FINAL 2024 TRAININGS & EVENTS

With two months to go in 2024, we still have a handful of trainings and events to participate in. We encourage you to join us at a session, or reach out to learn more.

November 7 | 8:00 AM

The Five Laws of Cybersecurity

Based off Nick Espinosa’s TEDx Talk and Forbes article of the same name, this presentation will dive into issues that non-technical users face and how we, as the technical community, can help create an easy framework of understanding for those we help in order to ensure security for all! 

Quincy Marriott

Just Added: Virtual Attendance Option

Please reach out to Brennan (bmolina@btea.com) if you would like to attend virtually.

November 16 | 10:00 AM

Salute to Service with CarePacks

Please join us for an event in support of CarePacks, Inc. We will pack care packages for deployed troops around the world followed by lunch at nearby Weathervane Golf Club Tavern.

Please note, family members are welcome and encouraged to join but all must be pre-registered.

Packing Facility: 104 Pond Street, Weymouth, MA 02190

November 21 | 8:00 AM

Employment Law

Attorney Jones will review recent updates made to the Paid Family Medical Leave Act as well as provide a refresher on key employment laws, discuss the practical implications of these laws and offer strategies for compliance and risk management. 

Westin Waltham

December 12 | 8:00 AM

Respect in the Workplace

Rather than dwelling on legal standards and what not to do, this training will focus on what to do—the words and actions that promote respect and fairness, and participants’ responsibility for contributing to respect in the workplace. 

Newtown Marriott

BTEA's Executive Education: please reach out to Jenn to learn more about remaining opportunities prior to the end of the year.

Contact Jenn: Jenn@btea.com

MEMBER NEWS

Congrats to the ENR Top 600!

Engineering News-Record recently announced its Top 600 subcontractors according to construction revenue in 2023, along with the Top 50, Top 20 & Top 10 by subcontractor trade. We are thrilled to congratulate many of our BTEA and Affiliate members who made the list. Packed with key trends, feedback and analysis, read the full article here.

Spotlight Feature: Supporting the Community

Throughout October many of our BTEA and Affiliate Members took part in supporting community initiatives throughout the Greater Boston Area, including:

• South Shore Health's Gala: benefiting the lifesaving emergency services at South Shore Health and its Greater Boston Level 1 Trauma support network.
• Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation: designed to improve the quality of life for our inner-city youth through a working partnership with other local youth organizations.
• Big Sister Boston Gala: designed to ignite girls' passion and power to succeed through positive mentoring relationships.

NEWS

Union Election Petitions Have Doubled Since FY 21

Since the end of 2021, there has been a historic rise in the amount of union election petitions and unfair labor practice (ULP) charges filed with the NLRB. The Oct. 14 NLRB report for the agency's 2024 fiscal year indicates little sign of any slowdown. Read More

'The Skies Are Finally Clearing' for CRE, Declares 2025 Emerging Trend Report

According to PwC and the Urban Land Institute’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate report for 2025, “the skies are finally clearing over commercial real estate” and the time has come for the next market upturn. For the year ahead, 65% of respondents expect their firm’s profits to be good or excellent, up from 41% a year earlier. Read More

Industrial Vacancies Rose for 8th Straight Quarter

Vacancies in Greater Boston’s industrial market have risen for eight straight quarters, topping 11% as a recent development surge has left many newly-completed properties still seeking tenants. The availability rate in Greater Boston’s 208 million SF industrial market is more than double the 5.5 percent level in early 2022. Read More

Proposals & Projects We're Watching

BPD Approves Several Projects, Master Plan for New Cancer Hospital: The BPD has approved 717K SF of new development and a pair of long-term master plans that include a new 300-bed cancer hospital. The 14-story hospital project would still have to go through its own review process before construction can start. Read More

City Realty Floats 20-Story Hotel, Condo Tower in Brookline: City Realty Group has laid out its vision for remaking an office park on Route 9 in Brookline, a proposal that includes a 20-story hotel and condo tower as well as two other taller buildings that would feature apartments, senior housing, medical offices and retail. Read More

State Backs $500M 'Everett Docklands' Energy Storage Project: The Davis Companies of Boston requested and received a fast-track approval from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Trimount Energy storage project by Jupiter Power, the first phase of a 7.2 million mixed-use project, dubbed “Everett Docklands Innovation District” by its developer. Read More

Luxury Condo Project Among First Since COVID to Break Ground Downtown: After a four-year pause, a project that would bring a 12-story condo tower to the last open development space along the Rose Kennedy Greenway is moving forward. The 76K SF building on what’s now a parking lot will include 29, 2 & 3 bedroom units — including five affordable artist lofts — and a 4,250 SF ground floor restaurant. Read More

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

City Council Backs Boston Property Tax Deal

Boston city councilors approved a three-year increase in commercial properties’ share of property taxes starting in 2025 while adding programs designed to cushion the effects on small businesses. The tax shift increases the maximum shift between commercial and residential tax rates to 181.5% in 2025, returning in steps to the current 175% shift by 2028.  Read More

Mariano Will Delay Energy Bill Vote Until Eco-Dev Accord

House Speaker Mariano said he will postpone consideration of the climate compromise until an as-yet-unfiled economic development accord surfaces. The move keeps a pair of real estate developments in limbo, including the Davis Cos. Docklands projects’ first phase and the entirety of Flatiron Energy’s Project Lite Brite in Brighton. Read More

Shen Returns as Boston Planning Chief

Mayor Wu's decision to appoint Kairos Shen as Boston's chief of planning was welcomed by industry insiders. Shen is a familiar face who served as chief planner during a far more pro-development era. Shen led the BPDA during both Mayor Menino and Mayor Walsh's tenure.   Read More

2024 ELECTION FAST FACTS

• 93 electoral votes are considered the "toss up" in the 2024 presidential election. These states include: MA (11), RI (4), CT (7), NJ (14), DE (3), MD (10), DC (3).
• Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate; 23 of the 34 Senate seats up for election are Democrat-held, giving Republicans an opportunity to fill the chamber.
• Republicans hold a slim 220-212 majority in the House; The Cook Political Report rates 25 seats as tossup, giving Democrats an opportunity to flip the chamber.
• 11 states are holding gubernatorial elections, and only 3 sitting governors are seeking re-election.
• 85 of the 99 state legislative chambers in the US are holding elections, with Republicans currently controlling 54.96% of seats nationally.
• In the latest Gallup poll, over 70% of voters are prioritizing non-economic issues, such as immigration, poor leadership, and the lack of unity across the country.

FAST FACTS

• The suicide death rate for construction workers was more than double the nationwide rate (46.1 vs. 19.5 per 100,000 full time employees) in 2022, and five times as many construction workers died by suicide than in at-work fatalities that year, the most recently available set of data.
• U.S. economy grew at 2.8% rate in 3rd quarter.
• For the 1st time in nearly 3 years, Boston’s office landlords ended the quarter with more tenants taking up space than abandoning it.
• The latest annual health care cost trends report from the HPC found that total health care expenditures per capita climbed to $10,264 in 2022, the first time it crossed into five figures and a 5.8 percent increase over 2021. 
• The total number of cranes in the U.S. and Canada dropped 5%, or by 15 cranes, from the 1st quarter to the 3rd quarter of 2023, according to an Oct. 4 report released by New York City-based consultancy firm Rider Levett Bucknall.
• Construction job openings leapt by 138,000, or by nearly 60%, in August from the previous month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

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