Builders Outlook Jan 2012

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EL PASO

ASSOCIATION

years

OF

BUILDERS www.elpasobuilders.com

B U I L D I N G E L PA S O ’ S F U T U R E S I N C E 19 4 6

Builders Outlook Issue 1 2012

Building El Paso’s tomorrow today

EPAB parade float finds new home at Fort Bliss

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID EL PASO TX PERMIT NO. 429

The El Paso Association of Builders never thought that a parade float would bring as many smiles as it has. Nor did they anticipate that the float would live well past the ride down the parade but it has. The float was built for the 75th annual First Light FCU Sun Bowl Parade held each year at Thanksgiving Day. The association thought that incorporating a float into the parade would be a good way to kick off their own 65th anniversary celebration. The theme for the parade was “Under the Sun”. The association executive officer Ray Adauto drew up a conceptual rendering of a gingerbread house float, presented it to his executive team and work got started. The concept soon turned into a design, then into the build. Construction crews built a 10 foot by 12 foot wood structure on top of a trailer. Over a two week period the float was decorated with oversize candy canes, licorice sticks, candy corn, and lollipops. A four foot tall gingerbread man greeted everyone at the front door. The oversize shimmering sun piñata was hung over the house as it road down the parade route. Over 40 members of the association and their children or grandchildren rode and walked alongside on the 3 mile route. The float won an honorable mention from the parade judges and was featured on the live parade telecast. After the parade the gingerbread house float was put in storage while a decision was made on what to do with it. Because it had been constructed so well it was felt like it

could have a second life, one in which the association hoped could be used in its themed condition. Several considerations were made but one kept coming up over and over again. Fort Bliss, Texas and the soldier’s kids. Contact with the Garrison Commander, Colonel Joseph Simonelli, Jr. got the association on track with the potential donation. The colonel was candid saying that because it was a donation that certain steps had to be processed for an approval, including a letter to the Department of the Army.

Notification of acceptance was received by the EPAB and the gift delivery was worked out. On January 8, 2012 the United States Army, and in particular the US Army Installation Management Command, Headquarters, Untied States Army Garrison, Fort Bliss, Texas accepted the gingerbread house on behalf of the Child and Youth Services Skies Unlimited Program. The gingerbread house was now in the Army. The gingerbread house was immediately swarmed on by waiting

pre-school children whose parents are active duty military, some on duty in Afghanistan and other hot spots around the globe. In making the presentation on behalf of the association 2012 President Frank Arroyos told the crowd and media that this gift is just another symbol of the support and love the association has for our military community. With the smiles and laughter coming out from inside the gingerbread house we knew that was all the thanks needed. More photos page 8

Builders applaud fed report on housing The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) concurs with a finding by the Federal Reserve that excessively tight mortgage lending standards are hampering a housing and economic recovery. “The Federal Reserve’s report to Congress confirms what we have been saying for some time: That extraordinarily tight credit conditions are preventing creditworthy borrowers from obtaining home loans and this is harming the housing market and the broader economy,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. Nielsen added that the lack of credit extends to housing construction loans as well, which is crippling the housing industry and preventing construction of new homes in markets that need and want them. “In scores of markets across the country that are exhibiting signs of job growth and where the inventory of

new homes is nearly exhausted, builders should be hiring workers to break ground on new housing developments,” he said.

Housing can act as a job catalyst if regulators and lending institutions return to prudent underwriting standards that do not exclude creditworthy borrowers and if they move to restore the flow of credit to viable home building projects. In its message to Congress, the Fed said that “restoring the health of the housing market is a necessary part of a broader strategy for economic recovery.” Housing can act as a job catalyst if regulators and lending institutions return to prudent underwriting standards that do not exclude creditworthy borrowers and if they

move to restore the flow of credit to viable home building projects. In normal times, housing accounts for more than 17 percent of the nation’s economic output. Constructing 100 new homes creates more than 300 full-time jobs, $23.1 million in wage and business income and $8.9 million in federal, state and local tax revenue. With cash-strapped municipalities across the land desperately searching for new revenue sources, home building can increase the property tax base that supports local schools and communities. “Removing the obstacles limiting access to mortgage credit and enabling builders to obtain construction loans to build in markets where demand is firming is imperative to get housing back on track, to put our nation back to work and to keep the economy moving forward,” said Nielsen.


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