Welcome to our Quarterly Newsletter, the NRVHBA Builder Brief
The New River Valley Home Builders Association, Inc. (NRVHBA) is a professional trade association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV). Our Association is governed by a board of directors and an executive committee representative of our region’s builder and associate membership. The mission of the NRVHBA is to serve the building community by advocating for the construction industry; educating, supporting, and promoting our members; and giving back to the New River Valley.
Click here to get connected with a member!
August 2026
Touch-A-Truck NRV Largest in NRVHBA History
Touch-A-Truck NRV was one for the books! Horns honking, engines revving, and most importantly smiles everywhere. Over 3,400 kids and adults had a blast getting up close with all the coolest trucks and equipment with over 80 vehicles, at our largest Touch-A-Truck NRV yet! Kids of all ages got hands on experience with tools, equipment, big trucks, tractors, and trailers. We raised over $7,000 for the Building Futures Foundation, which will benefit classrooms, trades education, and scholarships in the NRV. Thanks to the Setter Construction, LLC food drive in partnership with Feeding Southwest Virginia, enough food was collected to feed 2,000 people - and the best part is it all stays local! Setter Construction also paired up with Modern Day Roofing and Parmer & Sons and over 200 bird houses went home with kids who built, roofed, and painted their projects in the Touch-A-Trade Zone. This amazing community event wouldn't be possible without the sponsors, businesses, vendors, staff, and volunteers who work endlessly to make this an amazing day where kids of all ages get hands on opportunities to learn about the many careers in construction. Thank you all for your part in making the 2026 Touch-A-Truck NRV a success!
The 2026 Touch-A-Truck Committee: Ian Friend, Kelsey Grow, Billie Quesenberry, Stephanie Bell
NRVHBA Leadership Staff Kelsey Grow, Executive Officer Billie Quesenberry, Events and Marketing Coordinator Board Ian Friend, President Philip Walker, Vice President Tyler Price, Treasurer Cody Journell, Secretary Justin Boyle, Past President Stephanie Bell, Associate Director Jason Hardy, Associate Director Sean Beliveau, Builder Director Cat White, Builder Director Reid Broughton, Associate Director Jeff Nosenzo, Associate Director Gretchen Merix, Associate Director Jamie Spence, Builder Director Allison Szuba, Associate Director
Touch-A-Trade volunteers helped assemble over 200 birdhouses
Purchases After Home Buying NAHB analysis of Consumer Expenditure Survey data from 2020 through 2023 shows that buyers of both newly built and existing single-family detached homes spend substantially more than homeowners who did not move. Buyers of newly built homes spend an average of $26,882 on appliances, furnishings, and remodeling and repairs during the first year after purchasing a home, nearly three times the $9,457 spent by non-moving homeowners. Buyers of existing homes spend roughly twice as much as non-moving homeowners. Read the Eye on Housing post to see what they are buying.
Visit the NRV Home Expo Directory
Read Building Women Magazine The latest edition of Building Women magazine showcases career paths for women in home building, including 2026 Professional Women in Building (PWB) Chair Heather Laminack. The daughter of a home builder, Laminack grew up working in the family business. Her experience evolved from filing paperwork to cleaning job sites, to accounts payable. After graduating, she stepped into a general manager role and now is involved in every facet of Ferrier Homes, based in Fort Worth, Texas. Other stories in the issue: a feature on PWB's collaboration with SkillsUSA and advice from women leaders about finances.
NRV Home Expo Directory Still thinking about the NRV Home Expo? We are! Missed the opportunity to speak with trusted professionals in person? No worries! Thanks to our virtual exhibit sponsor, All Natural Tree Experts, the 2026 NRV Home Expo directory is available for another month before it switches to the 2027 exhibitors. Be sure to check out the list of local pros for all your home project needs.
The first NRV Future Builders Academy is a wrap! 13 students completed their first carpentry camp, where they learned about jobsite safety and tools, participated in job site tours of commercial and residential projects, and built three mini structures! Students finished their projects, earned their certificates, and received their first starter tool kit! So many partners helped ensure this week was a success, and we want to give a major shout out to all involved. Build Smart Institute provided the instruction, projects and were with the kids all week. Thank you Curtis, Barbara, and Stephanie! Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley provided the location for the camp. Virginia Housing provided the funding to ensure the camp was free for students. SAS Builders and Stateson Homes provided our job site tours. Nancy with Legacy Builders NRV and Brooke with Costen Floors Inc volunteered during our site tours. Jacob with Costen Floors, David with ReDeck Virginia, Travis with Gutter Works, Sierra with Foresight Design Services, Wes with Setter Construction, LLC, and George with Slate Creek Builders, LLC volunteered their time to help with the hands on build during the week. Our tool kits were made possible through partnerships with Virginia Career Works New River/Mount Rogers Region, Capps Home Building Center, New River Valley Building Supply, Baseline Solar Solutions, Blue Ridge Design Build, SAS Builders, Legacy Builders NRV, Inc. Yoder Custom Homes, and Real Property Management Insight. Thank you to everyone involved!
Analysis of the ROAD to Housing Act The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will help increase the nation’s housing supply by reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging local governments to reform zoning and land-use policies. NAHB worked closely with lawmakers to pass this historic housing package, which includes more than 50 sections addressing housing supply, financing, disaster recovery and other priorities. NAHB has a comprehensive summary of the act at nahb.org/ROAD that explains how the various sections will affect the housing industry.
