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Five Things To Do / Know This Week:
1.) Discovered you can no longer log in to the Online Plan Room? That means your membership has lapsed! Call (612) 381-2632 to renew now for 2024.
2.) Register to attend the MBEX Annual Meeting + Luncheon on January 10.
3.) Check out the MBEX blog's newest weekly feature, Building Buzz, where we've skimmed the previous week's headlines so you don't have to.
4.) Submit your company news for inclusion in our next issue of the MBEX Blueprint. New hires, promotions, business expansions, anniversaries...we want to celebrate your successes!
5.) Test Your Knowledge:
Which workplace updates went into effect on January 1, 2024 across Minnesota?
A.) Earned Sick and Safe Time.
B.) Earned Sick and Safe Time, and new Minimum-Wage rates.
C.) Earned Sick and Safe Time, new Minimum-Wage rates, and a Pay-History Ban.
D.) Earned Sick and Safe Time, new Minimum-Wage rates, a Pay-History Ban, and mandatory Work Site Stretch Breaks.
See the Answer
Welcome to 2024 where, in this spot, you'll find quick quips. We wanted to have a fresh one ready to kick off the new year, but it's still under construction.
IN BRIEF:
• Register: Join us next Wednesday (1/10) for MBEX's Annual Meeting + Luncheon
• Completed: Notable projects completed across Minnesota in 2023
• Sneak Peek: A look inside the December Pre-Plan Pipeline
• Ouch: Minnesota's 2022 fatality and serious-injury rates
• Minority Notice: ECI seeks qualified MCUB vendors
• December's Construction Update, Using ChatGPT on the Job, and Progress in Choosing the Trades: Five construction headlines, and a massive expansion of Kwik Trip's operations in Wisconsin
• Member Benefits: Work safer and smarter with The Builders Group (TBG)
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NEXT WEDNESDAY: Annual Meeting + Luncheon | |
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We're just a week away from the Minnesota Builders Exchange Annual Meeting and Luncheon, set for January 10.
This event promises to be an engaging gathering for industry professionals, offering opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration.
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We're particularly excited to welcome our special guest speaker, Hugh Seaton (right), a renowned figure in the construction industry. Hugh's insights into Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technologies and innovative practices every contractor should know are not to be missed – they could be game-changing for your business strategies in 2024.
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• DATE: Wednesday, January 10
• TIME: 11:00am - Social | 12:00pm - Lunch | 12:30pm - Program | 1:00pm - Special Guest Speaker: Hugh Seaton
• LOCATION: Mendakota Country Club (2075 Mendakota Drive, Mendota Heights, 55120)
• TICKETS: $50 per person (includes 1 free drink, a gourmet lunch, and program)
• SPONSORSHIPS: Available ranging from $50-$550. View within the registration form.
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Along with hearing Hugh Seaton's presentation, AI: What Construction Leaders Need to Know, this event is also the perfect occasion to connect with fellow MBEX members, share experiences, and strengthen bonds within our community.
We will also be presenting awards for MBEX's Volunteer of the Year and Distinguished Member of Service. The results of the 2024 Board of Directors election will be announced, and outgoing Board members will be recognized for their hard work and dedication.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of an event that emphasizes professional growth and industry advancement. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Notable Projects Finished in 2023 | |
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Heading into 2023, Minnesota's construction industry wasn't exactly bubbling over with enthusiasm about market conditions for the upcoming year.
Construction-related businesses were upbeat about opportunities for work in the alternative energy, utility and highway sectors, but rising costs, labor shortages, and other headwinds tempered their enthusiasm, according to a December 2022 Associated General Contractors of Minnesota survey.
Even so, the past year saw work completed on some key public and private sector projects. In this year-end compilation, Finance & Commerce takes a backward glance at a few of those projects.
The list isn't comprehensive, but it offers a snapshot of notable projects in both the vertical and highway sectors.
