Leaders of the New Jersey Builders Association were on hand Wednesday to mark the opening of the annual Atlantic Builders Convention at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. — Courtesy: NJBA
By Joshua Burd
The region’s homebuilding industry took center stage this week as the Atlantic Builders Convention kicked off with its largest crowd and largest slate of exhibitors in years, drawing thousands to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City for the multiday event.
According to the New Jersey Builders Association, the convention’s host, more than 2,500 attendees arrived Wednesday as the exhibit floor opened at the Etess Arena. It’s expecting a similar crowd for the show’s final day on Thursday.
SLIDESHOW: Atlantic Builders Convention 2024
Additional photos by Real Estate NJ
The program, which kicked off Tuesday night with ABC’s Sales & Marketing Awards, has also included panels, educational seminars and a host of other networking opportunities. And it’s taken place as Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed a landmark bill to recast how New Jersey calculates each town’s obligations for affordable housing, setting the stage for a new phase of residential development across the state.
“We fully expected to rebound from the last few years but we far exceeded our expectations in both attendance and energy,” said Jeff Kolakowski, CEO of the New Jersey Builders Association. “The industry is excited about and galvanizing around the prospect of starting on a new round of affordable housing and pushing for initiatives that will enable the creation of diverse and affordable housing options throughout the state.”