NRV Future Builders Academy A Success
U.S. Sawmill Output Shrinks The U.S. lumber industry is showing signs of tightening capacity, a trend that could have implications for home builders if future demand accelerates. According to the Federal Reserve's G.17 Industrial Production report, U.S. sawmill production declined in the first quarter of 2026, marking the second consecutive quarterly decrease. On a four-quarter moving average basis, production slipped 0.4% from the previous quarter, although it remained 1.7% above the same period last year. Sawmill output has been largely unchanged since 2023.
State, Local HBAs Advance Reforms Around the country, state and local HBAs are shaping policies that make it easier to increase the supply of housing. From streamlining environ- mental reviews (New York) and permitting pro- cesses (Georgia) to preserving lot size standards (Houston), these recent advocacy victories demonstrate how members are working with lawmakers to remove barriers, reduce costs and support housing attainability in their communities.
Regulatory Costs Add $131,734 to New Home Price
FIND A TRUSTED PROFESSIONAL
A new study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) finds that regulations at the federal, state and local levels add $131,734 to the cost of a new single- family home—26.4% of the average sales price of $499,500 as of January 2026. Breaking down the total regulatory costs further, the study revealed that $84,939 of the final house price is the result of costs incurred by the builder due to regulation during the construction phase of the home while $46,795 is attributable to regulation during land development. Based on U.S. Census home price data, regulatory costs for the average new home increased from $93,870 in 2021 to $131,734 in 2026—an increase of more than 40% in about five years. View the full study on the cost of regulation.
A Vision for Trades Education and Career Pathways In a region where housing demand, retirements in the trades, and evolving construction technologies converge, the New River Valley Home Builders Association (NRVHBA) is stepping into a pivotal role: nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals. At the heart of their mission lies not just advocacy and professional support - but a proactive commitment to workforce development. A Strategic Priority, Not an Afterthought From the association’s stated vision to “build our workforce” as one of its core pillar’s, the NRVHBA treats workforce development as essential, not optional. To that end, members of the association meet monthly and are tasked with designing initiatives that span education, outreach, and industry partnerships. Their agenda rests on three main pillars: 1. K-12 Engagement - connecting with schools, teachers, students, and parents to raise awareness of the careers in the trades. 2. Post secondary Partnerships - working with postsecondary partners, such as local colleges, universities, and trade schools, to expand pathways from high school to skilled employment. The NRVHBA recently piloted a new apprenticeship program that works to connect businesses with education and funding sources to train the next generation of skilled workers. 3. Professional Development - offering training and resources to help member businesses attract, retain, and grow their workforce. Community Programs That Inspire and Invest Touch-A-Truck NRV - one of the NRVHBA’s signature outreach events is Touch-A-Truck NRV, where children and families can explore vehicles, heavy machinery, and construction equipment firsthand. Over 3,000 visitors attend annually. The event is more than fun, it serves as an introduction to the trades, planting seeds of curiosity long before career decisions are made. Build Her Dreams Bed Build - In a powerful pairing of community service and career awareness, the NRVHBA’s Women in building Committee launched their Build Her Dreams Bed Build in 2024. In this event, girls aged 10-17 build beds for children in need in collaboration with women trades professionals, gaining hands-on exposure to tools and construction roles. Construction Careers Grant Program – This grant program supports K-12 classrooms by funding projects or materials that align with construction trades education. Eligible teachers apply with project proposals that provide construction career awareness or hands-on skill development. Since the program’s inception in Fall of 2023, the NRVHBA has awarded $20,000 in grants across schools in the New River Valley. Scholarships - Each year, the NRVHBA awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing education in a construction related field, such as architecture, skilled trades, engineering, construction management or drafting. Funds for the NRVHBA workforce development initiatives and programs come through community events such as Touch-A-Truck, the annual Golf Tournament, the Parade of Playhouses introduced at the 2025 NRV Home Expo, and partnerships with the Habitat for Humanity Restore. Convening Thought Leaders & Bridging Policy The NRVHBA doesn’t just invest in students - they convene the conversation. Their Insights Breakfast on workforce development brought together state leaders, education officials, and industry voices. The event featured Angela Kelly-Wiecek, Chief Deputy Commissioner of Virginia Works, as well as representatives from K-12, local businesses, and construction firms. These forums help align regional workforce strategies, spotlight challenges, and spark collaboration. Why It Matters: Filling the Gaps, Securing the Future The construction industry faces an inflection point. As many skilled tradespeople age into retirement and demand for housing grows, gaps in the labor force threaten both affordability and quality. The NRVHBA’s efforts help counteract this by growing local talent, raising visibility of trade careers, and connecting educational institutions to industry needs. By investing early (in K-12), supporting teachers and curriculum, partnering with higher education, and engaging the public through events, the NRVHBA is positioning the New River Valley to be not just a place of growth, but a region where the next generation builds it. The NRVHBA Needs Your Help The NRVHBA welcomes members, educations, students, and business leaders to join these efforts. Attend a community event, learn about the trades, or encourage your kids, students, or friends to consider a career in construction. The opportunity is here to invest in and encourage the next generation of builders. Together, we can help forge pathways to meaningful careers, strengthen the building industry and help shape a resilient, skilled workforce for decades to come.
Learn More About the Building Futures Foundation
Building Tomorrow's Workforce