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Volume 41 - 2023 | Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | www.mbex.org | |
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Let's make some mid-week magic, constructors!
Five things to do this week (especially No. 1):
1.) Review and submit your company's contract for the 2024 Buyers Guide and Membership Directory by October 15. Contact Julie with questions.
2.) Check out upcoming MBEX events. New dates have been added for exciting socials and industry-related events in the months to come.
3.) Thursday is National Savings Day. Give your budget a look and see how you can make improvements for rainy days, retirement, and future goals.
4.) Take in the fall colors while they last.
5.) Read our latest blog post where we've gathered headlines from Finance & Commerce and Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal regarding projects, people of note, and noteworthy local happenings.
Just that much closer to clearing the mid-week hump.
IN THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN:
• Plan Room Training: Join us for an online walk-through of our digital platform
• Taxed: Details on the new Metro Area Sales Taxes for construction contractors
• Share Your Thoughts: Take the 2023-2024 AGC Industry Assessment survey
• Going Up: Nonresidential spending went up in August
• Happiest in Construction, Skilled Trades Interest & Robust Referendums: What's driving construction technology spending in 2023 / 2024, three more construction headlines, and one international skyscraper to watch in China
• Member Benefit: Fleet fueling discounts and more with KwikTrip
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Free MBEX Online Plan Room Training | |
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Join MBEX for a free, live online walk-through of our digital platform to learn the basics, refresh yourself on its offered tools, or to explore if our plan room would benefit your business.
• Event Date: Thursday, October 19
• Time: 9:00am-10:00am CST
• Price: Free
• Location: Online via Zoom
• Register for the Plan Room Demo here
This one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room from navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, and utilizing bidders lists. There will be time at the end for questions and answers.
Registrants must be signed up no later than 8:00am the morning of October 19 to receive Zoom link and other information.
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New Metro Area Sales Taxes - Transitional Sales Effect on Construction Contractors | |
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Starting on October 1, 2023, there are two new metro county area sales and use tax for Housing and Transportation totaling one percent. The new Metro Area Sales and Use Tax for Housing rate is 0.25% and the new Metro Area Transportation Sales and Use tax rate is 0.75%, and these revenues will fund the programs and projects as outlined in state law passed during the 2023 legislative session. The Minnesota Department of Revenue administers these taxes.
The Local Tax General Notices linked above outline who must register and collect the tax. This would apply to construction materials, renting equipment, etc. Local governments do not pay the new sales taxes, but state entities and projects will.
The new sales taxes apply to sales on or after October 1, 2023, but the tax does not apply to the following:
The purchase of construction materials used to complete a lump sum or fixed price construction contract that was signed and enforceable before October 1, 2023, but only if all of the following are true:
• The contract does not provide for an allocation of future taxes.
• The materials are used exclusively in performing the contract.
• The materials are delivered before April 1, 2024.
Contractors whose purchases meet these requirements can file for the exemption during the transitional six month period (until April 1). Contractors should complete and submit Form ST3, Certificate of Exemption for contractors signed before October 1, 2023. To access the form, go to this Department of Revenue website, scroll down and click on 'Construction Contracts'.
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2023-2024 Minnesota Construction Assessment Survey | |
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The Association of General Contractors is looking for your input on current experiences and future plans in the Minnesota construction industry.
The 2023 AGC of Minnesota Construction Industry Assessment Survey yields a unique look at the entire spectrum of Minnesota's construction industry from the design and engineering phase all the way through to project completion and close out.
The survey will close on November 3, 2023. One response per firm, please.
If you are a contractor, supplier, service provider, architect or engineer, and would like the link to the survey for your firm, please contact Renee Horsman.
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Nonresidential Construction Spending Increases in August | |
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National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.4% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published on October 2, 2023 by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.09 trillion.
Spending was up on a monthly basis in 12 of the 15 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending increased 0.3%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up 0.6% in August.
Read ABC's Press Release
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October 15 - Buyers Guide & Membership Directory Contracts Due
It's time to update your company's contact information, such as mailing addresses, phone numbers, websites, etc. with MBEX. It's also a prime opportunity to update listings (or add new ones) within the Classifieds or Trades sections. Review your company's current information, Classified listings, and Trades listings by visiting the current digital Buyers Guide & Membership Directory. View 2023 Directory | Email Julie
October 16-20 - Construction Inclusion Week 2023
Construction Inclusion Week is the first effort to harness the collective power of general contractors, specialty contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. Initially launched in 2021 as an industry-wide awareness initiative, Construction Inclusion Week aims to build awareness of the need to improve diversity and inclusion in the construction industry by providing content and resources. Learn More
October 19 - 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
October 31 - Ads for Buyers Guide & Membership Directory Due
Submit your ad artwork for the 2024 Buyers Guide & Membership Directory to Julie or Ashlee.
November 27 & 29 - Reading Construction Documents (online class)
From navigating title block information to combing through specification documents, participants will learn how to navigate a project and understand the material and construction requirements. This class is taught by Troy DeGroot with UChpater2. Register Here
December 7 - Holiday Party North
Save the Date - An evening featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, networking with fellow members, door prize giveaways, and awards for the ugliest Christmas sweaters. Bring your spouse, employees, and coworkers to Ridgeview Country Club for a festive and lively event to celebrate the holiday season and the close of another business year.
REMEMBER: If you are an employee of a current MBEX member company, you are welcome to attend any and all MBEX events.
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📀 What's Driving Construction Technology Spending in 2023 and 2024?
