America's Body Co., Columbus, Ohio, will pay two months of local, state and national dues for each Citi Utility Van purchased, and give $100 to a local chapter for each Cargo Van purchased by a PHCC member.

"We offer service vehicle options to contractors that will help them increase their profitability, plus we'll be working with dedicated dealers who can spread the value of the PHCC," says Tom Pfinst, senior vice president of America's Body Works.

Pfinst has already created a dealership network that includes 44 truck dealers located in 26 states. His plans are to have 100 dealers by the end of this year.

Steve Howe, City Chevrolet, San Diego, Calif., is one of those dealers. Howe deserves credit for initiating the new PHCC benefit. Howe comes from a family plumbing business that's still run by his siblings. Over the years, Howe hasn't lost touch with the industry, and has been active in state and local PHCC matters.

"A lot of the everyday tools and services contractors use have evolved except for the truck," Howe says. "We'll certainly be reaching out to contractors to make this benefit work right now, but I think we'll also get the attention we deserve from auto manufacturers, too."

More information regarding dealer locations can be found on the PHCC Web site www.phccweb.org.

The PHCC Professional Product Line was developed to provide professional contractors with the tools to grow their business through the traditional distribution channel. Other PPL members are: Amtrol, Anaheim Manufacturing, Bradford White, Hammond Valve, PlumbMaster, Ward Manufacturing, Glentronics and Power Line U.S.A.