Business View Magazine - Nov 2023

43 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 11 HOME BUI LDERS ASSOCIAT ION OF GEORGIA By championing advocacy, offering educational programs, and recognizing the exemplary service of its members, HBAG plays a pivotal role in advancing the home- building industry and ensuring that quality, affordable housing remains accessible to all. Executive Vice President, Austin Hackney simplifies the structure of the organization, sharing, “A home builder would join their local homebuilder’s association, we have 22 of those around the state of Georgia, and they’d automatically be a member of our statewide organization, and our National Association of Homebuilders.” Representing builders, remodelers, and various industry associates, including realtors, mortgage bankers, and subcontractors, the role of HBAG is primarily advocacy at the state level. “Our mission statement is that we’re dedicated to creating, promoting, and protecting an ongoing successful environment for affordable and sustainable housing to benefit our members and the citizens of Georgia,” Hackney relays. “We use the collective voices of our members to hopefully promote affordable housing in the state. We do that through regulatory and legislative reform or other instances where our builders interact with different levels of government. We are committed to providing opportunities for our members to improve their businesses, to get involved in their communities, to advocate for themselves for affordable and quality housing in their communities.” Key Priorities for 2024 Sharing the association’s legislative priorities for the upcoming year, Cindy Morley, Director of Public Affairs relays that material pricing and availability, workforce development, state licensing, local permitting costs, and local residential design standards are the top five issues of focus. “Of course, it all centers around housing access and affordability,” she maintains. Alan-Cannon HBAG President Franklin Bailey HBAG 1st Vice President