With a recession looming and construction starts essentially holding even, one would expect the construction industry is tightening its belt wherever possible. However, the construction industry continues to pour money into technology. "IT budgets are set to increase in 2023, reaching a worldwide total of $4.6 trillion, a 5.1% increase over last year, according to Gartner projections released in October," notes CIO Dive. (Construction Dive)
😁 Why Are Construction Workers Supposedly the Happiest of Any Industry?
Employees are unhappier than ever across all industries, according to new research. And yet construction workers are, perhaps surprisingly, the happiest in any major industry in the U.S. The findings come as part of a new report by HR software provider BambooHR. It found that construction workers are not only the happiest but that their mood was the least volatile. That means that as they were polled on their mood from month to month, there was a lower range in their average scores than among workers in other sectors. (International Construction)
🚸 Robust Year for School Projects on November Ballots
For all of 2023, 65 districts have upcoming referendums for construction projects or have already gone before the voters with ballot initiatives, which is the most since 2017, said Greg Abbott, communications director for the Minnesota School Boards Association. This fall alone, 44 districts are seeking voter support for everything from security and technology upgrades to remodels and ground-up construction. (Finance & Commerce)
🔨 Interest in Skilled Trades Growing Due to Job Security, Flexibility
A recent survey of young adults shows they have a strong interest in skilled trades because these roles offer flexibility, job security and a rewarding career. Those results dovetail with ones from a companion survey of skilled trades workers, who reported happiness with their career choice. About 1,000 people ages 18-30, and 800 skilled trades workers took separate surveys conducted by Thumbtack this summer. (ConstructioNext)
🦺 INTERNATIONAL PROJECT TO WATCH
China's Infinity-Loop Skyscraper is One of the World's Most Interesting Buildings
A Danish architecture studio called BIG has completed designs for a building called the "O-Tower" in China, with a mind-bending infinity-loop shaped design that connects "ground to sky in a continuous loop of collaboration," according to the company website. (Interesting Engineering)
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The building will be built around a greenery-filled courtyard described as "an urban living room for the city,"
and the tower will sit between a natural lake, a 10,000-square-meter park and an urban area of the city.
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2023 Fall Seminar
Legislative + Rulemaking Updates & International Building Code (IBC) Townhomes
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• DATES / TIMES:
Thursday, October 12 - in person only in Shoreview - 8:00am
Wednesday, October 18 - online only via Webex - 8:00am
• COST: $85 per session in person, $45 per session online
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The 2023 Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and Construction Codes and Licensing Division's (CCLD) Fall Seminar will focus on IBC townhouses, updates to the Commercial Energy Code and legislative and rulemaking updates.
The legislative and rulemaking updates will provide the latest information about the Technical Advisory Groups' rulemaking process and other recent legislative changes including code requirements for adult-sized changing facilities, window cleaning safety, electric vehicle charging stations, and more.
The IBC portion of the seminar will consist of code provisions that apply to constructing townhouses under the 2020 Minnesota State Building Code.
Commonly asked questions and answers for iMS --- the new software platform for CCLD's licensing unit --- will also be discussed.
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Best Practices for Construction Business Expansion
Presented by Construction Executive
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• DATE: Wednesday, October 25
• TIME: 2:00pm | 1:00CT
• COST: Free
• PRESENTER: John Meibers, Vice President & General Manager of Deltek
Register Here
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Whether you are a contractor that is just starting out or you have been in the industry for years, successfully expanding your business requires strategic planning and strong leadership.
In this webinar, you will learn:
• The importance of understanding job costing and other unique aspects of construction accounting;
• How to look for growth, whether that means winning more local jobs or expanding into multiple states;
• The value of using the right tools to grow your business.
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19th Annual Greater Minnesota SADBOC Government Procurement Fair | |
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• DATE: Thursday, October 26
• TIME: 9:00am - 3:00pm
• LOCATION: University of Minnesota - Duluth (Kirby Student Center, 1120 Kirby Drive, Duluth, 55812)
• COST: Registration is free.
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Small businesses interested in doing business with government agencies and prime contractors are encouraged to attend.
The fair will provide an opportunity for small businesses to learn about special programs designed to provide better access to the government marketplace. A trade show will open throughout the day in additional to a variety of workshops including Basics of Selling to the Government, Federal Certifications, SAM.gov Registration, Contracting with the State of Minnesota and TG/ED/VO Certification, etc. You will have 8 workshops in 2 tracks to choose from, along with the opportunity to visit with 20+ representatives from State and Federal Government Agencies, Large Businesses, and Resource Providers on the trade floor.
The event is free and open to all businesses --- registration is required.
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Save 7-cents per gallon of fuel at KwikTrip and KwikStar locations. | |
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MBEX Members will not only save 7-cents per gallon of fuel with KwikTrip's fuel discount program, they can also take advantage of the following additional discounts:
• 10% off most in-store purchases, including auto supplies
• Volume car wash discounts up to 50% off
• Customized accounts to fit tracking / admin needs for any size company that includes tracking transactions, customized security and restrictions, detailed expense reporting, online accounts management, and more.
Plus, no annual or monthly fees.
Ready to get started? Contact MBEX's representative, Tanner Benson, with questions or to apply (do not apply online): (608) 793-4826 | tbenson@kwiktrip.com
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View all MBEX Member discounts and benefit programs here.
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PROJECT INFORMATION + UPDATES | |
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 10/2/2023/2023 - 10/6/2023: 92
• