About Us
The Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) is a membership organization that has been proudly promoting and supporting our community since 1955. That commitment is demonstrated in BANCF’s mission statement: “To engage builders and businesses, advocate, and provide resources within the communities we serve.”
BANCF represents the residential and commercial building industry, provides services for all members, and supports the freedom to operate as entrepreneurs in an open and competitive environment. BANCF is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, integrity, and professionalism within the building industry, while promoting the creation of desirable communities and the American Dream of home ownership.
Our 450+ strong membership base ranges from developers and builders to trade contractors, engineers, architects, bankers, realtors, and retail, all headquartered and/or doing business in our surrounding community. These members use our association as their resource for relationship building, educational and training opportunities, promotional and networking opportunities, and members doing business with members.
Our History
In 1955, the Gainesville Home Builders Association (GHBA) which is now the Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) was founded by a group of building pioneers including Clark Butler, George Gaston, Fred Mason, Walter Stubbs, Harold Walker, and A.W. Fletcher. This group of builders understood the importance of leveraging their knowledge, expertise, and influences to navigate through the challenges and issues within the building industry. The first meetings were held in a small sales office.
Other builders such as Hugh Edwards, Woodrow Bratcher, Bill Ridgway, and G.M. Davis soon joined the association followed by other businesses in the building industry including V.Q. McCoy, Al Combs, Harry Edwards, and Charles Denny. Working together, GHBA became a place where the building industry came together, providing services for all its members and supporting the freedom to operate as entrepreneurs in an open and competitive environment.
Through the Years...
- In 1957, association members worked with the county to establish the building permitting and inspection department. One of our founding members, A.W. Fletcher, pulled the very first building permit in Alachua County on Oct. 1, 1957.
- In 1959, the association sponsored its first Parade of Homes ™ in Skyline Heights. Since then, over 1300 homes in 130 neighborhoods have been featured in the Parade of Homes ™ .
- In 1972, the association took a big step forward with the hiring of our first executive officer and doubled membership by the end of 1973.
- In 1978, the association built its own office building under the direction of builder Tom Spain, which remains the association “home” today.
- In 1985, the association set the stage for our increased participation and influence in the governmental and political arenas with the hiring of a full-time Director of Governmental Affairs.
- In 1993, the association changed its name from Gainesville Home Builders Association to Gainesville Builders Association in recognition of a growing diversity in our membership. The Commercial Builders Council was formed that year and has grown to an active group of commercial builders, sub-contractors, and suppliers.
- In 2002, the association's expanding membership base prompted a change to its new name, Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF). Although the majority of the association's members are currently in Alachua County, the association also serves the growing counties of Levy, Gilchrist, Dixie, Lafayette, Madison, Hamilton, Suwannee, & Taylor.
- In 2005, the BANCF celebrated its Golden Anniversary…50 years of serving and protecting the building industry.
- In 2005, BANCF started an apprenticeship program called the Builders Association of North Central Florida Master Trades Committee GNJ. A group of members who owned businesses in the trades, created the Master Trades Council to oversee the program.
- In 2007, BANCF reached its highest membership of 636.
- In 2010, the Apprenticeship Program had 25 graduates.
- In 2015, BANCF celebrated its 60th Anniversary.
- In 2016, the association was awarded 1st place in the National Home Builder’s Association (NAHB) Membership Drive in the association’s region.
- In 2018, the association was awarded $3,700 for NAHB’s Up Your Game Membership Recruitment Drive.
- In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, members worked with NAHB and Alachua County to deem construction as “essential”.
- In 2022, the Apprenticeship Program had its highest graduating class of 40 apprentices; four of them were women.