July 29, 2026

In this week's edition:

➡️ Fall education & safety classes are here!

➡️ NEW online courses for newbies to executives

➡️ We're going to a picnic and we're bringing...

➡️ Piggybacking update 🐷

➡️ New tax insights from The Bonadio Group

➡️ Tariffs threaten construction costs

Grow Your Skillset This Fall

Class Registration Opens Aug. 1!

New College-Level, Part-Time Online Courses

Construction Exchange members can now upskill through online courses designed and led by advanced construction professionals and academics. Whether you're completely new to the industry or an experienced leader, Construction Experts Inc. has a class for you. Learn more about the online courses here.

Once registration opens on Saturday, August 1, members may view and sign up for classes on our event calendar page. Questions about class offerings? Reach out to Jenn Van Dusen at jvandusen@conexbuff.com.

We're Going on a Picnic and We're Bringing...

Cornhole
Horseshoes
Door prizes
Hand-rolled cigars
Juicy steaks
Refreshing drinks

All you need to bring is yourself and your best construction pals!

Get Tickets Now

🎟️Raffle Alert!🎟️

Tickets are available until Aug. 13 and the winner will be drawn on Aug. 14.

If purchasing tickets through Venmo, you will be automatically entered and do not need physical tickets.

Industry News

Education Department Memorandum to NYS Piggybacking Ruling

As was previously reported, a recent court case involving the Maine-Endwell Central School District resulted in a ruling that “piggybacking” cannot be used to avoid the competitive bidding process required for public works projects. This is a significant ruling for school districts, municipalities, counties, and other public owners who use this procurement method for construction contracts. In response to this ruling, the NYS Education Department issued the attached memorandum on July 17 to clarify the allowed use of piggybacking by school districts moving forward.

Read the Memorandum

Building Smarter in 2026: What the New Tax Law Means for Contractors

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), contractors are navigating a tax environment that has a direct and immediate impact on cash flow, project timing, and overall profitability. Get details on The Bonadio Group's blog.

Canada Tariffs Put Pressure on Concrete, Cement Prices

President Trump announced plans to place a 50% tariff on many Canadian goods, including concrete and cement. Learn what it could mean for project costs in the Construction Dive article.

Tag us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn (and give us a follow while you're at it) with your company's happenings. Just use these links.

Share Email

The Construction Exchange enhances the growth and prosperity of its member companies by providing information, advocacy, education and communication for the construction industry.