December 2021 | The monthly e-newsletter of the Florida Apartment Association
What's New in FAA
The 2022 FAA Legislative Conference February 1 and 2  is just weeks away and spaces are rapidly filling up. View this list to see who among your peers is already registered, and then register now to add YOUR name to the list.

Rooms are available at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tallahassee (FAA's host hotel). After you register you will receive a link to reserve your room at the special discounted rate. Don't delay: Reserve your room before the cutoff date of Friday, January 7. (Rooms will likely sell out before that date.)

This annual visit to Tallahassee is extremely important, as it helps build relationships with our elected officials and promote our industry's legislative priorities. New legislation that affects the apartment industry is already being filed.

The registration fee of $95 includes a legislative briefing and reception with legislators and guest speakers. You will caucus with others from your local affiliate before departing for dinner on your own.

If you require a paper registration form, or if you have questions, cancellations, or substitutions, email Rona Long at rona@faahq.org
Save the Date for FAA's Legislative Committee Meeting & Pre Session Update
Please join FAA for a Legislative Committee meeting and a pre-session update. This meeting is open to all FAA members.

During this meeting, members will learn about FAA's legislative priorities and some of the other bills that are on the association's radar heading into the 2022 session. In addition, the FAA Legislative Committee will select the association's 2021 Legislator of the Year.

If you have any questions or concerns in advance of the meeting or would like to receive the calendar invitation, please contact Amanda White, government affairs director, at amanda@faahq.org.
FAA Welcomes New Meetings Coordinator
FAA is happy to share that Melanie Palaigos, CMP, will join the FAA team as meetings coordinator, assisting Ralph Robinson, director of meetings, with the planning and execution of conferences and other events. Palaigos is an accomplished certified meeting professional, whose experience in the meetings and events industry includes 10 years as a meeting planner with Tupperware U.S. and Canada. Palaigos graduated from the University of Central Florida where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism with a concentration in advertising and public relations. Palaigos is taking over the meetings role from Carina Favale, who has joined the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando team as manager of meetings.
The National Apartment Association's annual education conference, Apartmentalize, will take place June 22-24 in San Diego. Save $100 off the early bird member rate by purchasing your registration through the FAA. More than 11,000 rental housing professionals, 550+ exhibitors, and 150+ speakers will gather to discuss solutions and explore trends within the multifamily industry. Learn more and register now.
Videos from the 2021 FAA Annual Conference & Trade Show are available on FAA's YouTube channel. Click the image at right to relive highlights of the event.
You can also find the videos on FAA's social media:
FAA's HR&A Study: Tax Discounts are a Critical Tool for Solving Florida's Affordable Housing Crisis
A study commissioned by the Florida Apartment Association finds property tax discounts will increase affordable housing stock and spur economic growth across Florida.

The FAA study finds a 25% tax discount for participating housing providers in the Miami area, for example, could enable an average of 1,250 affordable apartments per year for residents earning up to 60% of the area median household income, roughly $48,840. As a result, the Miami area would see approximately 424 new jobs, $20 million in increased earnings, and $52 million in increased economic activity annually.

The FAA study provides additional evidence in support of state legislation to authorize these types of local tax discounts. For more information, read a press release here, read the study here, or visit housingopportunityforall.com
Choose Texacraft for your 2022 commercial outdoor projects. Since 1975, Texacraft has been a trusted partner for outdoor commercial furniture. Texacraft is a single source for all outdoor furniture needs from chaise lounges, site furnishings and more.

The four-page bill would require thorough criminal and sex offender background checks for every employee at an apartment complex.

Amanda White with the Florida Apartment Association said everything in the bill is already best practices, although not mandatory. “The passage of this legislation would just ensure consistent application of those best practices across the state,” White said.

Read more from the article on WJHG News 7.
From NAA
Each year, NAA's Excellence Awards, or Excels, recognize excellence and leadership in the rental housing industry. Excels celebrate communities, industry professionals and affiliated apartment associations who make unique contributions to the industry. For the winners, receiving an Excels award represents milestones and outstanding achievement. Individuals and companies can enter from six award categories to be selected for an NAA Excellence Award. 

Applications open December 13 through February 11. If you would like to be notified when the next application period opens, please email excels@naahq.org.

When the pandemic disrupted life, causing many residents to remain home for long periods, developers and managers understood they had to create a plan B.

Life in rental housing needed to accommodate family members’ office and schoolwork needs, as well as help residents take breaks safely. What made the situation tougher was that nobody knew if changes would be temporary or permanent.

Read more from Units.
Supplier Updates
The next FAA Florida Suppliers Council meeting will be on Monday, January 31, 5-6 p.m., in the Florida Rooms (located on the second floor) at the DoubleTree by Hilton Tallahassee (101 South Adams St., Tallahassee, FL 32301). View the meeting agenda.
The Sponsorship Opportunities and Exhibitor Prospectus is now available for the 2022 FAA Annual Conference & Trade Show, which will be held September 28 - 30, 2022 at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, FL. View the 2022 prospectus.
FAA offers opportunities to reach prospects at events throughout the year, including a new advertising opportunity now available on the supplier directory. Learn more.
Upcoming Events
FAA is a federation of 10 local affiliates, representing more than 880,000 apartment homes in Florida. All community, management company, and supplier members in good standing of a local affiliate are automatically members of FAA and NAA.

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