September 11, 2020
THA is located in Wilson County, which is currently under a face mask mandate until September 30, 2020.
Messages from THA
MISSISSIPPI HOME SHOW
NEW LOCATION & DATES ANNOUNCED!
Save the Date: March 15 - 18, 2021
IP Casino and Hotel, Biloxi, MS

HOSTED BY THE SOUTH CENTRAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE

Come Experience the Mississippi Gulf Coast!

FMCSA has updated the CSA SMS Website with the August 28, 2020 results. Complete SMS results are available to enforcement users and motor carriers that are logged into the SMS. To log in, you will be asked to enter your USDOT Number and FMCSA-issued PIN. (Misplaced your PIN? If you are a registered motor carrier you can request your PIN from FMCSA, to be delivered via email or mail.)

Have You Conducted Your Annual Queries in the Clearinghouse Yet?

Per § 382.701, employers of CDL drivers must conduct a query of the Clearinghouse at least once per year for each CDL driver they employ.

The annual query requirement is tracked on a rolling 12-month basis. The one-year time frame resets with each query conducted on a driver.

A limited query satisfies the annual query requirement. Employers must obtain a general consent from CDL drivers they employ before conducting limited queries in the Clearinghouse to view these drivers’ information (you can download a sample limited query consent form). 

Be sure to register for the Clearinghouse and conduct your annual queries today. To learn more, download the queries and consent requests factsheet.
Tennessee's Broadband Grant Application Approved!
The Trump Administration announced Thursday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $10 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Tennessee. 
Senator Marsha Blackburn (09/09/2020)- 'I was pleased to join Secretary Sonny Perdue and Governor Bill Lee, to announce a nearly $10 million grant to help close the digital divide. Then, Tractor Supply announced a $1 million donation to increase internet connectivity. The digital divide certainly got smaller today!'
!! ACTION ALERT !!
Tell Congress to...
Act on Two Major Policies that Impact Manufactured Housing
--FIRST ASK --
Stabilize The Lumber Supply
What We Are Asking
Ask Congress to contact President Trump to urge domestic lumber producers to ramp up production.

Justification
Since mid-April, framing lumber prices have soared roughly 80 percent, while the price of oriented strand board is up well over 100 percent from a year ago.

A combination of factors has led to increased volatility lumber prices, including lumber mills operating at a diminished capacity, if at all, in the Spring. Housing demand has remained steady across the country and there was also an unexpected surge in demand from do-it-yourselfers (DIY) and big box retailers during the pandemic. With the economy already facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of COVID-19, predictable pricing for materials will be crucial to supporting the needs of homebuyers.
--SECOND ASK --
Pass Rental Assistance Funding
What We Are Asking
Ask Congress to provide rental assistance funding to stabilize the rental housing sector. 
 
Justification
The halt on evictions imposed by the CDC without funding for rental assistance puts the stability of the rental housing sector in danger.

Congress’ next COVID-19 relief package must include funding for rental assistance to keep residents who have a COVID-related hardship in their homes, and to support housing providers who are already stretched thin providing necessary assistance and services for residents.

Without funding, the very people the halt on evictions aims to help will be harmed by making it impossible for housing providers to meet their financial obligations and continue to provide shelter to their residents. 
A letter has already been prepared! Just enter your name, address, etc in the form provided at each link above, and press submit!
On the rental eviction moratorium, MHI is working with a coalition of national housing industry associations to strategically advertise on websites frequented by policymakers and their staff. The advertisement below is the second in a grassroots campaign, and just one of many efforts to let policymakers know a protracted eviction moratorium will harm residents, housing providers and the rental industry. 
National Preparedness Month - Continues
Week two of National Preparedness Month focuses on building an emergency kit. Consider your individual needs and pack all of your daily essential items, including what's needed to protect yourself from COVID-19.
Governor Lee stated, 'Tennessee has faced an unprecedented year of natural disasters. Now more than ever, it is important that Tennesseans remain vigilant by being prepared.'
The TN State of Emergency, related to the ongoing pandemic currently extends to September 30, 2020.
Tennessee Governor Lee
Statewide Press Conference

Stay tuned to your local stations for weekly scheduled dates and times.

Online live and prerecorded viewing may be accessed HERE.
During Governor Lee's press conference on Thursday (09/10/20), the topic centered around law enforcement rather than the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Governor Lee announced recommendations from Tennessee's Law Enforcement Reform Partnership group, 60 days after the group's inception. The policies are focused around updated use of force & duty to intervene policies, improved information sharing, increased required training for incoming police academy cadets, and increase in-service training for all law enforcement agencies across Tennessee. Additional details are available in the press release from the Office of the Governor, which can be found here.
TN Surveillance Data - COVID-19
The TN COVID-19 Public Information # is 877/857-2945 or 833/556-2476.
Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday.

