ECA Industry Update
IMSCA Virtual Town Hall Legislative Forum - March 19, 2021 - 10:00 AM
The Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association’s (IMSCA’s) Virtual Town Hall Legislative Forum is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 19th 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.

IMSCA staff encourages you to invite your association officers, committee members and colleagues to attend this event to learn more about legislative issues important to the Illinois construction industry and your business. Please click on the link for the Registration Form which includes full event details and RSVP information.  If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at (217) 523-4361.

NECA NOW - Virtual Conference
-April 13 - 14, 2021
The NECA NOW Conference registration is now open! Please click on the link below for more information / registration.

STIPEND AVAILABLE
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.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? 
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 -- 3:00 PM (ET)
Join Katie McCormick, Executive Director, Convention & Meetings, Stephanie Adamec, Executive Director, Education and Pete Mastrorocco, Vice President, Education and Partnerships for a preview of everything NECA Now 2021 will offer as well as an opportunity to ask questions about the experience.
Education - to - Careers Director Position Open - CISCO
The Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) is a labor-management organization serving union building trades and union contractors. CISCO currently represents more than 140,000 union construction workers and 8,000 union contractors in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake and McHenry Counties. CISCO is looking for a self-motivated, energetic employee who possesses a strong working knowledge of union apprenticeship programs. The “Education-to-Careers Director” must be able to forge partnerships with a diverse group that includes union training coordinators, contractors, businesses, industry partners, school educators and counselors, and other non-profit organizations. 

Please click on the link for further information.
IMSCA’s 2021 -- Legislative Initiatives Introduced
The Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) introduced two bills this year on behalf of the Illinois sub-contracting industry.

SB 178 is sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Linda HolmesSB 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 VillivalamSB 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.  

Please click on the links for further information.
MCAA, NECA & TAUC -- Strategic Alliance Agreement
On Feb. 22, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) entered into a tri-party strategic alliance agreement to collaborate on issues impacting the construction and maintenance industry on a national and regional level.
 
Through this alliance, MCAA, NECA, and TAUC will conduct joint meetings and share information of mutual interest relating to environmental health and safety, industrial relations, government affairs, and innovation and technology. The three organizations will develop products and practices to jointly benefit their respective memberships, increase membership awareness of industry issues, and much more.
Members Get More Through the Online Benefits Portal
Your employees might not know that they can access their NEBF account on our Online Benefits portal by visiting www.nebf.com and clicking Online Benefits in the top menu bar. Members can use the portal to complete certain self-help items related to their NEBF account without having to wait.

Please click on the link for further information.
ELECTRI Council Room Sessions - March 24, 2021
If you are not a current ELECTRI member and you would like to learn more about what ELECTRI has to offer, the Council Room sessions will showcase what ELECTRI is all about—sharing ideas and resources to keep electrical construction strong, productive, and profitable.
 
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 .
NECA Safety Professionals Conference - Now, VIRTUAL!
-May 25 - 26, 2021
The NECA NOW Conference registration is now open! Please click on the link below for more information / registration.

STIPEND AVAILABLE
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.
COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR ECA MEMBERS:
Stay up to date on the latest changes for our Industry including news releases, legislation and Government mandates, workplace safety and preparation guidelines, OSHA alerts, and more that affect electrical contractors in Chicago and Cook County.
 
SAVE THE DATES

March 17, 2021
ERS-EAP, Equifax, NECA Safety App, e-Safetyline

March 19, 2021
Virtual Event

March 24, 2021
Maxim Consulting Group

March 31, 2021
Virtual Event

March 31, 2021
Top Golf, Schaumburg

April 7, 2021
Virtual Event

April 13 - 14, 2021
Virtual Event

April 15, 2021
Maggiano's Banquets - Chicago

April 22, 2021
Virtual Event

Solar & Energy Storage Design & Estimating Course
Anticipated: May 6 - 7, 2021
Location: TBD

May 10 - 13, 2021
Drake Oak Brook Hotel

May 19, 2021
Drake Oak Brook Hotel

May 27, 2021
Drake Oak Brook Hotel

June 9 - 10, 2021
The American Club - Kohler, WI