Project highlights include the Third Avenue Bridge (Minneapolis), Carbon31 (Bloomington), and Rock Ridge Career Academy High School (Virginia).
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Peek Inside the Pre-Plan Pipeline
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Each month MBEX members with Premium Access services receive a comprehensive review of projects in their formative stages across Minnesota.
How many projects? It varies from issue to issue, and December's issue featured 53 projects from Albertville to Wyoming.
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Give this teaser a look to see the kinds of projects highlighted each month by clicking the image to the right.
• Not a Premium member?
Contact us to upgrade today.
• You are a Premium member, but not seeing this newsletter in your inbox? First, check your spam/junk folder. If not found there, contact us to doublecheck you're on the mailing list.
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State's 2022 Fatal Work-Injuries Similar to 2021 | |
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A total of 81 fatal work-injuries were recorded in Minnesota in 2022 during the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), up one from the 80 fatal work-injuries in 2021.
The construction and extraction occupational group had the second-highest number of fatal workplace injuries with 13, down from 17 fatalities in 2021.
Construction trades workers suffered eight of the work-related deaths within this occupational group and first-line supervisors suffered four. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners accounted for the last death counted in the group.
Minnesota's 2022 fatal-injury rate is 2.8 fatalities per 100,000 full-time-equivalent workers, which remained unchanged from the 2021 rate.
These and other workplace fatality statistics come from the CFOI, conducted by the bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor.
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Did you know...a valuable benefit of membership with MBEX automatically makes every employee of a member company a member, meaning you are welcome to attend any and all MBEX events.
January 10 - MBEX Annual Meeting & Luncheon
MBEX is thrilled to invite its members to the Annual Meeting & Luncheon, a premier event that brings together our vibrant construction community. This is more than just a meeting; it's an opportunity to be at the forefront of the building industry's latest trends and innovations; the announcement of our 2024 Board of Directors; give recognition for Volunteer of the Year, Distinguished Member, and outgoing Board members; and hear special guest speaker Hugh Seaton's presentation, "AI: What Construction Leaders Need to Know". Register Here
January 18 - MBEX Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, and bidders lists, this free, one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Register Here
February 15 - MBEX Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, and bidders lists, this free, one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Registration Not Yet Open
February 20 - Introduction to Upcoming Bluebeam Courses
When it comes to the AEC industry, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular and quickly growing to over 3-million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software. We have partnered with Troy DeGroot with UChapter 2 to provide the best quality Bluebeam training in the industry. Don't miss this opportunity to see an introduction to each upcoming course and learning objectives. Get your questions answered to assure you're in the appropriate courses for your skillset and workflow. Register Here
February 27-29 - MBEX Member Road Show
MBEX is headed to Mankato, St. Cloud and Fargo to meet and mingle with members in a casual setting over apps and drinks. More details coming soon!
March 20 & 21 - Reading Construction Documents
Designed to quickly familiarize students with the basics of reading and understanding construction documents, this 2-part online program taught by Troy DeGroot with UChapter2 is perfect for: apprentices, entry-level tradespersons, project coordinators, assistant project managers, new project managers, estimators, specialty sales representatives, entry-level architectural or engineering designers, or anyone in career transition looking for a refresher. Registration Not Yet Open
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Engineering & Construction Innovations Inc (ECI) is seeking qualified MCUB subcontractors, suppliers and vendors for the following project:
• Metropolitan Council Environmental Services' Seneca Pipe and Site Restoration
Bids for this project must be submitted to ECI by January 15 at 3:00pm. View Full Notice
Please send quotes to Ron Sweep via email or via facsimile to (651) 298-9113.
