FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Bay Building Industries Association (BBIA) is the local home of the building industry for Panama City and seven Northwest Florida counties: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington. We were chartered in 1973 and serve both residential and commercial construction.

Membership is 3-in-1: when you join the BBIA, your company is also a member of the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Apply on our online membership application. It takes three steps:

1. Choose your membership type.
2. Add your company and contact information, including your Member of Record.
3. Pick any optional add-ons (BBIA PAC, Industry Partner, Young Professionals Council), then pay.

After you apply, we review your application and set your company up with NAHB and FHBA. Then we email you the information you need to create your Info Hub login.

• Builder: for RC, CBC, CRC and CGC licensed contractors only.
• Associate: for suppliers, manufacturers, subcontractors, architects, engineers, real estate professionals and other professionals who support the building industry.
• Affiliate: an add-on for an extra person under an existing Builder or Associate membership (see below).
• Professional Women in Building (PWB): a council membership for people at BBIA member companies.

Not sure? Email [email protected] and we will point you to the right fit.

Builder and Associate dues include your FHBA and NAHB memberships. Dues are not tax-deductible as a charitable contribution but may be deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. The application lists the full dues and tax details.

• Monthly Lunch & Learns with regional leaders, for networking and lunch.
• Advocacy on codes, permitting and local development.
• Member directory visibility and referral opportunities.
• Events that put your company in front of decision-makers.
• Access to FHBA and NAHB education, discounts and resources.

Your Member of Record is the one person who represents your company in the BBIA. Choose the person who will actually take part, such as the owner or a principal who will be active.

• Your Member of Record attends, receives BBIA communications and casts the company's vote in association matters.
• Please don't list an office contact or bookkeeper. Choose this person carefully.

Yes. Email [email protected] with the name of the person who should be your Member of Record. We update your record and pass the change to NAHB.

Each Builder and Associate member company votes through its Member of Record. Affiliate members do not cast the company's vote. That is why your Member of Record should be someone who knows what is happening in the association.

Affiliate membership is only needed to add another employee who serves under your company's main Member of Record and needs their own NAHB PIN# (for example, to join a council, use member savings programs or take education classes). Your company does not need an Affiliate to join. A primary Builder or Associate membership is required first.

Affiliate dues are $150 a year.

Renewal dates vary by company. Your renewal invoice shows the due date, and all of your invoices are in the Info Hub. To check your date, email [email protected].

Every BBIA invoice email has a link to pay online. You can also mail a check to the address on your invoice. You can see and pay your invoices any time in the Info Hub (Info Hub login page).

Log in to the Info Hub (Info Hub login page). Your invoices are listed there. If you can't find one, email [email protected] and we will send it. Tip: check your spam folder for BBIA invoice emails.

Email [email protected] and we will send the BBIA's W-9.

Email [email protected] with the change. We update your membership record and billing details for you.

The Info Hub at members.BayBIA.org is the BBIA member portal. Members use it to:

• Search the member directory and connect with other members.
• Personalize your company's listing page.
• Register for events, including member-only events.
• Manage your membership and pay invoices.
• Post job openings in the Career Center, share Hot Deals and submit news.
• Find resources from the BBIA, FHBA and NAHB.

Once your membership is processed, we email you the information to create your login. Go to the Info Hub login page and create an account using the same email address that is on your BBIA record.

On the Info Hub login page, use the "Forgot your Username or Password?" link. Still stuck? You may not be set up as a contact on your company's membership yet, or your membership may still be processing. Email [email protected] and we will get you in.

Your company listing can include a description, location, logo, photos and contact details, depending on your membership level. To edit it, you need to be set up as a primary contact on your company's membership. Email [email protected] to be added, create your login with that same email, then make your changes in the Info Hub.

Members can post openings in the Career Center in the Info Hub. The BBIA also emails resumes it receives to members who are hiring. To add someone at your company to that list, email [email protected].

Start at Find a Pro. You can browse BBIA builder members, jump to remodelers, or tap a trade category (plumbing, roofing, electrical, countertops, lenders, insurance and more) to see BBIA associate members in that line of work.

Search tip: use trade names, like "plumbing" instead of "plumber." In the full directories you can also filter by ZIP code and distance.

Hire licensed contractors. You can look up any contractor's Florida license with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) at myfloridalicense.com. To report unlicensed activity, call the DBPR hotline at (866) 532-1440.

Find a Pro links to the BBIA member directories, so BBIA members are listed there. Builder or industry partner? Join BBIA to be listed.

• Lunch & Learn: monthly at Capt. Anderson's Event Center, 5550 N. Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach, 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM, with a keynote speaker and lunch.
• Parade of Homes: a showcase of homes across Bay County and along the Emerald Coast. Admission to the 2026 Parade was free. See Parade of Homes.
• Home Expo: the 2027 Home Expo is January 29-30, 2027, at The Boardwalk Beach Convention Center.
• Golf tournament, clay shoot, socials and the Christmas banquet, plus committee events like PWB Wine Down Wednesday and BBIA Commercial meetings.

See everything on the events calendar.

Lunch & Learns are held monthly at Capt. Anderson's Event Center, 5550 N. Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach, from 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM. Each one has a keynote speaker, lunch and time to network. Upcoming dates include November 17, 2026, then January 19, 2027 and February 23, 2027. See dates on the Lunch & Learn page or the events calendar.

Click Register Here under the date on the Lunch & Learn page, or open it on the events calendar. Log in first to register as a member. You can register coworkers under your membership.

If online registration doesn't work for you, email [email protected] with the names and we will register you.

