Memorial Day
(previously, but now seldom called Decoration
Day
) is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering, honoring, and mourning the military personnel that have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
We remember and we say thank you.....
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The offices of the Association will be closed on Monday, May 25th, in observance of Memorial Day.
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President Trump Signs Executive Order to Stimulate Economic Growth
HOW COULD THIS IMPACT
THE MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY?
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Tuesday (May 19), President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at revitalizing the American economy by
creating a fast track for the rulemaking process for reforming regulation
. The Executive Order also establishes a “Regulatory Bill of Rights,” which provides guidance for agencies on using discretion in their enforcement with businesses operating in good faith to follow the law.
As the nation tries to navigate the COVID-19 crisis coupled with an affordable housing shortage,
MHI strongly urges the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to utilize this Executive Order to update the federal building standards for manufactured housing (i.e. the HUD Code) to support innovative housing solutions for this affordable homeownership option.
The Executive Order directs agencies to utilize emergency authorities to identify regulations that create hurdles for job creation and economic growth. The same emergency authorities were used to enable agencies to respond quickly when COVID-19 began to spread. Now, those authorities are being used to help restore the economy by reducing the rulemaking process by years, in some instances.
As part of MHI’s ongoing advocacy efforts, comments were submitted to HUD in response to the Department’s proposed changes to the HUD Code – the first proposed changes in nearly a decade. These revisions to the HUD Code represent critical progress in clearing out the backlog of updates that have been approved by the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) but are still pending HUD approval and implementation. When the HUD Code is not regularly updated, it makes it difficult for manufacturers to offer consumers the latest innovations, technologies, and features they demand.
“The Manufactured Housing Institute applauds President Trump and his Administration for recognizing the significant hurdles American people and businesses will face on the road to recovery from COVID-19,” said MHI CEO Lesli Gooch. “Manufactured housing is an industry that has thrived on its ability to innovate and build efficiently. Pursuant to today’s Executive Order, MHI encourages HUD to finalize its proposed updates to the HUD Code with our suggested enhancements and also move forward with finalizing the subsequent sets of updates that have been approved by the MHCC but are still pending HUD action."
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Dispelling Myths & Obsolete Terminology with Prefab Housing
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RETAIL SALES
COVID-19 Recovery
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How to Emerge & Thrive
Free Webinar Series
6 Easy Ways To Boost Sales in 2020
Powered/Sponsored by: ManufacturedHomes.com
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1st Free Webinar is tomorrow! ...
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As a nation and an industry, we are currently facing tough economic hardships.
When the recovery comes -- and it will come --
will you and your business be ready to emerge and thrive?
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Wednesday, May 20, 2020 | 02:30 pm CST
Tennessee’s Economic Recovery Group
Issues Updated Guidance for Restaurants and Retail,
Allows for Large Attractions to Open
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Tennessee continues to advance the state’s reopening plan under the Tennessee Pledge, as the Economic Recovery Group issued updated guidelines today for restaurants and retail, along with
new guidelines that enable attractions and larger venues to reopen with social distancing and capacity restrictions on or after May 22
. The State continues to meet the White House gating criteria with a downward trend in case growth, increase in testing capability and sufficient hospital capacity.
“Tennesseans have worked hard to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state, and their efforts have allowed us to continue to reopen our economy further,” said Governor Bill Lee. “These guidelines share best practices to ensure our state’s businesses can continue to operate in a way that protects customers and employees while putting people back to work.”
The updated guidelines enable restaurants and retail to increase capacity as long as social distancing protocols remain in place. Restaurants should continue to space tables 6 feet apart, or install physical barriers where adequate separation isn’t possible. Bars remain closed unless used for seated, in-restaurant dining where there is 6 feet of separation between customer groups. Live music is permissible with appropriate precautions, which include maintaining at least 15 feet of separation between performers and audience in order to reduce potential exposure.
Large, non-contact attractions and venues including concert and performance venues, amusement and water parks, auditoriums, theaters and dinner theaters, zoos, large museums and more can also reopen safely under new Tennessee Pledge guidelines. Strong measures to protect employees and customers are recommended, including screening of employees and customers, creating plans for managing guest flow, and limiting capacity to ensure separation between small groups.
- Retail
- Restaurant
- Attractions and Large Venues
Six counties – Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Sullivan – may continue to follow individual, county-specific reopening plans created in consultation with State and local health departments.
