Legislative Yard Tours are unique opportunities for members of the lumber and building materials industry to connect directly with their federal legislators. These tours allow business owners to invite legislators to their facilities, providing a firsthand look at the daily operations, challenges, and successes of the industry.
What are Legislative Yard Tours?
These tours are organized visits where legislators tour lumber yards, meet with employees, and learn about the business’s role in the local and national economy. During these tours, business owners share their company’s story, highlight the importance of the industry, and discuss the broader economic and community contributions of their work. The focus is on education and relationship-building, rather than lobbying for specific legislation.
Why are They Important?
Legislative Yard Tours serve several key purposes. They educate legislators by providing a firsthand understanding of the industry, beyond reports or hearings in Washington, D.C., aiding informed decision-making. These tours highlight the industry’s crucial role in local job creation and economic development. Additionally, they offer a more relaxed setting for discussing daily challenges like regulatory hurdles or workforce shortages, enabling stronger, more personal relationships between business owners and legislators and paving the way for future advocacy and collaboration.
Yard Tour Resources
The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) has developed a comprehensive Yard Tour Guide to assist members in planning and executing successful legislative tours. This guide offers practical tips on preparing your yard, welcoming legislators, and effectively sharing your business story.
We encourage you to download the Yard Tour Guide and consider hosting a tour at your facility. If you have any questions or would like to sign up, please reach out to us at info@abmalliance.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Ready to get started? Sign up to become a host today! Fill out our yard tour sign-up sheet.
