ABC's 'Extreme Makeover' Rally Builds Spirit
Volunteers, construction professionals and community members came together Tuesday to find out what to expect during the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" build in Horry County next week.

Home Builders Association Of South Carolina Receives 2009 Best of Columbia Award
Home Builders Association Of South Carolina has been selected for the 2009 Best of Columbia Award in the Trade Associations category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

Pinnacle Awards Registration Deadline Extended to Jan. 29
Have you been thinking about entering the 2009 Pinnacle Awards? There’s still time to enter your home, remodel project, or marketing piece.

It’s a Girl!
HBASC Executive Director Mark Nix and his wife Alicia are proud parents of a baby girl. Molly Nix was born Tuesday, December 29 at 9:52 p.m. at Palmetto Baptist Hospital in Columbia.

Get a Designation in 2010
Did you know that you can get a Certified Master Builder designation and one of several NAHB designations right here in South Carolina in 2010?

HBASC Members Get Free Lunch at IBS in Vegas
Home Builders Association of South Carolina members who are attending the International Builders Show in Las Vegas January 19-22 are invited to have lunch in the 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty lunch room.

EPA Training Courses Offered at IBS; Local Offerings Available Too
Mandatory training for the new EPA Lead Pain Rule is available at the International Builders Show and locally through Greenville Technical College and Midlands Technical College for contractors who renovate or repair housing, child-care facilities or schools built before 1978. This training must be complete by April of this year.

EPA R410A/Puron Phaseout Effective Now
To protect the ozone layer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created a 10-year phased plan for replacing R-22 or Freon® in air conditioners with R-410A or Puron®. The first phase in this transition began January 1, 2010.

Point of Sale Rally: CALLING ALL REALTORS®
Home Builders Association of South Carolina members are invited join the S.C. Association of REALTORS for their Point of Sale rally at the Statehouse on Wednesday, January 13. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP.

The Decade of the South: The New State Population Estimates
Much has been made – particularly in the Northeastern press – of the slowing down of migration to the South and West as a result of the recession. But in many ways this has obfuscated the longer term realities that will continue to drive American demographics for the coming decade.

Housing Starts Regain Some Ground in November
Nationwide housing production rose 8.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 574,000 units in November, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department today. The gain represented a partial bounce-back from an exceptionally slow month for housing activity in October, and was largely attributed to a big increase on the multifamily side.

SC SkillsUSA Conference To Show Off Technical Education
The SC SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference is April 15-17, 2010 at the Carolina First Center, Greenville, South Carolina. April 16 is open to the public. The Conference is a public showcase of technical education in South Carolina.