By: Taz Biesinger, HBA of Utah Executive Officer

The Utah Supreme Court issued an opinion recently that all developers and builders should know about. This article is intended to inform you of that decision and some of the Court’s rulings. It is not intended to provide legal advice or opinion. For any such legal advice or opinion, contact your attorney. ...More

Salt Lake Tribune
By 2015, Utah will be one of the top 10 states to bounce back from the downturn in terms of new-job creation, an economic forecasting company said Tuesday.

IHS Global Insight, a Boston-based company that has 25 offices in 14 countries, projected Utah's average annual employment growth rate will be 1.62 percent, ninth highest in the United States. ...More

The following is a list of recent items that NAHB has worked on:

• Improved Home Buyer Tax Credit a Step Forward
• AD&C Issues and the Partnership Pavilion
• Progress on the Appraisal Front
• Home Buyer Tax Credit an Important Stimulus
• Federal Housing Tax Credit.com Helps Consumers
• Expanded NOL Relief for Businesses
• Federation-Wide Effort Leads to Success

...More

The International Builders’ Show is THE premier industry event. As the largest building industry tradeshow in the country, this is the place to recharge your business! Get inspired with the more than 175 education sessions and network with the best in the industry! Las Vegas is the place YOU need to be in January! Visit www.buildershow.com for more information.

The generous members of SUHBA donated 321 pounds of canned food and $591 of cash to Dixie Care and Share at the Christmas Banquet on Tuesday, December 1st. 

Thanks to Bonnie Pendleton-Flannery and the guys at Plant World for taking care of the cans of food. We sincerely appreciate them for taking on this job each year!!

A grateful thank you to Mike Madsen and the Coral Cliffs Cinema, the Summit Athletic Club, and Portrait Kitchens for the donations of drawing prizes for those who donated. 

May this food and cash reach those in our area who really need it. There are many this year suffering and even though our own members are suffering, they were still very generous.

We have redesigned our website and made it more user friendly for our members, business professionals, and consumers. Be sure to check out the new look of SUHBA at www.suhba.com.

Our Member of the Year Awards Committee will be meeting soon to select the 2009 Member of the Year award recipients. Nominations for these will be taken from the SUHBA membership with award presentations scheduled at our January Luncheon, January 5, 2010.  

The annual presentation of the awards has helped enhance the prestige of the construction industry in Southern Utah. The award pays tribute to members who have brought credit to the industry. We urge you to nominate an associate and/or builder member for 2009 who, through his or her many activities and accomplishments, has benefited our industry and best exemplifies a person worthy of the designation “Member of the Year” in categories of Supplier Associate, Service Associate, Trade Contractor, or General Contractor. 

All nominations must be received no later than Monday, December 14, 2009.  Click here for a nomination form. Contact Kathy at 674-1400 for additional information.

Sign up now to place a banner ad on the Parade of Homes website. We had 28,351 visitors on the website from November to February 2009. The average visitor spent over 6 minutes with 11 page views. We only allow six banner ads per year to allow optimum exposure. The cost is only $800. Hurry and call Shawna Applegate at the SUHBA office at 435-674-1400 for more information.

Grow your business by placing an ad in the 20th Anniversary Edition of the 2010 St. George Area Parade of Homes. Reach a specific target market that is interested in housing related products and services - 25,000 copies will be printed. Parade visitors keep the magazine as a complete reference guide for their building and remodeling needs. Your ad will be viewed on-line all year long! SUHBA members receive a special discounted ad rate.

Set your company apart from the competition and inform the public you are open and ready for their business by placing an ad in the special 2010 Parade of Homes Magazine- Celebrating 20 years!

Click here for more information and call (435)674-6245 to place your ad today.

Have you ever wanted to have a display and talk about your business in front of 26,000 people? Well this is your chance. By exhibiting, you can talk with homeowners, home builders, business professionals, trade contractors, realtors, remodelers, and anyone else who is interested in home improvement, in construction, and design ideas. Exhibit in the 2010 Parade of Homes and get the results you expect! 

Click here for an exhibition space application or for more information on exhibiting during the Parade of Homes. Booth space reservations open to non-members on December 28th.

SUHBA will be offering an OSHA 10-hour training class. This will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 26-27, 2010 from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm, at the Taylor Health Science Building at 1526 Medical Center Drive, in St. George. For more information please contact Kathy Tolleson at 435-674-1400.

Find out what's really happening economically in Washington County and how it affects you and your business. Don't miss the 2010 Economic Summit on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, at The Dixie Center. For more information or to register visit www.whatsupdownsouth.com.

The NAHB green building toolkit has been extensively updated and new resources have been created for home builders associations and members interested in promoting green building in their local community.  

The resources are broken down into two different categories — general green building and NAHBGreen affiliated programs. ...More

Market research is more important in our industry than it has ever been. Regardless of your situation, challenges or objectives, utilizing a strategic approach to market research and analysis will equip you with the insight — and just as importantly, the confidence — you need to accomplish your goals and navigate through a difficult housing market. ...More

Habitat for Humanity is searching for donations of time and/or materials (and possibly bids) from all trades for our next single-family home. If you are interested in helping a local low-income family, receive publicity for your company and possible tax deductions; please contact Michelle Hill at Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah at 435-674-7669 or habitat@ifox.com.

On an initiative by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Washington County has an opportunity to build a “People’s Garden”. This garden is to provide a sampling of USDA’s efforts to teach others how to nurture, maintain and protect a healthy landscape.  If practiced, the People’s Garden” is a concept that can contribute to providing healthy food for people and communities. When completed, visitors can learn more about healthy eating and healthy living. ...More

Salisbury Homes is giving away 4 kids playhouses full of food, clothes, and toys for four different families in need in Southern Utah for Christmas. To submit names for any families that you feel deserve a little help this Christmas simply visit a Salisbury Homes community where there is a playhouse on display. Thanks for helping us help families in need this year.

Boulevard Home Furnishings has joined with the Washington County Solid Waste Department, Hurst Ben Franklin, and Harmons Grocery Stores to provide "Mini-Binnie" recycling bins. Mini-Binnies provide a convenient way to sort, stack and transport your recyclables to a Recycle Center. Boulevard Home Furnishings has Mini-Binnies on sale for only $27 for each set of four colored-coded bins. The Boulevard also is home to one of many Recycling Centers located in the St. George store's south parking lot.

University of Phoenix St. George Campus is holding a "Forgotten Gift" drive for the holiday season which will benefit Dixie Care and Share. The campus will be accepting new, unopened packages of underwear, socks, and hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, and other appropriate items). Donations will be accepted from now through December 18th at 965 E 700 S, Suite 304, in St. George.

If you are looking to purchase appliances please stop by the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 267 E. 1400 S., St. George. They received a semi-trailer full of brand new appliances and have some great savings to offer. Click here to view the items, visit their website at www.stgeorgerestore.com, or call (435)628-4041.

Conveniently located off I-15 in Washington, the Coral Canyon Town Center has office space available for lease by SUHBA.  Three spaces are available and range in size from 1,086 to 1,227 square feet.  For more information, please contact Mari Smith at 674-1400.

SUHBA members are encouraged to submit company event announcements, open house announcements, job announcements, education announcements and press releases for inclusion in the next News You Can Use by Monday, December 28, 2009. Please email the information to news@suhba.com.