You don’t want to miss this opportunity to understand how the federal Build America, Buy America law will impact your housing project from the very start. BABA requires all federally funded HUD and other projects use materials and products made in the U.S. That means steel, iron, construction materials, and manufactured products. It’s vital that housing projects consider BABA from the very beginning design and construction so all items are chosen and priced for BABA compliance to avoid costly delays, waiver processes, etc. 

BABA compliant products are more complicated than one would imagine. For instance, a metal sink even through the steel of the sink is US and the manufacture of the sink is US, if the metal clips included in the sink packaging are not also US steel and manufactured, then the sink is not BABA compliant. The waiver process is not an ideal route, but available via HUD and then OMB with a ~75 day timeframe under the best circumstances. If you’re not a MAHC member, please consider joining. We offer education, networking, and other events and advocate for the creation of affordable housing so all Maine people have a home. We have 140 member organizations listed here.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6150549277