32nd annual REGAL Awards Announced
The Sales & Marketing Council of Greater Columbia (SMC), a council of the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Central South Carolina, held the 32nd Annual REGAL Awards as a virtual event on March 4, 2021. This event celebrates “Real Estates Greatest Achievers & Leaders” in the Greater Columbia area, and is the only award of its kind in Columbia. The council would like to congratulate all of the 2020 REGAL Award and REGAL Circle winners this year and thank everyone who participated and supported
South Carolina to Move to Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccination Plan on March 8, 2021
Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced today that South Carolina will advance to Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan beginning Monday, March 8. “Throughout South Carolina’s vaccination efforts, our priority has been – and continues to be – saving lives,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “In the month of February, South Carolina made tremendous progress on expanding access to vaccinations as the supply of vaccine increased. Our
BIA Construction Team to be Recognized with Community Service Award
Members of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina will be recognized with the REGAL Award for Community Service sponsored by the State Newspaper. “We are proud to have recognized industry members offering generous support of our community for the past 32 years and very pleased to recognize the BIA Construction Team for Camp Cole as the recipient of the 2020 REGAL Award for Community Service”, said Michelle Long representing The State Newspaper. Camp Cole and the Building Industry
Record-High Lumber Prices Threaten Housing's Momentum
Lumber prices reached a new high last week as housing demand remains solid amid low mortgage rates, favorable demographics and a geographic shift in housing demand to lower-density, lower-cost markets. However, recent readings of the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) indicate the strong momentum for housing demand is slowing. Although February’s HMI ticked up from the previous month to a level of 84, this gain followed two months of declines after the index showed builder optimism at an all-time
Housing an Economic Bright Spot but Regulatory, Affordability Challenges Persist
As the country continues to rebound from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, housing has been a bright spot in the economic recovery. And while the home building industry is poised for another solid year in 2021, regulatory and supply-side challenges could harm housing affordability, slowing momentum and limiting growth, according to economists speaking at an online press conference in conjunction with IBSx, the 2021 virtual International Builders' Show. "Housing affordability will continue to be a top
The Building Industry Charitable Foundation now accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2021
2021 Scholarship applications along with a transcript are due no later than April 12th. Students must be a graduating high school senior accepted by or currently enrolled in an accredited two-year junior/technical college or a four-year university in the state of South Carolina. (Applications for out-of-state institutions will only be considered on a case-by-case basis.) Applicants also must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a four-point scale.The amount awarded to each student varies
Get Answers to Your PPP Questions
The Small Business Administration and U.S. Treasury Department this week reopened the expanded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for both new borrowers and for certain existing borrowers to apply for a second loan. NAHB held a series of webinars last week to help members and home builder associations (HBAs) understand their eligibility for the forgivable loan programs under the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package signed into law by President Trump last month. Members and HBAs can access recordings of
County Businesses Have Until March 15 to Renew Licenses
With the beginning of a new year, the clock is ticking for Richland County businesses to renew their business licenses. All County business licenses expired Dec. 31. The deadline to renew without incurring penalties is March 15. Every business needs a business license to operate legally, including those based in a home.County ordinance provides for an exemption, regarding construction contractors. This exemption covers the portion of a contractor’s revenue generated from work done for which a building