Signs of Improvement for Remodeling are Just in Time for Remodeling Month

May is Remodeling Month. Did you know that NAHB and other sources are predicting growth in home remodeling expenditures in 2011 and 2012?

According to NAHB, Americans spent $116 billion on improvements to owner-occupied homes in 2010. In addition, NAHB is forecasting that number to increase to $131 billion by 2012 as the housing market recovers from the recession.

Locally, attendee research from our own Southern Home & Garden Show revealed that 17.7 percent of the Spring home show audience has plans for a major remodel within the next 12 months and another 40.2 percent are planning minor home improvements over the next year.

Meals on Wheels News

Did you know that the HBA of Greenville has been a partner with Meals on Wheels since 1971? The HBA's relationship with Meals on Wheels was started by the HBA's Womens' Auxiliary, a group organized primarily by the wives of the Home Builders at that time. Since 1971 the HBA has supported Meals on Wheels with contributions and by sponsoring one and sometimes multiple routes.

Today the HBA continues to sponsor a route each Tuesday. Our regular volunteers are:

• John Bumstead, Piedmont Natural Gas
• Chuck Childress, BB&T
• Jerry Fay, Milestone Construction
• Michael Galloway, Galloway Custom Homes
• Scott Presley, Greer State Bank
• Dan Rawls, Dan Rawls Company
• Brad Thompson, First Choice Custom Homes
• Cindy Thompson, First Choice Custom Homes
• Tom Ward, Home Team Pest Defense

Think you may want to help out? Our volunteers generally take the route about once every four to six weeks. It takes about two to three hours to pick up the meals at the Meals on Wheels office and distribute them to about 10 grateful recipients. If you are new to Meals on Wheels, you will need to participate in a short orientation session.

If you are willing to help the HBA with the Meals on Wheels route, please click here and indicate the dates you think you can take a route. Simply type in your name and select the date or dates that you can volunteer for the route. We are currently scheduling the route from June through August.

Honorable Mention
This week your HBA of Greenville had the honor of helping Meals on Wheels recognize its volunteers as a sponsor of the 2011 Volunteer Recognition Celebration.

At the celebration one of our dedicated members, BB&T, was honored as the 2011 Corporate Partner of the Year by Meals on Wheels. If you know someone at BB&T, please congratulate them on this important honor.

Your HBA of Greenville is proud of its 40-year involvement with Meals on Wheels. In fact, some of our volunteers have gone on to take routes of their own. Please help us continue this important community service project by volunteering.

GBS Lumber announces future plans

GBS Lumber Inc. a 39-year-old construction supply business headquartered in Greenville County, has expanded its product and service offerings throughout Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina.

GBS plans to invest $1 million to upgrade showrooms and hire 15 people.

Additionally, the company has named Robert J. Barreto as CEO.

Read the rest of the story at GSA Business by clicking here.