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Engineering & Construction Innovations Inc
7002 6th Street North
Oakdale, Minn., 55128
PH: (651) 298-9111
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
🐢 Market Shows Resilience, But Slower Than 2022
Most construction indicators improved slightly as Q4 2023 progressed. Costs and profits recover, but in general the market is not growing as quickly as in 2022. (Trimble Construction)
• Producer Price Index: 0.3% change
Down 0.3% from October 2023 | Down 0.8% from November 2022
• Construction Backlog Indicator: 8.5 months
Up 1% from October 2023 | Down 7.6% from November 2022
• Architecture Billings Index
Billings increased to 48.8 | Design Contracts increased to 46.5
• Construction Confidence Index
Staffing decreased to 58.7 | Sales decreased to 53.1 | Profits increased to 52.3
• Construction Starts: $1.1 trillion
Down 7% from September 2023 | Up 1.5% from October 2022
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
💻 Let's Chat About AI: How Design and Construction Firms are Using ChatGPT
Tech-savvy AEC firms that already use artificial intelligence to enhance their work view the startling evolution of ChatGPT mostly in a positive light as a potential tool for sharing information and training employees and trade partners. However, the efficacy of ChatGPT is likely to rest on the construction industry's aggregation of quality data that, until recently, has been underwhelming for getting the greatest bang from AI and machine learning (ML). (Building Design + Construction)
CONSTRUCTION CAREERS
🧰 In 'Trade School or College' Debate, the Trades are Making Progress
When it comes to preparing for their work future, today's young people have some difficult decisions ahead of them: what they want to do in their work life, where to obtain the knowledge and training, how to pay for their education, and what the job prospects will be when they complete their schooling. Whether you call it trade school, vocational school or career and technical education (CTE), these learning institutions can teach young people the skills and training they need to enter a career with financial stability, such as plumbing, HVACR or electrical. These jobs are fairly recession-proof and cannot be outsourced overseas. (Contracting Business)
LEGAL + REGULATIONS
⚖️ Illinois Court Asked: Are Defects Covered By General Liability Insurance?
A ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court could affect whether construction defects are covered by general liability clauses, not just in the Prairie State, but around the country. A homeowners association in Hanover Park, Illinois, sued developer M/I Homes after its subcontractors allegedly performed faulty work, resulting in damage to the homes and adjacent properties. M/I Homes demanded that Acuity, the subcontractor's general liability insurer, defend them in the litigation, but the company refused. The supreme court rules that Acuity may have had a duty to defend the developer, and that faulty work the subcontractor performed counted as an "accident" in these circumstances. However, the judges also remanded the issue back to the circuit court to determine whether an exception from the liability clause is warranted. (Construction Dive)
GREENER CONSTRUCTION
✅ New 'Green Concrete' Could Change the Construction Industry
Concrete manufacturing is one of the world's leading sources of industrial pollution, accounting for roughly 7% of the word's total heat-trapping carbon pollution each year --- contributing to worsening air quality and the overheating of our planet, as the Wall Street Journal reported. Now, a startup called CarbonCure Technologies has come up with a way to limit that carbon pollution --- by taking carbon dioxide and injecting it directly into the concrete itself. (Yahoo! Tech)
🦺 PROJECT TO WATCH
Convenience Store Chain Making $151M of Wisconsin Capital Investments
Convenience store Kwik Trip plans to invest more than $151-million in an expansion of its Wisconsin operations, state officials announced on December 18th. The company, according to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., intends to: (1) Expand its dairy, commissary and bakery facilities in La Crosse; (2) Purchase and renovate a commercial office building in Onalaska; and (3) Construct a new satellite distribution center. The investment, the WEDC said, qualifies Kwik Trip for up to $15-million in Enterprise Zone tax incentives. Including this latest announcement, the state has approved the company for up to $41-million. (The Construction Broadsheet)
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Kwik Trip's headquarters in La Crosse, Wisconsin. | |
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The Art of Bidding and Estimating - 101 Basics of Bidding
Presented by the DBE Business Academy
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DATE: Tuesday, January 9
TIME: 8:30am-12:00pm
LOCATION: Online
COST: Free!
