• It's go time at the Capitol and BATC needs your help. We are once again battling the expensive sprinkler mandate. Read below and take action!
   
• Good news if you still need to get your lead renovator recertification! The EPA has extended the deadline. See details below (or sign up for our May 6th class).
   
• Award season is just around the corner and ROMA entries are now open! Learn more below.
   
• Save the Date for the BATC Open! Registration opens next Tuesday, April 28th at 8:00am. More information here.
   
• Want to stay up to date on all the industry's news? Sign up for our weekly blog updates today. 

We need your help! Tomorrow an amendment will be introduced to HF 834 to repeal the residential sprinkler mandate. BATC has been directly involved in developing the amendment and needs your immediate action to help it gain passage.

As you are aware, the current mandate for sprinklers on 4,500 sq. ft. homes and above is already impacting home buying design and sales, and sprinkler advocates have stated publicly they want to extend this mandate to ALL NEW HOMES.

We are asking you as a homebuilding industry leader to contact your Minnesota House Representative in support of the amendment to repeal the mandate. This can be done easily using our grassroots advocacy tool here >>

The Senate is taking action against the sprinkler mandate as well. Longtime sprinkler-choice advocate Sen. David Senjem (R-Rochester) successfully authored industry-supported amendment to the Senate State Government Finance bill to ban the sprinkler mandate and require that a homebuilder offer a sprinkler system to a prospective homeowner. The amendment passed with a strong bi-partisan vote of 48-15. 

Met Council activity in the Senate has been limited to discussion of creating a stakeholder group to consider how, who, and by whom Met Council members are selected. The House has taken a much broader view and today passed HF 2236 out of committee. HF 2236 would create a ‘Blue Ribbon Commission’ to study the Met Council’s governance, but also its powers, duties and functions. Beyond that, the measure would require that Met Council members be County Commissioners appointed by their respective County Boards, and that several Met Council actions be approved by at least four of the seven county boards.

BATC scored a key victory last week on one of our top 2015 priorities when we gained the commitment from the MN Department of Labor and Industry to coordinate the build-out and promotion of an Energy Code Performance Path. Read more >>

Good news! The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule extending the certifications of thousands of remodelers under the Lead: Renovation Repair and Painting Program (LRRP). Read more >>

Under the final rule:

• Individual renovators who received certification on or before March 31, 2010, now have until March 31, 2016, to get recertified.
• Individual renovators who received certification between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011, will have one year added to their five-year certification.
• Subsequent certifications for renovators receiving the extension will be five years.

But don't wait! You can still get your Lead Renovator Re-Certification at BATC-U on Wednesday May 6th. More Info >>

We’ve joined “Minnesota Homes Matter” to encouage lawmakers to make homeownership easier for all families.

So far Minnesota Homes Matter has secured signatures from more 9,000 Minnesotans who stand with the coalition and want to send a clear message of support to the legislature in St. Paul. Read more >>

"As our economy improves, our population continues to expand. By 2040, our state is projected to add more than 1 million residents, with 800,000 of those new arrivals living in the metro area. To accommodate this growth and reach our full potential, we need to make smart public investments to ensure continued private-sector success." 

Ten Twin Cities Mayors wrote in to the Star Tribune on the need for transportation investments in the suburbs. Read more >> 

The BATC Foundation is excited to announce that we'll soon break ground on a home for injured Army Veteran Marco Solt and his family. This project is being constructed in partnership with Homes for Our Troops.

Ground Breaking for Home for Army Veteran Marco Solt
When: Monday, May 4th, 1 pm
Where: 153rd Lane NW, Ramsey, MN  55303

The Foundation’s Build Partner for this project is Accent Homes. We are hoping to hand the keys over to Marco and his family early this Fall.

We still need donations of electrical and plumbing! Contact Perri if you can help. Learn more >>

Are you looking for help developing the next leader in your business? This September, we will be launching the BATC Leadership Institute! 

This unique program is grounded in leadership development best practices.  It aims for students to …

• Take ownership of their company’s mission and bottom line.
• Have greater confidence in decision making.
• Identify and facilitate solutions within their company.
• Develop a network of peer advisors to engage with as they grow and advance in their career.

We are pleased to have Steve Wilcox, Terri Wilcox and Jerry Olson from Resultants for Business as our professional facilitators and core curriculum instructors.

More Information >>

Award season is upon us! We love rewarding and promoting the successful remodeling projects of our members. Remodelers enter now.

The ROMA entry process includes two deadlines.

May 29, 2015 - Entry Commitments and Payment are due.
June 26, 2015 - All materials due for entries (uploaded online: floor plans, photos, written descriptions)

Learn more >>

May 4
Groundbreaking Marco Solt Home [More Info]
May 5
Member Orientation
May 6
Lead Renovator Refresher Course [Register]
June 5 - 21
Artisan Home Tour 
July 9
Eggs and Economics Breakfast [Register]
Aug 5
BATC Open [Registration opens next Tuesday]

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