRUARY COURSES

Thursday, February 4
- EPA Lead Renovator Initial Certification Course

Tuesday, February 9
- Requirements of the 2012 IRC – Fire Protection of Floors
- The Art of Building Science
- The Power of Zero Energy Ready Homes
- 10 Mechanics Liens Dos and Don’ts in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Tuesday, February 23

- Building for High Performance with Mark LaLiberte

Thursday, February 25

- New Home Construction from Permit Application to Final Inspection

Plus CE courses on March 1, 8, 22, 24, 29, and 30.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Upcoming Calendar of BATC Events

 
 
 

Feb. 4 
Contractor University: EPA Lead Renovator Initial Certification Course [Register]
Feb. 9
Contractor University: Seven hours of CE courses [Register]
Feb. 10
Member KickStart [Register]
Feb. 11
Contractor University: Mold Remediation course [Register]
Feb 17.
Small Volume Builders Roundtable: Inbound Marketing [RSVP]
Feb. 18
Remodelers Roundtable: Houzz Workshop [RSVP]
Feb. 18
BATC Job & Career Fair [Register]
Feb. 20
Parade of Homes Opens
Feb. 23
Contractor University: Building for High Performance [Register]
Feb. 25
Contractor University: New Home Construction from Permit Application to Final Inspection [Register]
Mar. 1
Contractor University: Seven hours of CE courses [Register]
Mar. 8
Contractor University: Seven hours of CE courses [Register]
Mar. 22
Contractor University: Seven hours of CE courses [Register]
Mar. 24
Contractor University: EPA Lead Renovator Refresher Certification Course [Register]
Mar. 29 & 30
Contractor University: Universal Design/Build NAHB [Register]

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