Open the event on the events calendar and register from its page. Lunch & Learn dates each have a "Register Here" button on the Lunch & Learn page. Sponsorships for Lunch & Learns are handled the same way.

BBIA members can submit their own events to the BBIA Events Calendar through the Info Hub, our member portal. It only takes a few minutes:

1. Log in at members.BayBIA.org/MIC/Login with your Username and Password, then click Sign In. Need help? Use "Forgot your Username or Password?" on the login page.
2. Select Events in the Info Hub menu.
3. Click Add Event.
4. Enter your Event Title and start and end dates. If your event has set times, uncheck the all day option and enter them.
5. Add a description, the location, any fees or admission, a contact name and email, and the category that fits best.
6. Click Submit for Approval.

BBIA staff review each event before it appears on the calendar. Questions? Email [email protected].

Yes. Choose the non-member option when you register and use your email address. It is a great way to meet members before you join.

It depends on the event. The Parade of Homes is free and open to everyone, and some events (like the golf tournament and the Commercial Halloween party) welcome members' friends and family. Check each event's page on the calendar for details.

Email [email protected] right away. Sometimes a registration closes early by mistake, and we can add you by hand.

You do not need to be a BBIA member to exhibit. Register on the 2027 Home Expo event page. It shows the floor map, the booth spaces still available and sponsorship options for extra exposure. Booth pricing depends on the size and location of the space. For current booth pricing, email [email protected].

The 2027 Home Expo is January 29 and 30, 2027, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at Boardwalk Beach Hotel & Convention Center, Panama City Beach.

Builders sign up through the Parade of Homes page when sign-ups open. For the 2027 Parade, sign-ups are opening soon, and dates will be posted on that page and on the events calendar. Email [email protected] for current details.

The Bustle is BBIA's online magazine and yearbook: a look back at what we did each month plus what's coming up, with events, photo galleries, award winners and industry news. A new issue comes out on the 1st of every month. Read it at bbiabustle.com.

Industry Partners get their logo and link in The Bustle (see Industry Partners below).

Our Storm Information page gathers official links for all seven counties: county emergency management offices and alert sign-ups, evacuation zones and shelters, the National Hurricane Center, NWS Tallahassee, FEMA and the state's Know Your Zone lookup. It also has a job-site prep checklist for members.

If you are told to evacuate, leave. In an emergency, call 911.

Use Find a Pro to find BBIA member contractors (roofing, siding, windows, water damage, dumpsters and more), and verify their license at myfloridalicense.com before you sign or pay.

DBPR says be cautious if someone demands full payment up front, pressures you to act immediately, can't show a valid Florida license, offers to "handle" your insurance claim, or wants cash only.

The BBIA is here to help, too. Call 850-890-8554 or email [email protected] and we'll point you in the right direction.

Industry Partners support the BBIA all year and get visibility across our events and communications. There are three levels:

We welcome multiple partners at every level. See what each level includes on the Industry Partner page, or email [email protected].

Email [email protected], or contact Stacy Roberts at 850-890-8554 or [email protected]. We can also tailor a partnership to your business goals.

Yes. See current openings on the Sponsorship Opportunities page. Many BBIA events have sponsorships, including Lunch & Learns and the Home Expo. Lunch & Learn sponsorships are booked with the Register Here button on the Lunch & Learn page. For other events, email [email protected].

Email [email protected] to talk through payment options for your sponsorship.

The BBIA Political Action Committee (PAC) is how we turn advocacy into action. Every dollar invested supports candidates and initiatives that directly impact housing, development and the future of our industry. We also support FHBA's FHB PAC in Tallahassee and NAHB's BUILD-PAC in Washington, D.C. Learn more on the Government Affairs & PAC page.

You can add a PAC investment on the online membership application or invest any time from the Government Affairs & PAC page. Suggested levels:

Contributions to the BBIA PAC are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary and will be used for political purposes. You have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Suggested contribution levels are guidelines only. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amounts. Contributions must be made from personal funds and not from corporate or business accounts.

Yes. For Builder and Associate members, $27.00 of your FHBA dues and $20.00 of your BBIA dues are allocated to the Florida Home Builders Political Action Committees. This portion is not tax-deductible as a business expense. The allocation is optional. If you prefer it stay in FHBA operating funds, let us know at [email protected].

Young Professionals is for BBIA members, or anyone at a member company, under 45 who want to grow their career, network and leadership. Expect social mixers, career workshops, guest speakers, jobsite tours and community service events. The Young Professionals Council is a $25 add-on you can choose on the online membership application. See the Young Professionals page.

PWB is the NAHB Professional Women in Building Council, a network of people from builders, banks, suppliers, the skilled trades and more. Its mission is to break down barriers to entry for women in construction and build a support system of education, mentoring and networking. You must be a BBIA member to join, and the council is open to both men and women.

PWB dues are $125 a year: $50 supports your NAHB membership and $75 supports your local BBIA membership. See the PWB page.

BBIA Commercial meets the first Monday of each month from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Grace O'Malley's Irish Tavern, 461 Harrison Ave, Panama City. It is open to BBIA members, or anyone at a member company, who build, design or support commercial projects: developers, contractors, trades, architects, engineers, suppliers and service providers. See the BBIA Commercial page.

BBIA committees include Government Affairs & PAC, Membership, Education & Workforce, Parade of Homes, Home Expo, Scholarship Home and more. See them all on the Committees page, then email [email protected] to get involved.

Yes. The BBIA Scholarship Program supports local education in the field of construction. Applications for the 2027/2028 school year open in January. Check the Scholarship Information page for the current status, and email applications or questions to [email protected].

Email Stacy Roberts, CEO, at [email protected]. We are happy to help.