The Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association’s (IMSCA’s) Virtual Town Hall Legislative Forum is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 19^th via Zoom. IMSCA has an exciting panel of legislators who will provide IMSCA members with an overview of important issues facing our state that the Illinois General Assembly will tackle during the spring 2021 legislative session. This event is designed to provide IMSCA members with a unique opportunity to receive an “insider’s view” from key Illinois State Senators including Senate President Don Harmon, Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes and Senator Ram Villivalam. Each panelist will provide a 10-15 minute presentation and a brief Q & A period will follow their presentations.

Please click on the link for the Registration Form which includes full event details. However, please contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at (217) 523-4361 for link to the session.

Three separate initiatives have been designed to offer capital access, improve payment speed, and increase transparency around the utilization of diverse vendors doing business with the City of Chicago. In an effort to further support diverse businesses in Chicago, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot recently announced a series of initiatives to create a more level playing field for potential and current suppliers of goods and services to the City.

These initiatives include the first-of-its-kind City of Chicago Vendor Impact Fund, which aims to offer capital access to diverse contractors and vendors; the Prompt Payment Working Group, which will ensure that City vendors are paid in an efficient and timely manner for their services; and an Executive Order issued by Mayor Lightfoot, requiring enhanced reporting on spending with local certified firms and on business diversity programs.

Please click on the links to Learn More regarding these initiatives.

The NECA NOW Conference registration is now open! Please click on the link below for more information / registration.

As a reminder, The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives of participating ECA member firms for the NECA NOW Conference on April 13 – 14, 2021. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) forwarded to ECA.

SB 178 is sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes. SB 178 seeks to amend the Public Construction Bond Act to provide that a local government entity may not require retainage when a contractor has furnished a surety bond or its equivalent. 

SB 2494 is sponsored by Senator Ram Villivalam. SB 2494 seeks to extend a sunset provision in current law that allows the time a commercial construction project may last and still permit the filing of a mechanics lien from 3 to 5 years.  

The second ELECTRI Council Room Session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 4:00 pm (Eastern Time). The presentation and discussion will focus on "Attracting, Identifying and Retaining Talent." Jon Finch, SVP of Talent Acquisition and Recruiting, Milwaukee Tool, will be the presenter.

To receive the meeting link, please contact laura.holmes@electri.org .

The NECA NOW Conference registration is now open! Please click on the link below for more information / registration.

As a reminder, The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Safety Professionals Conference on May 25 - 26, 2021. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) forwarded to ECA.