The Economic Recovery Group (ERG), composed of 30 leaders from the public and private sector, is crafting guidance to assist businesses in a safe reopening. The industry representatives participating in the ERG collectively represent over 140,000 Tennessee businesses that employ over 2.5M Tennesseans.
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State-wide Press Conference
THURSDAY - May 21st, 3:00 pm cst
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A message from Governor Lee
:
"This pandemic has created tremendous challenges for Tennesseans, whether it’s facing the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the anxiety of adopting new routines."
Tennessee's Statewide Crisis Line is available 24/7 - Call 855-274-7471 or text “TN” to 741-741.
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Licensing/Certification Education
2020 Annual Meeting
Foundation Assistance
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15 Hour
Online
Class for Initial Licensing
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In cooperation with the Department of Commerce & Insurance, THA has developed a series of educational online videos (13) and content review exams (11), for the State of Tennessee's required 15 Hour initial licensing educational class for manufactured housing retailer and installer candidates.
Candidates should understand the developed online training will only be Phase I of the required State statutory requirements needed to pursue a Tennessee manufactured housing license; with the State’s mandated written test to be considered as Phase II.
To understand how this initial licensing educational process works, please read the below information.
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To complete
Phase I
of this educational online program, candidates will utilize provided links to access a series of educational resources, videos and content examinations. These modules/videos and exams meet the educational statutory requirements required by Tennessee, in order to
pursue
a license in manufactured housing retail sales or home installations.
Candidates must complete each module of the training, in order, and must complete each module exam, scoring 70% or better. As candidates complete a module and take the respective exam, the Association will be automatically notified, via a candidates online module exam score. Once a candidate has satisfactorily completed all sections/exams, a certificate of education will be e-mailed to the candidate. Candidates must retain the educational certificate, as proof of completing the required statutory education.
Additional information on this entire process is contained within the online training modules, and the provided resources.
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Phase II
of education will require passing a state issued exam, given by Morris & McDaniel, Inc. The Association will notify candidates who have completed their education, when the State resumes in-person testing, or provides additional guidance on remote testing, through Morris & McDaniel, Inc.
Exam fees are included in the pre-payment amount of this class, so candidates will not pay a separate testing fee. Should a candidate fail the state issued exam, an additional $125 will be charged by the testing company, to re-administer the exam.
The testing company will only administer exams to individuals who have been verified as satisfactorily registering, pre-paying and passing all module exams.
As a note: If candidates do not have easy access to a printer and need a copy of resources before beginning the online study, an educational package will be shipped to the requesting candidate.
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05 Hour
Online
Class for Continuing Education
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To meet the continuing education requirements of our licensed industry members and affiliates, THA has developed a modified online continuing education class for manufactured home retailers and installers, for the 2020 renewal of licensing or certification.
Please note, this online training access will be offered for a limited time only.
Once federal and state travel restrictions have been lifted and approval for gatherings has been waived, the State of Tennessee will resume the requirement for ‘in-person’ class attendance.
Take this opportunity now, to complete your 2020 education online! ....
CLICK HERE
for a registration form.
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THA's Annual Meeting and 65th
Anniversary Celebration -
Postponed
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The THA Board of Directors announced earlier this week, the June 7 - 9, 2020 event will be postponed until October 18 - 20, 2020. For more information and future participation deadline dates, please visit the
Annual Meeting Page
, via the THA Website.
As a note, if you had already made hotel reservations with Dollywood's DreamMore Resort & Spa in Pigeon Forge, for the June event, please call them and move your dates to the October time frame! (800) 365-5996.
We are excited to get this re-scheduled!
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Remember Our Tornado Victims...
We are Still Recovering!
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NOTE:
Some of the MH industry's financial partners have approved the use of this 'gifted' money as down payment assistance. Please check with your financial representative to see if these funds will qualify for that use. If not, the funds may be directed toward other sales contract items relative to the home replacement. Funds will be available at closing.
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THA Retailers...
The Tennessee Manufactured Housing
Foundation
(
The Industry's Helping Hand
) is offering $500 in assistance to any of your purchasing customers who were affected by the March 3rd Tornado Disaster.
If your customer owned (or was financing) a manufactured home and the home was their primary residence for at least one year, please take a moment to review the minimum requirements, to see if your customer qualifies for this gifted assistance. (This applies to purchasing customers who must replace their damaged or destroyed manufactured home.)
Restrictions do apply
, so please download the linked one-page document below, to see how you can offer this assistance to your customer.
The Foundation has set aside $20,000. Once the funds have been depleted, no additional assistance will be processed under this offering, unless additional monetary donations are received by TMHF for this effort.
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