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Learn how to apply strategic thinking and practical math to bidding and estimating, recognize "red flags," understand the effect the market has on pricing and how to take a systematic approach to your bids as well as how to respond to an RFP (request for proposal).
The DBE Business Academy teaches from the perspective of running a business as an owner.
Questions can be directed to sbaker@imoconsultinggroup.com.
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Excavations: Let's Keep Talking Until We Get It Right
Construction Seminar presented by MNOSHA Compliance
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DATE: Tuesday, January 16
TIME: 7:00am - 8:30am
LOCATION: In-person at the MnDOT Training and Conference Center (1900 W. County Road I, Shoreview, MN) or Online via Microsoft Teams
COST: Free!
PRESENTER: Lee Craig, MNOSHA Compliance supervisor
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Excavations can be dangerous, resulting in serious injuries to and fatalities of workers across the country. Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) is committed to continuing its efforts to ensure employers and employees throughout Minnesota take safety precautions when working in and or around excavations.
Attend this free MNOSHA Compliance Construction Seminar in-person or virtually for a discussion about the OSHA excavation standard and how to comply.
Fatality and serious injury statistics for federal-fiscal-year 2023 will also be discussed.
No registration is necessary for in-person attendance.
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Benefit of the Week: The Builders Group (TBG) Workers' Comp | |
The Builders Group (TBG) provides work comp solutions tailored exclusively to the construction trades to help lower costs by working safer, smarter, and more profitably. | |
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Program features include:
• State of the art, hands-on Safety Training Center
• Safety services classroom
• On-demand safety video library
• NurseCare Line available 24/7
• Proactive Claims Management Team
• Flexible payment options
• Online payment center
• The TBG Education Foundation
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As a self-insured fund, contractors, builders, remodelers, subcontractors and suppliers are not just members of TBG, they are also owners. | |
PROJECT INFORMATION + UPDATES | |
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 12/18/2023 - 12/22/2023: 53
• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 12/25/2023 - 12/29/2023: 50
• Total Projects in the Online Plan Room as of 12/19/2023: 4,745
• Total Active Projects Received/Reported on at MBEX as of 1/2/2024: 259
| | Project data from 12/20/2023-12/26/2023 | | Project data from 12/27/2023-1/2/2024 | |
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For information about the Bulletin's content, technical issues, or to place an ad (such as a Minority
Notice, Job Posting, or Event Notice), contact Ashlee, Membership + Communications Manager.
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The information in this bulletin was obtained from sources deemed reliable. The Minnesota Builders Exchange (MBEX) does not assume responsibility for its completeness or accuracy. You are urged to check your own sources in addition to the information contained in this publication. This issue contains plans and other bidding information received prior to and including the date noted above. The project data within this newsletter is intended for member company's and their employees use only.
2023 BOARD OFFICERS: President - Greg Grazzini, Grazzini Brothers & Co; Vice President - Mike Carlson, Max Gray Construction; Treasurer - Heidi Sedlacek, Bituminous Roadways; Past President - Randy LaFaive, Market & Johnson | 2023 DIRECTORS: David Brandt, Schadegg Mechanical; Jason DuVal, Tenet; Chuck Geisler, American Engineering Testing; Brian Kalla, St. Cloud Acoustics; Sean Ochis, Northern Industrial Insulation; Jason Rentmeester, Kraus-Anderson Construction; Andy Ristrom, Carl Bolander & Sons; and Nate Sapik, Benson Electric Company | STAFF: David Siegel, Executive Director; Julie Miller, Executive Assistant/Project Coordinator/Accounting; Jeff Boelter, Project Acquisition & IT; Ashlee Hartwig, Membership & Communications Manager; Don O'Connor, Duluth Branch Manager; Ka Yang, Peggy Esboldt, Janet Margheim & Shauna Baska, Project Reporters
You are receiving this email because you are employed by a current member company in good standing or have indicated you wanted to receive MBEX's Weekly Bulletin. Unsubscribe from the Weekly Bulletin
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