The THA 2020 Political Action Committee (PAC) Campaign is in full swing!


We have received $24,147 towards our $35,000 Goal. 68.7%!
The THA-PAC is accepting contributions!

Thank you for your consideration!
Tennessee accepts corporate, personal and LLC contributions. Your contribution is critical! 
  
  • As the campaign season for November elections is in full swing here in Tennessee, your political contribution of funds is critical to our industry's state success. 

  • Access to our legislative members is key, as was just proven by THAs successful passing of much needed changes to our transportation law.

  • Please support the THA-PAC, to allow THA's continuance of educating key lawmakers on the importance of our industry, while also providing general counsel in ways of promoting manufactured homes as a viable option for addressing the affordable housing crisis.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE (MHI)
Dr. Lesli Gooch
Chief Executive Officer, MHI
Mark Bowersox
President, MHI
MHI Tells House Committee about Current Regulatory Barriers to Manufactured Housing


At the request of Representative James Comer (R-KY), MHI provided comments to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform about several regulatory barriers at the federal, state and local levels that need to be addressed to ensure manufactured housing remains an attainable option for people seeking affordable housing options. Rep. Comer is the Ranking Member of the Committee and is launching an examination “to review the effects of the Obama Administration’s regulatory expansion and the Trump Administration’s regulatory relief initiatives, as well as what regulatory developments will be most important to promote or avoid over the course of the next several years.”

MHI’s letter included key issue areas on which MHI is focused that are hindering the availability of manufactured housing in the country.

MHI’s first recommendation urges HUD to utilize its authority to take action to reduce local land planning and zoning barriers that restrict the placement of manufactured homes.

In its second recommendation, MHI again called on HUD to revise the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Title I and II programs to make it easier for manufactured home lenders and borrowers to access financing.

MHI’s third recommendation is for HUD to develop and implement a streamlined process for HUD Code updates so future revisions are introduced on a more consistent cadence. As a part of this request, MHI recommended that HUD elevate the Office of Manufactured Housing Programs (OMHP) within the Department’s hierarchy and quickly finalize the pending updates to the HUD Code that have been approved by the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee but are still pending HUD action

MHI’s interaction with the Oversight Committee is just one element in its multi-pronged strategy to advocate effectively for the industry.

Upcoming MHI Webinar

September 29, 2020
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
Education Makes a Good Community Manager Great

Presented by: Amy Bliss
Wisconsin Housing Alliance and 
Ross Kinzler, Pin Point Strategies 

Community managers are at the front-line of ensuring a MHC is well-maintained, revenue is collected, expenses are reasonable and residents are happy. Learn about MHC-specific education that is available to community managers and how these programs turn good community managers into great community managers.  

The webinar cost is $25 per person.

Presented by Cavco Industries and Credit Human
2020 Webinar Series: Embracing Change
Upcoming Free Webinar
Live from KMHI in Louisville
Thursday, September 24, 2020, 2 PM ET
SAVE THE DATE
  • Thursday, October 8, 2020, 2 PM ET - Chris Nicely - Next Step

  • Thursday, November 5, 2020, 2 PM ET - Growing Your Business - Boom! The Next 10 Years - Ken Corbin

  • Thursday, November 19, 2020, 2 PM ET - The State of Emotional Assistance Alligators and Other Changes to Assistance Animal Rules - Matt Paletz

  • Thursday, December 3, 2020, 2 PM ET - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

  • Thursday, December 17, 2020, 2 PM ET - Development - Lenny Kopowski
Free Webinars
Powered/Sponsored by: ManufacturedHomes.com
Initial Licensing/Certification Retailer/Installer Education
available online for Tennessee !
Initial Licensing/Certification
05 Hour Continuing Education
Several current license holders and certified employees have not completed their annual required education for license renewal. Many have expiration dates which are rapidly approaching. Ensure you keep your working credentials in order! Business is brisk right now, and we can't afford to lose anyone from the work list, when class can be completed at anytime, on any day!!
The THA Annual Member's Meeting & 65th Anniversary Celebration has been postponed until June 27 - 29, 2021.
January 20 - 22, 2021
For more information, contact Show Coordinator Dennis J. Hill at (770) 587-3350.