Building Momentum: New Membership Rates, a New Online Home, and Growing Research Partnerships

US HEMP BUILDING ASSOCIATION

A Message from the Treasurer

Ryan Doherty, Treasurer

Dear USHBA Members,

I hope this message finds you well. On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support of the US Hemp Building Association and for being part of a community dedicated to advancing healthy, sustainable, and resilient building practices.

As our organization continues to grow, we are focused on making membership more accessible, strengthening the value we provide, and expanding our connections throughout the hemp building industry. I am excited to share a few important updates with you.

Lower Membership Rates and a New Online Home

One of the Board’s priorities this year has been reducing barriers to participation while simplifying our membership structure. We are pleased to announce our new annual membership rates:

Student Membership: $10

Individual Membership: $45

Corporate Membership: $250

Our hope is that these new rates will encourage more students, professionals, builders, architects, researchers, manufacturers, and supporters to become active members of the USHBA community.

The future of hemp building depends on growing a strong and engaged network, and we believe these changes will help welcome the next generation of leaders while making it easier for everyone to participate.

We have also completed our transition to our new website and domain:  www.ushempbuilding.org

We encourage you to visit the site regularly over the coming months. The Board is actively developing new member resources, educational content, industry updates, and additional member benefits designed to strengthen the value of your membership. We have several exciting initiatives already underway, and we look forward to sharing them with you as they come online.

Building Momentum Through Research and Partnerships

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel with USHBA President Shawn Ledig to Louisiana, where we met with faculty and researchers at Southern University in Baton Rouge and visited the USDA research facilities in New Orleans. These conversations reinforced something we are seeing across the country: interest in hemp building materials continues to grow among universities, researchers, government agencies, and industry leaders.

In the field with Louisiana hemp producers during the Board’s visit to the state.

Institutions are increasingly exploring hemp-based materials for their environmental benefits, carbon storage potential, healthy indoor air quality, and ability to support resilient, low-impact construction. Universities are expanding research into hempcrete, hemp fiber insulation, composite materials, and agricultural production systems, while federal and state agencies continue evaluating hemp’s role in sustainable building and rural economic development.

Hemp cultivar trial work underway with research partners at the Southern University greenhouse.

This momentum is reflected throughout the broader construction industry. The U.S. green building market continues to expand as architects, builders, and homeowners seek materials with resilient supply chains and non-toxic, healthier building materials. At the same time, more educational institutions are launching research programs focused on bio-based construction, creating new opportunities for collaboration, workforce development, and innovation.

Touring the USDA research facilities in New Orleans, where hemp fiber processing research continues to advance.

The US Hemp Building Association is committed to helping connect these efforts. By building relationships with universities, researchers, government agencies, manufacturers, and builders, we are strengthening the foundation needed to advance hemp building throughout the United States. These partnerships help ensure that research translates into real-world applications while creating new opportunities for education, standards development, and industry growth.

Thank you again for your membership and your commitment to advancing hemp building. Together, we are building an organization that supports education, collaboration, and the widespread adoption of sustainable building materials. We look forward to sharing more updates and opportunities with you in the months ahead. If you would like to get in touch or have any questions you can reach out to me at treasurer@ushempbuilding.org.

Warm regards,

Ryan Doherty

Treasurer

US Hemp Building Association