NIBCA cultivates community
"The Sparrow" at 804 E. Lakeside Ave. was built by Stancraft Construction Group. Shared walls are a way to provide middle housing opportunities by reducing costs to the builder and the end user. It's one strategy the North Idaho Building Contractors Association uses to provide housing solutions for the future of Kootenai County.
The North Idaho Building Contractors Association plays a pivotal role in enhancing the building industry in North Idaho. With a focus on responsible growth, NIBCA fosters a robust support network for industry professionals, many who work and live in North Idaho.
“By and large our membership are locals who have been here for years, decades their entire lives,” NIBCA President Levi Snyder said. “And they are just as invested as the rest of the community in seeing this community grow as healthily as possible.”
Through events like Parade of Homes and the Home and Garden Show NIBCA, brings building professionals to homeowners. Through the Housing and Economic Summit they connect builders to national resources and industry studies.
“The North Idaho Building Contractors Association strengthens the residential construction sector of the economy by advocating for greater housing affordability, flexibility, overall economic development, job creation, and a growing economy,” said the NIBCA in its vision statement on nibca.com. “Outcomes of NIBCA advocacy include expanded opportunities for businesses inside and outside the construction industries to succeed.”
NIBCA spends a good deal of time identifying opportunities for members that align with city comprehensive plans.
“Where most people see an empty field that’s overgrown and needs to be mowed twice a year to not be a fire hazard, we see an opportunity to add to the community,” said Levi Snyder, NIBCA president and general manager of Monogram Homes. “Whether that’s in housing or that’s in a new corner café or light commercial space. A lot of that is driven by the comprehensive plan.”
The association collaborates with local cities in an effort to align development plans with a city’s long term vision. The unity in planning helps projects get approved for builders and helps the city see improvement projects without charging taxpayers.
“A lot of people believe that development, infrastructure, building of roads, all those types of things are expenses that are borne by the taxpayer," said Jeramie Terzulli, an NIBCA member and investor.
NIBCA not only supports members within the region but also connects them to national organizations. Collaboration with the National Association of Home Builders ensures access to research, information and industry trends, aligning local projects with a national vision for land rights and opportunities.
A major challenge confronting the association, the building industry and the greater community is the lack of access to affordable housing.
Snyder points to a Housing Availability and Affordability Study for Kootenai County, which highlights concerns like the average price of a home climbing to $665,000, or the median home price reaching $525,000 in 2023.
A household income for those prices would have to be nearly $100,000 according to the study, a figure most local residents don’t make.
The affordability gap contributes to a lack of workers, which affects the building industry, which employs nearly half the region’s workforce.
Addressing those economic challenges lies at the heart of NIBCA's commitment to education. Education programs and studies focus on finding solutions to common issues like housing affordability and workforce accessibility in the Panhandle.
Leaders within NIBCA engage with key regional organizations such as the Regional Housing Alliance, Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance and Connect Kootenai.
“The NIBCA collaborates with focus groups to target solutions to housing challenges,” Snyder said. “For us in the partnership, we’re providing a lot of insight and advice.”
By providing valuable feedback and collaborating on initiatives, NIBCA contributes to the ongoing efforts to tackle long-term challenges in the region.
Snyder
