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.

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.
Get More Work: Biden's Energy Plan & Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Projects
About 9.6 million charge ports will be required to support 18.7 million EVs in 2030. This represents a significant investment in EV charging infrastructure. President Biden's new Energy Plan calls for 500,000 new EV Charging Stations in the US. His Energy Plan specifically calls for "EVITP" Certified Contractors on these projects.
In order to be a Certified Contractor, a member of your team must complete the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program. This 20 hour course will be conducted at IN-TECH this spring.

Please join us March 31st at 2pm for an information webinar about the EVITP.

Young Professionals of ECA Chicago:
March 31st Event at Top Golf Schaumburg - almost sold out!
Mayor Lightfoot Announced Transformative Business Initiatives To Support Small, Minority- And Women-Owned Contractors
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.
DPS - Virtual Construction Summit - March 25, 2021
The 2021 Virtual Construction Summit is a one-day conference to be held this year virtually. At the Summit, local construction industry members and practitioners will come together to learn about key trends and concepts for advancing their business.
 
Subject matter experts will provide insight in 5 different sessions that cover information about upcoming contracting opportunities from key City of Chicago infrastructure departments, which manage hundreds of construction projects annually. The Summit also provides an opportunity to engage with industry leaders, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and other businesspeople that influence the future of the construction industry in the City of Chicago.
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.
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.
“Solar & Energy Storage Design & Estimating Course"
May 6th & 7th, 2021
Sponsored by
Powering Chicago - the Labor Management Cooperation Committee of Chicago (LMCC of Chicago) is a proud sponsor of an Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund (IBEW REF) coordinated program called, “Solar & Energy Storage Design & Estimating Course” being presented by Pro Union Consulting.  

POWERING CHICAGO is paying for One representative from each Local 134 Signatory Contractor to attend ($500 value).
Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Friday, May 7, 2021 sessions are to include the following:
 
·        Give the electrical contractor the confidence to begin designing and estimating photovoltaic and energy storage jobs.
·        Contractors will spend the two days discussing a range of topics that will answer many of the questions an electrical contractor needs to consider to be competitive, and profitable. 

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 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
May 6 - 7, 2021
Location: INTECH, Alsip

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