As architects and their firms continue to struggle through the most dismal economic climate in more than a generation, the AIA unveiled Wednesday the next phase of the Rebuild and Renew plan, which focuses on the business needs of architects and other small business owners for both short- and long-term economic recovery. Later that afternoon, AIA Board Member Mickey Jacob, FAIA, testified about the plan before the House of Representatives Small Business Committee and spoke on the need to pursue policies to loosen the ever-tightening credit markets.

See Jacob’s testimony here and a special message he videotaped for AIA members before his testimony.

“Small business does not want a bailout,” Jacob noted in his testimony. “We want access to loans to bridge the economic downturn to help fund operational costs. We want relief from the premium costs of health insurance. We want incentives for people to build, buy, and renovate their homes and businesses. We want the availability of grants that assist in the acquisition and implementation of new technologies to keep small business competitive in the world wide marketplace. These are investments in the future of the country.”

The prolonged economic slump is having a far-reaching, adverse impact on the design and construction sector, which accounts for roughly 10 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product. In addition to widespread layoffs and firm closings, architecture firms are having an extremely difficult time securing financing for proposed projects. The AIA Architecture Billings Index–a leading economic indicator of future construction activity–shows no signs of an imminent turnaround.

Rebuild and Renew Plan Recommendations
The following are key recommendations of the plan:

• Make financing available for design and construction projects
• Provide tax relief for small businesses
• Make tax policies work for recovery
• Rebuild our infrastructure for the 21st century
• Build the new green economy

Specific details of the AIA Rebuild & Renew plan can be found here. Over the coming months, the AIA will work with Congress and the Administration to advance policies that will set the playing field for architects their firms to recover from the economic downturn.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.aia.org/rebuildandrenew, or contact the AIA government relations team at govaffs@aia.org.