December 2019 News & Updates
WELCOME to our Newest Members!

Chris Hays- 211 Waste & Recycling, INC.

Marcus Wiedower- Bulldawg Builders

Jimmy Hixenbaugh- ABC Installations

Robert Scott- RAC Properties of Athens

Chris Hays of 211 Waste & Recycling
Robert Scott of RAC Properties of Athens
Thank You to our wonderful October- Walton Gas & November- Dalton Carpet One Membership Meeting Luncheon Sponsors and those that attended the informative meetings!
On November 19th, 2019 the AAHBA and the HBAG were proud to present a B-PAC campaign contribution to Spencer Frye, S tate Representative for Georgia House district 118 . Your donations in action!
Photo L to R: Alan Cannon-AABA President, Brad Stephens-B-PAC Representative, Spencer Frye-State Representative, Austin-Hackney- HBAG Government Affairs Director
Associate/Affiliate Member Appreciation Tail Gate
September 27th, 2019
We enjoyed a great day celebrating our Associate & Affiliate mebers with great food from the VARSITY and fabulous raffle prizes provided by our BUILDER MEMBER Sponsors. Click the link to view the fabulous pictures from the days event.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR MEMBERS!!
Fall Hard Hat Classic Golf Tournament
Athens Country Club October 21st, 2019
The AAHBA had 96 golfers enjoy a fabulous fall day of golf, raffle prizes, networking & a steak dinner. Some even went home winners!

Golf Ball Drop Winner-Bobby Sanders of BMC
2nd place Team-Hanson Aggregate
1st Place Team-Builders First Source

Way too many great raffle prizes were awarded! Check out the photo gallery pictures to see what and who went home winners. March 26th, 2020 is our next tournament. MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!
Homes For Hunger 5 K
November 9th, 2019
The association was excited to introduce our inaugural Homes For Hunger 5 K run benefiting ACTS food bank of Oconee County. We were thrilled to have 60 runners participate on a VERY cold morning! A total of 162 items of food were collected and additional monetary donations were received for this wonderful outreach ministry. Can't wait to double this outreach project in 2020!!
Upcoming Events
Stop by the office today and drop off a donation!!!
Collecting new unwrapped toys thru Dec 18th for our local children to enjoy Christmas.
Local distribution of the gifts will be coordinated through the Athens Jaycees &
Salvation Army
The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
There is a lot happening in 2020!!
Builder’s Bash
Officer Installation & Awards
Reverse Raffle
 Thursday, January 16
Trumps Ballroom

Lead RRP Certification Course
Thursday, January 23
AAHBA Training Room

Membership Lunch Meeting
Tuesday, February 18
Trumps Ballroom

HBAG Winter Board Meeting
Legislative Reception
Wed-Thurs February 26-27
Atlanta State Capital

Spring Hard Hat Classic Golf Tournament
Thursday, March 26 th
Lane Creek Golf Club

Membership Lunch Meeting
Tuesday, April 21
Trumps Ballroom

Spring HBAG Board/Membership Conf
Tues-Wed May 5-6
Augusta, GA

AAHBA Sporting Clay Shoot
Thursday, May 28
Old Hudson Plantation
Membership Lunch Meeting
Tuesday, June 16
Trumps Ballroom

House of Cards Casino Night
Thursday, August 20
TBA

Membership Lunch Meeting
Tuesday, September 15
Trumps Ballroom

Fall HBAG Board/Membership Conf
Wed-Thurs September 16-17
St. Simmons, GA

Fall Hard Hat Classic Golf Tournament
Monday, October 19
Athens Country Club

Homes For Hunger 5K
Saturday, November 14
Oconee Veterans Park

Membership Lunch Meeting
Tuesday, November 17
Trumps Ballroom

Ho Ho Ho Home Builders Jingle & Mingle
Thursday, December 10
AAHBA







December 6, 2019

Study Committee: Easing local restrictions will allow state's affordable housing supply to keep up with growing workforce

The full report can be found : here

You can also follow media coverage on the report:



The House Study Committee on Workforce Housing held its fourth and final meeting Thursday and gave its approval to four recommendations that include removing restrictions on aesthetic building requirements, easing residential zoning requirements and encouraging innovation in construction technology. They added a fourth recommendation during the meeting -- extending low-income housing tax credits to single-family housing developments.

State Representative Vance Smith (District 133, Pine Mountain) chaired the House study committee established by House Resolution 591. The committee was tasked with studying the conditions, availability and needs of workforce housing across Georgia. Others on the committee include: Rep. James Beverly (District 143, Macon), Rep. John Corbett (District 174, Lake Park), Rep. Tom McCall (District 33, Elberton) and Rep. Jason Ridley (District 6, Chatsworth).  

"We have a lot of young people out there who want starter homes and want to work in new industries that are coming to the state, so we need to have accessible housing," said Rep. Smith. "What we are talking about is not adding restrictions that are above and beyond the building code."

Rep. McCall pointed out that testimony during the hearings showed that "being a homeowner increases their children's grades in school. We need to focus on that and keep the dropout level low in our state."

Rep. Corbett pointed out that testimony revealed that Georgia is "missing the middle market" and needs to find a solution.

Work will continue during the 2020 legislative session to implement recommendations from the committee.

Jim Chapman
Chairman, Government Affairs Committee
Austin Hackney
HBAG Government Affairs Director ‌

2019 Officers & Board of Directors
 Bill Bath Bath Development Associates
Alan Cannon - President ABC Installations
Stephanie Doerr - V.P. Make Mine Home, Inc.
Spencer Frye Athens Area Habitat for Humanity
Karen Griffin - Secr/Tres. Karen B. Griffin Custom Homes
Cindy Haddon Walton EMC/Gas
Mitch Hardeman Hardeman-Hobson
Stephanie Johnson - EO AAHBA 
John Newland JOMA Construction
Brad Stephens Manor Holdings, LLC
Mark Thompson Thompson Construction
J.R. Whitfield Harbin Lumber Company, Inc.
Jared York J. W. York Homes