Happy Friday the thirteenth.
In this issue
- Tennessee goes back to school.
- Training our future workforce
- Thank our Sponsors – Do Business with a Member
- Industry news items
- HBA member savings
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Children across Tennessee are going back to school. The interesting part of education is that much of what we really learn occurs outside the classroom. Sure the 3 R’s of reading, writing, and arithmetic are cornerstone skills we all need. But school also helps children understand social norms and become exposed to new ideas from outside their household.
Without school, everyone would still be operating under the “cottage industry model” locked into family occupations. Example: Your dad is a candle maker, you become a candle maker, and so does your child. Today’s education provides greater opportunities to students than ever before, but it also leaves something out. Where education goes wrong is that for at least 25 years the message has been: the only path to success is to get a college degree. In recent years many parents and industry professionals have questioned that model. Many children and young adults have the personality and focus to succeed outside the college only model.
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Our Industry needs to support the local education programs that focus on career readiness and vocational skills. Many of our local HBAs are involved and actively support these efforts. We encourage you to work with your local HBA and education leaders, visit a classroom, and teach a skill. Share your experience and it will be rewarded. You will be surprised by the engagement and excitement many of these students show when learning real world skills that lead to a job in the skilled trades.
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Growing Our Workforce: What Your Company Can Do
Younger employees are entering the workplace. Employees require new skills and desire career growth opportunities. Lack of employee engagement is costing organizations thousands in lost revenue. Enter on-the-job-training programs. Employee learning and training programs engage employees, provide learning and growth opportunities, and encourage loyalty and productivity among employees.
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As we mentioned last week, your company might be a good fit for an apprenticeship program or on the job training for construction. Ask yourself these questions:
– Which positions do you have difficulty filling?
– Which positions have high turnover and why?
– Is anyone retiring soon? What position do they hold?
– Which positions need skills learned through the job?
These questions will help you determine whether it’s a good option for you and your business.
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HBAT is investigating whether to invest the resources to become an approved apprenticeship sponsor. We are willing to invest the time and resources absorbing the bureaucratic headaches, so our sub-contractors can focus on training new employees.
But this only makes sense if you, our members want to participate. We need a critical mass to say, “I am willing” to try this to grow my skilled workforce. If we have a large enough pool of employers willing to teach construction related skills, the Association can apply for grant funding to supplement your trainees pay.
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Friend whether or not this works depends on you. Before HBAT moves forward, we need to hear from you.
• If you or your subcontractors are interested in participating in an “on the job training program, let us know.
• If you currently use on the job training to upgrade your workforce, share your insights with us.
Did you answer Yes, to either of these questions? If so, reply to this email or contact Charles Schneider at HBAT 615-777-1700 or CSchneider@hbat.org .
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The credo of all Home Builders Associations encourages us to “do business with a member“. The purpose is to remind you to work with and support the companies that are engaged in supporting the industry.
We believe this purpose is doubly important for our sponsors. Their support makes the State Association’s work to influence public policy and defend our industry a reality.
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Join Builders & Associates in Nashville
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The Home Builders Association of Tennessee is excited to welcome you to Nashville October 31, 2021 – November 2, 2021. Join fellow industry professionals for the Fall Annual Meeting of the Membership & a Hall of Fame Dinner celebrating 2020 & 2021 Award Recipients.
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New perspectives drove demand: Long-running preferences for more space intensified as Covid-19 forced people to spend more time at home. It also reduced the value of urban amenities when restaurants, indoor gatherings with friends who live nearby, cultural exhibits, and more are unavailable. These simultaneous pressures have seen people moving to suburban environments, opting for yards and extra space to accommodate simultaneous work and school.
Additionally, there aren’t enough homes. Long-running supply issues are in large part due to onerous regulations at the local level that artificially restrict the amount of housing that can be built, from single-family zoning that makes it illegal to build townhouses or apartments or condos on any land zoned for a single unit to parking minimums that require developers to use valuable land for parking spaces even where it’s unnecessary.
Lot values for single-family detached homes started in 2020 surged 18% to a record-high median lot price of $53,000, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) data. New England and West Coast lots are double the national average.
Many cannot increase construction quickly enough to meet booming demand and are turning away business
Consumer price increases eased slightly in July; prices increased overall but at a slower pace. At least it shows a short-term downward trend and eases the negative side of the risk price increases take on a life of their own. Jury’s still out on which price increases are transitory, and which are core inflation.
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U.S. Senate approval came after months of negotiations and despite deficit concerns, reflecting an appetite in both parties for the long-awaited spending package. Nineteen Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted to approve a $1 trillion infrastructure bill on Tuesday. Tennessee Republicans Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood and Bill Hagerty of Nashville voted no. The infrastructure legislation will now be sent back to the U.S. House for consideration.
Of note, Senator Hagerty attempted to blocking efforts to expedite a final vote, citing a Congressional Budget Office estimate that measure would add $256 billion to the federal deficit over the next decade. “There’s absolutely no reason for rushing this process and attempting to eliminate scrutiny of the bill,” Hagerty said over the weekend.
Following passage of the infrastructure bill Senate Democrats approved a budget blueprint that includes the $3.5 trillion top line and broad instructions for drafting the spending plan Democrats want to pass this fall without GOP votes. However, Democrats only hold 50 Senate seats and some of them are expressing doubts. Moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) is expressing concerns the proposed increased levels of spending will negatively impact the US economy. Another moderate Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) has indicated she will work to shrink the amount of new federal spending.
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Get Paid Back with Rebates Available to HBA Members
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Home Builders preach the benefits of doing business with a member. We want you to do business with like-minded people who support our industry. We also encourage you to take advantage of savings by participating in Rebate Programs.
Builders and Remodelers, if you’re not participating in this rebate program, you’re leaving money on the table. Register and claim your rebates www.HBATrebates.com
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NAHB has Additional Savings Programs for Business Savvy Members
Whether it’s a discount on a product or service or a more efficient way to operate, the smart business person is always looking at ways to cut costs and maximize returns.
Through agreements with more than 20 national companies, NAHB offers exclusive discounts on a variety of products and services that can benefit your business, employees and family.
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