In this issue
- Explaining apprenticeships
- Houzz Pro – member benefit
- Stormwater Regulations Update
- Industry news items
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Apprenticeships:
Setting Up On The Job Training for Construction Workers
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The construction industry is experiencing a skilled labor shortage. With the current employment issues across the country, we are not the only industry suffering. In the next few years finding skilled laborers will continue to be difficult for many companies. Another way to get the skilled laborers you need is through apprenticeships or on the job training for construction workers. An apprenticeship develops the skilled labor force you need, and it gives you a chance to ensure everyone on your crew receives updates to stay sharp in the field. Here are some tips to improve on the job training for construction workers and students.
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1. Benefits of On the Job Training for Construction
When you offer on the job training for construction through an apprenticeship your business will benefit. While this person doesn’t necessarily have the skills at the moment, you will be teaching them the skills to your standards. Businesses that use apprenticeships see a reduced turnover cost, and they get their pick of highly-skilled employees. These opportunities are available to all the trades.
On the job training offers participants the ability to be paid while they acquire new skills. On the job training is a great way of increasing safety on the job site. When there is regular training at the site, there is a 16% decrease in injuries from preventable accidents. And while your program may target newbies to the construction industry, it offers your current workforce the ability to train up and hone their skills.
2. Questions to Ask Before
If you are thinking about introducing an apprenticeship program or on the job training for construction, there are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself.
– 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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3. Connect with us at the HBA of Tennessee
If you think an apprenticeship program may be right for your company, contact your Home Builders Association. We can help answer questions if an informal or an accredited apprenticeship program is right for you and your business. Many apprenticeship programs work in partnership with a local TCAT or community college; others work with local development agencies. Often subcontractors can be frustrated with these formal government programs that focus more on commercial construction.
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However, these government partnerships are not required. The benefit of our association is we can combine under a shared footprint. Our strength in numbers means your business would only train one or two employees. HBAT is investigating whether to invest the resources to become an approved apprenticeship sponsor. We would handle the bureaucratic details, allowing our subcontractors members to focus on what they do best – training employees, teaching them skills and completing their construction jobs. Some basic reporting is required, keeping us informed that the apprentice is still employed and submitting a checklist of the skills they have learned.
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.
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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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Do you use Houzz?
We have noticed many of our members do… We see the Houzz logo and other social networking logos, when we check out your websites.
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Houzz and the NAHB have formed a strategic alliance to provide benefits for NAHB Members including personalized support and special discounts on local advertising and Houzz Shop.
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Hey there, can we ask a quick question…
Are the right people in your company getting these messages?
TN Homebuilders would be excited to add more of your team members to our weekly distribution. If you want to add a co-worker, reply to this link CSchneider@hbat.org – be sure in include your teammate’s Full Name and Email address.
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From HBAT CEO, Charles Schneider
This week HBAT organized a call with developers from around Tennessee to review our response to the TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation regarding the proposed update to the General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities. Following some helpful feedback we have submitted our comments and will participate in ongoing conversations with TDEC. While we offered substantial comments for construction, overall the updated permit strikes a fair balance. Although others may not see it that way.
These and other regulations add financial costs and extend the time needed to put new lots into production. Our goal is ensure that any regulations are clear and fair. This will not be the last time have a conversation on Stormwater or other environmental issues. Encourage your Developer peers and site development staff to participate in future conversations. Since I am still new to HBAT, please introduce me to other HBA members who are interested in these issues.
Ongoing engagement is critical. I strongly believe it is important that we always explain to the regulators our industry perspective in a manner that educates them to the real-world realities. We have a great story to tell but we have to invest the time to tell it.
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I cannot stress enough that other stakeholders will also be commenting from a different perspective. Local governments have concerns about the state not helping to enforce their local regulations. There will also be plenty of comments or anti-development voices arguing against an updated permit, many of those will wish to restrict development. Environmental groups have already taken their concerns to the media. As you well know, they do not think highly of our industry, which is reflected in the statement below.
+++”There’s a lot of construction going on all the time,” said Amanda Garcia with the Southern Environmental Law Center. “Rolling back our construction stormwater protections right now is absolutely the wrong move.” Amanda hopes people raise their concerns because she thinks this proposal just doesn’t hold water. “Lining the pockets of developers is not a reason to ignore the protection of our shared resource,” said Garcia.+++
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That is just an outrageous statement and fundamentally incorrect. We can push forward against these biased and baseless attacks, if you stay in engaged with the Home Builders Association of Tennessee.
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The ten senators who negotiated the physical infrastructure deal are vowing to collectively block any effort that would endanger the bill’s odds of passage. The Senate has begun the lengthy debate on proposed amendments to the group’s work, which would spend $550 billion on hard infrastructure (roads, bridges, broadband) and climate resiliency.
Senators often try to attach amendments containing their pet priorities to bills that have a strong chance of presidential approval — but that process can scuttle carefully crafted agreements. This time, the 10 senators who directly negotiated the bill have forged a pact to make sure that doesn’t happen.
- $5.8 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs
- $302 million for bridge replacement and repairs
- $633 million over five years to improve public transportation options
- Money to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations to facilitate long-distance travel
- Over $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state
The infrastructure bill includes a provision sought by NAHB to restore an exemption for water and sewer contributions in aid of construction (CIAC). In the 2018 tax reform law Congress eliminated this exemption for water and sewer CIAC, making such contributions taxable if the utility is a privately-owned, for-profit entity.
As a result, in areas served by a corporate, for-profit water utility, when a builder installs new water or sewer infrastructure to support additional housing — at no cost to the existing residents — that infrastructure is taxed by the federal government. In some states, affected utilities were required to pass this tax liability to the developer, resulting in CIAC surcharges as high as 40%. If adopted and enacted into law, this exemption would be restored for contributions made after Dec. 31, 2020.
This week the State released test results from the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Disruption to education because of the pandemic has led to declines in student academic proficiency in Tennessee across all subjects and grades. Test results show under 30% of students are on grade level in key areas of reading and math.
Students learning in person were more likely to score higher and on grade level. Tennessee school districts did exceptional work to keep school buildings open; however, even students attending in person may have missed classroom learning time due to quarantine, demonstrating the widespread impact of the pandemic.
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“Builders can’t build [houses] fast enough, and they can’t get enough labor to put them together.”. Adding to the labor shortage, the high price of lumber a couple of months ago put the brakes on new home building.
A National Association of Realtors report examined the impact that decades of underbuilding. “The housing stock around the nation has been widely neglected, with a severe lack of new construction and prolonged underinvestment leading to an acute shortage of available housing, an ever-worsening affordability crisis and an existing housing stock that is aging and increasingly in need of repair – all to the detriment of the health of the public and the economy,” the report said.
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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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