History

The Santa Barbara Contractors Association was founded on October 6, 1948 when a group of local builders formed an association for the purpose of discussing common problems and exchanging ideas relating to their crafts. The original association was incorporated as The Building Contractors of Santa Barbara, Inc., a nonprofit organization, and has grown from its nine founding members to its present size.

Founding members were C. Dick Craig, E. E. Wattles, Carl V. Lawrence, Kenneth Davidson, Fred J. Drewisch, W. F. Ingalls, Wm. E. Hummel, Eugene Sahm and R. K. Kaime.

In 1967 the organization changed its name to the Santa Barbara Contractors Association, Inc. and is recognized as one of the leading organizations representing the overall construction industry on the California Central Coast. Today the SBCA serves over 600 members.

A small office was opened in 2004, and later moved to Carrillo Street to better serve the members. In 2009 the SBCA moved to its present location in the California State Historic Park, El Presidio de Santa Barbara to meet the special needs of the growing organization. The facility is centrally located downtown Santa Barbara and offers a classroom, plan room, board meeting room, and the Built Green Resource Center. The SBCA Board of Directors recognized their role and responsibility in the community, and in 2004 the SBCA initiated the Built Green Santa Barbara program.