Good Morning Folks,

We are now a month into the new year. To start things off on a learning note, Vickie and I took a tour with the Coachella Valley Water District to learn more about sustainable water sources. Of the 106 golf courses within the CVWD service territory, approximately half use non-potable recycled water, canal water, or a combination of both—helping reduce demand on the Coachella Valley’s most precious natural resources. Below are links to two handouts with key statistics, along with two maps identifying golf courses currently in non-potable service areas and those planned for the foreseeable future.

CVWD Recycled Water and Sewer Services

Thursday marked DVBA’s Monthly Legislative Affairs Forum at Rancho Mirage City Hall, followed by the Professional Women in Building Council meeting. The photo below omits many of the more than 34 participants seated in the gallery. Valuable information is shared among representatives from our region’s nine cities, various water districts, and county, state, and federal agencies.

While the Legislative Affairs Forum was well underway, Palm Springs Life Magazine’s Market Watch: Winter Session began at Indian Ridge Country Club. Click the links below to view the presentations.

Market Watch: Winter Session Presentation PDF

Market Watch: Winter Session Presentation YouTube

Our next Public Officials Luncheon will feature La Quinta City Manager Jon McMillen at the Embassy Suites, located off Calle Tampico and Santa Rosa Road in downtown La Quinta, on February 25, 2026. Please click here to register.

On March 18, we will host the City of Rancho Mirage for our Public Officials Luncheon. We will return to the Sunset Suite Room at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage. The flyer is posted on the website calendar, and registration will open on February 26. Something special is also in the works for April, as planned by the Events Committee.

We held our second Committee Meeting this past month. Future meetings are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. (bring your own lunch). For more information, please contact Vickie Murguia at Vickie@TheDVBA.org or (760) 776-7001.

Below are the four committees or councils the Desert Valleys Builders Association invites you to consider joining—and potentially leading—to support your goals for both the DVBA and your business.

Events
Membership
Sales and Marketing
Professional Women in Building

Best wishes,

James Brownyard

Executive Director

Mission Statement The DVBA is an association of building industry professionals, representing all levels of the construction industry and committed to ensuring that building of all types remain vibrant and strong in our region. We are dedicated to providing excellence in community development while protecting the natural beauty of the Coachella and Imperial Valleys.

Vision Statement To be an industry sector leader and collaborative partner in the complex economic and regulatory environments of the Coachella and Imperial Valleys.

Upcoming Events

Does your company have a story to share?

We will be adding a Member of the Month to “Spotlight” to our weekly DVBA Newsletter! This is your chance to showcase your journey, highlight your business, and share the passion behind what you do. What we will need are two or three high-quality photos and a short write-up about your business, your mission, and what makes your company unique.

Selected businesses will be featured in front of our engaged community for one month, giving your company more industry exposure and helping you connect with new customers.

Interested? Email your story and photos to Vickie at admin@thedvba.org with the subject line Member of the Month Spotlight Submission.

Let’s celebrate the amazing businesses that are literally building our communities!

Latest Industry and Legislative News

Average US Long-term Mortgage Rate Barely Budges, Holding Near 6%

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate barely budged this week, staying close to 6% as the spring home-buying season nears.

👉 Read More

How Big is the U.S. Housing Shortage?

Experts say the U.S. needs an additional 2 to 20 million to fix the shortfall.

👉 Read More

Homeowner Mortgage Rates: Here's the Breakdown of U.S. Borrowers

The share of U.S. homeowners with high rates on their mortgages has jumped sharply in just the last few years.

That’s having a marked impact on the refinance market and a somewhat more muted impact on home sales.

👉 Read More

Why New CA pollution Tool Let Down Environmental Justice Groups

California is updating CalEnviroScreen, the influential pollution tracker that helps determine which communities get environmental grants. Advocates say the state should improve the tool and use it more frequently to cut pollution.

👉 Read More

3 Major Factors Limiting American Construction Productivity

A recent Goldman Sachs report explores why the U.S. construction industry has underproduced compared to other countries’ construction industries.

Between 1970 and 2024, productivity in the U.S. construction industry fell 30% while overall labor productivity more than doubled.

Three primary factors have led to this stagnancy.

👉 Read More

Make sure to check out the NAHB Membership Savings program for numerous discounts!

CLICK HERE TO READ REST OF NEWSLETTER

Professional Women in Building

Interested in connecting with Women in the Industry? Join us the first Thursday of each month for a lively discussion and engagement with fellow industry professionals. Inquire at the DVBA office 760-776-7001 for more information.

STAY CONNECTED