The Louisiana Home Builders Association has launched a campaign to make people aware of the organization and combat fears about the national housing slump. “Folks need to understand when you look at the national trends on subprime loans, foreclosures, whatever, Louisiana is right where it is all the time,” says Phil Hoffman, 2009 LHBA president. “Our average is pretty much the same in good times and not so good times … We’re bucking a lot of the national trends.”
LHBA members have set aside $200,000 for the campaign, which involves a Web site LAhomeownership.com and newspaper, TV and radio spots. Local LHBA chapters will also put up money for campaigns in their areas; Hoffman says that should bring the cost of the campaign up to $400,000 or $500,000 this year. The campaign is mirrored on an effort that went on in Baton Rouge last spring, which was headed by the Capital Region Builders Association, Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors and Baton Rouge Growth Coalition. “We’re hoping this doesn’t end,” he says. “We want to budget for a campaign like this every year to build public awareness of the LHBA and our regional members.” Along with making people more familiar about the LHBA and allaying fears, Hoffman says he hopes the campaign leads to some more business for homebuilders.—Timothy Boone
