2025 BizCon South

Attendee Pricing is Ala Carte - When selecting sessions during registration the price of each session you select will be added to your registration. Please sign in to get member pricing.

Invite your contractor customers to the BizCon to walk the trade show floor and explore the products and services hands-on during the trade show. Contractors can receive FREE entrance into the exhibit hall if they are invited by a member dealer ($35 savings).

Dealers can register their contractors online at the same time as they register their employees OR they may hand out a paper contractor invite to their contractors to submit at the onsite registration desk.  Each contractor will be identifiable by a “BUILDER” badge onsite.

Need help signing in? Reach out to Erica Bernards at erica@bldconnection.org for registration assistance!

If you prefer to register via paper form, click HERE to download a copy of our dealer badge registration form. (Registration opens Nov. 1st for dealers)

*Non-members allowed at trade show only for $35 per person. All other functions are members only.

**Contractors can attend exhibit hall and exhibit hall activities only. No education, opening lunch, or Brews & Bites UNLESS INVITED BY A MEMBER.

EXHIBITOR PRICING

Exhibitors can register for unlimited badges for booth representatives (company employees) for the trade show portion. Other functions (meals, receptions, seminars) must be purchased separately.

• If bringing in a manufacturing rep that does not directly work for your company only, badges are $100 each.
• Badges can be made onsite, but you can save time by ordering them in advance. If attending any functions, those MUST be registered for in advance!

Exhibitor Standard Booth: $1500 Member / $1750 Non-Member

Exhibitor Prime Booth: $1750 - Members ONLY

• Prime booths are placed in highest traffic areas.

SPONSOR PRICING

Standard Sponsor - $750

Sponsors at the STANDARD LEVEL will receive the following benefits:

These funds will be used at BLD ‘s discretion towards various BizCon administrative costs.

• Exposure on event webpages, social media, and onsite show program
• Sponsor signage at event including bright signage on exhibit booth to help your booth stand out
• Badge ribbons on booth representative badges to identify them as sponsors
• Verbal acknowledgement during Opening Membership Luncheon
• Participation in the onsite Sponsor-Only Scavenger Hunt Game*

*Dealers and guests will be sent to all sponsor booths to search for a specific object (provided by BLD onsite). Once they complete their game card by visiting all sponsors, they may enter it into a drawing for a $500 prize held at the end of the event. These games help drive guaranteed traffic to sponsor booths!

Premium Sponsor - $1500 Members ONLY

Sponsors at the PREMIUM LEVEL will receive the following benefits:

These funds will be used towards the BizCon function of your choice.

• All benefits listed under Standard Sponsor (including participation in the Sponsor-Only Scavenger Hunt Game*)

– PLUS –

• Ability to sponsor a specific function at the event rather than BLD assigning dollars to behind-the-scenes expenses. This ensures you will receive individual sponsor signage at that function highlighting your company (rather than just be listed on the ‘all sponsor” sign.) We will reach out to you with available function sponsorship options once you have registered for this sponsorship level.
• NEW! Entry into the ‘Best Featured Product Contest”. Voted on by attending dealers, the featured product with the most votes will receive a special “shout-out” highlighted in a spring issue of the BLD Connection magazine! We will also reach out to collect your featured product information once you register for this sponsorship level.

Exhibitors/Suppliers – Read more about booth and exhibit hall details, regulations, and more. See Exhibitor & Sponsor Pricing tab on this webpage to read more about booth/sponsorship pricing options.

BizCons provide a unique platform for lumber & building product suppliers to increase brand awareness and success through engagement and meaningful interactions. Take advantage of this face-to-face opportunity by securing your booth today.  Consider additional company exposure by supporting the event with a sponsorship or joining the Innovation Speed Showcase as well.

Suppliers must exhibit in order to attend the BizCons.  Companies do not need to be members to exhibit, however, members will receive discounted pricing.

ADDITIONAL VENUE NOTES

• Complimentary Wi-Fi included in exhibit hall.
• Complimentary electricity is included with your booth. Booths automatically come with access to (1) 110-volt electric outlet. Consider bringing an additional extension cord if needed.
• The exhibit hall floor IS carpeted at this venue.
• Manual pallet jacks and forklifts are available for use with prior arrangements and scheduling. Reach out to Jenn Virden (with Prairie Meadows) at: (515)967-8637 or virden@prairiemeadows.com to arrange.
• Prairie Meadows has both an elevated loading dock (Dock 3) and ground level (Sally Port). Security access required. Refer to Load In, Load Out info below.
• Free Parking
• Shipping & Freight Service - If it is necessary for you to ship materials to Prairie Meadows, incoming packages and boxes are to be addressed as follows:

For your safety and security, cartons, packages, or other containers brought in or removed from Prairie Meadows by the Client, Client’s guests, invitees, employees, and agents may be subject to inspection. Boxes, packages, and/or display materials will be accepted no earlier than three (3) days prior to the scheduled event date. The Meadows reserves the right to refuse packages which appear damaged and in any event, assumes no liability for the condition of the contents of such packages. Additionally, storage for items received prior to three (3) days and/or not removed following the conclusion of your event may be assessed storage fees. Returned shipping/packaging fees will apply. Prairie Meadows will not accept any responsibility for damage to or loss of any merchandise or articles left in the facility prior to, during, or following the Client’s function.

Shipments of more than 10 boxes and any boxes heavier than 70 lbs. must receive prior approval from your Event Coordinator. Handling and storage fees for large shipments will apply.

PACKAGE SHIPPING CHARGES Incoming and outgoing charges: • Letters and Envelopes $4 each • Boxes up to 70 lbs. $10 each MAIL / SHIPPING / PACKAGE INSPECTION • Totes and Display cases $25 each • Pallets $100

Packages should arrive no more than 3 days prior to the conference.

• Load in, load out if using the loading dock area – You may load small items in through the main doors of the conference center during designated load in and load out event hours, but if larger items must be moved in with equipment or a loading dock is required, please use the receiving and distribution area and follow the directions below.
  • Prairie Meadows receiving & distribution (R&D) area is on the northeast side of the building.
  • Back up to Dock #4 (aka Sally Port), which is the garage door/dock closest to the entry door.
  • Use the employee entrance, located by Dock #4, ring the bell at the far door to check in with security control.
  • Present your driver’s license to security control to receive a temporary IRGC yellow badge* and proximity card. The proximity card will give you access to employee areas of the facility.
  • Please be prepared to share the following information: name of the event, name of your Prairie Meadows’ contact, and the areas of the facility you will be accessing.
  • Once checked in, security or R&D staff will open the garage door for you.
  • Back your vehicle inside the building. Security or R&D staff will shut the first garage door and open the interior door for unloading.
  • If needed, obtain a cart from R&D staff. Carts are limited and may not be available at the time of your arrival. Be prepared to move your items without the use of a cart. Unload your vehicle and take your items to the room/area for your event. Depending on Sally Port usage, our staff may ask you to move your vehicle immediately after unloading, before taking items to the room.
  • All vehicles need to be parked in our main lot. You must enter through any of our guest entrances – The Meadows Events Center, main Casino entrance, or Hotel. If you do not need to access employee areas after unloading, return your badges* to security control to receive your driver’s license.
  • *Badge must be worn and visible in secure areas. Guests are not allowed to gamble or drink alcohol while in possession of an IRGC temporary badge.

• LOADING DOCK & EQUIPMENT USAGE - For the safety of employees and Clients, only trained and certified persons may operate forklifts. Services must be arranged with Prairie Meadows in advance and will be contracted for a minimum of one (1) hour at a rate of $150 per hour. Utilization exceeding one (1) hour will be calculated and rounded up in .25 hour increments.
• EXHIBITOR SERVICES– Prairie Meadows provides their own in-house pipe and drape, tables, etc. for the booths. Therefore, if you have special booth needs not included with your booth (booth comes with pipe and drape, 8’ table with cloth & skirt, 2 chairs, wastebasket, access to (1) 110-volt electric outlet, booth signage in a carpeted ballroom), reach out to Jenn Virden at 967.8637 or jennifer.virden@prairiemeadows.com.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Prairie Meadows Hotel for the nights of Monday, February 17^th and Tuesday, February 18^th.

Prairie Meadows Hotel
1 Prairie Meadows Drive
Altoona, IA 50009

• Rate:                     $144 plus taxes
• Cut Off Date:        Tuesday, January 28th, 2025
• Check In Time:     4:00 pm
• Check Out Time:  11:00 am
• Parking Charge:   Free parking surrounding hotel and conference center.

Booking Info (by Phone or Online)

• Call: (515) 967 - 1000
• Online: https://book.rguest.com/wbe/group/1609/PrairieMeadowsRacetrackandCasino/auth
• Group ID: BLD Connection

ALERT!

Please be aware of housing companies calling and falsely claiming to represent the BLD Connection BizCon. They are NOT authorized to call, nor can they get you better rates. You must make your own hotel reservations by using the reservation information on this page.

Also be aware of third parties emailing with “attendee lists” to sell. They do NOT have our attendee lists, nor can they attain them. This is a scam. Please ignore these attempts.