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Greetings Builders!

If you are reading this you are one of over 2,300 Montana Building Industry Association members from across the state. It also means that you believe in strengthening and promoting the industry in which we live and work every day.  It means that you are taking an active role in the issues that are important to our association. Because of your commitment, involvement, and knowledge you are the best person to attract new members to the MBIA.  It also means that you did one heck of a job recruiting new members to MBIA over the last year.  Thank you for your hard work.  Our association becomes more effective and influential with every new member.

Over the last year MBIA has benefited with the addition of over 375 new members that have joined our association, making 2007- 2008 one of our most productive, if not the most productive membership year ever.

MBIA is the vehicle through which builders and associates work together toward the common goal of affordable housing, protect private property rights, and look out for small businesses in Montana. With your support and through your continued involvement we will be able to achieve our goals.

Currently, MBIA is going through an internal review of our committee structure and office procedures.  Our association is growing rapidly, and we want to be sure we are serving you in the most effective and efficient way possible.   This review should be complete by the end of the summer. 

We are also hard at work preparing for the very challenging legislative session that will begin in January 2009. It may very well take the involvement of every one of our members to prevent drastic, wholesale changes to our industry over the next year.  We are committed to commonsense regulations, and we will oppose changes to Montana laws that make it more difficult and more costly to build a home in Montana.   71% of Montanans own their own homes; we are steadfastly dedicated to increasing that number and defeating any legislation that gets in the way of reaching that goal.

Another big step up for MBIA is the launch of our statewide “Montana Green Build” Program.  We are currently in the process of training green building verifiers, and the first wave of green homes will be certified late this summer.  Many builders are already incorporating various aspects of green building into the design and construction of homes.  The green build program will help market those homes to customers and create a database of “green homes” around the state.   It is also a voluntary, step-by-step program for getting builders involved in green construction.

The year ahead will be a very busy time for our industry and our association. I look forward to working with you in the coming year and I am honored to serve as your president.   We have a great line of past leadership within our association and I remain committed to continuing their vision and moving MBIA forward.