Last week at NCHBA’s 2nd Quarter Meeting, Asheville HBA Members headed to Raleigh to take advantage of meeting one-on-one with North Carolina Legislators to discuss important issues that impact our industry. Additionally, these quarterly meetings are an opportunity for members from across the state to meet and discuss issues affecting the home building industry. The ideas, goals and plans discussed at these meetings help guide the future of the association and the industry.
This was Brandon Bryant’s third consecutive year attending this state meeting and legislative day. “As the fourth largest association in the state, it is important to be a voice for our membership and for our members to know that we are taking the time to support both their business interest and our industry. All of the legislators we met with were very receptive and appreciative of the information we gave them including the impressive stats from our local economic impact study. The more we build those relations, the better we become as a membership to protect our interests.” Brandon Bryant serves as 2017 President of the Asheville HBA.
Kevin Hackett, who currently serves as Asheville HBA’s 2nd Vice President said “With the number of permits pulled per capita, Asheville in the next 5 to 10 years is projected to continue to grow. We encouraged our local representatives to specifically look at the bills that are coming across their desks to support home building, while keeping in mind the positive impact our industry has on the local economy now and for years to come.”
Specifically, the following four Bills were shared with each of the legislators we visited with to ask for their support of: HB 507 on Land Use Regulatory Changes, HB 252 on Building Code Regulatory Reform, HB 4578 on Performance Guarantees/Subdivision Streets and SB 628 that supports modifications on Sales Tax on Labor on Repair, Maintenance and Installation.
“NCHBA is working hard to keep a pro-housing agenda at the state level, and by visiting with our state and local legislators during Legislative Day, our representatives know that the Asheville Home Builders Association is serious about helping our member’s voice be heard when it comes to legislation that affects our livelihood” said Thomas McClain, 1st Vice President for Asheville, Chair of the AHBA’s Government Affairs Committee and Region X Vice President for NCHBA.
Thanks to the AHBA Members who took part in this important event including Judy Dinelle of 84 Lumber, Kevin Hackett of Longview Builders, Inc., Brandon Bryant of Red Tree Builders, LLC, Diane Holmes of 1-800 Water Damage of WNC and Thomas McClain of Home Sweet Home Land Management.
For more information about the Asheville HBA’s advocacy efforts, visit www.AshevilleHBA.com.
