Earlier this month, a Central Oregon tradition returned: the annual COBA Tour of Homes. Put on each year by the Central Oregon Builders Association it was, the two-weekend-long Tour had a mix of in-person and virtual tours to showcase some of Central Oregon’s finest homes in a variety of price categories.
Our new community of Discovery West had a home on the Tour, built by Oregon construction company Curtis Homes. A beautiful example of both their work as builders, and the quality of homes in the neighborhood, their home won Best of Show and several other awards in its category. They had a little extra fun with the Tour this year, decorating the house with a “discovery” theme to match the neighborhood, and hosting a mini-bike ride in honor of one of the “Women of Discovery” after which the community’s streets are named, Annie Londonderry.
While it is always fun for the community to get out and see what the talented builders in Central Oregon have been doing, the Tour of Homes, while the most visible, is not the only thing the Central Oregon Builders Association offers. The local non-profit was founded to help benefit its more than 700 companies in 11 Central Oregon counties. Its members consist of builders, subcontractors, suppliers and other related businesses, and the association represents them in a wide range of industry interests.
Working closely with the Oregon Builders Association, COBA is an independent entity that offers several programs and services. Their mission is to “represent the building industry before the government and the community, to promote high ethical standards within the building industry, to provide service to its membership and to defend the opportunities of home ownership for all.”
With a main goal of economic stability, COBA offers members a variety of benefits, including discounts on essentials like fuel, insurance, supplies, business classes and other business-related purchases. This is in addition to the advocacy work and networking opportunities offered by the organization.
While we will all have to wait another year for the much-anticipated Tour of Homes, the next event on the calendar is the well attended Spring Home and Garden Show in May of 2022. This annual event features 200 vendors showcasing their wares at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. They are expecting more than 10,000 visitors over the weekend-long event. Mark your calendars now!
Check out https://www.coba.org/ to find out more.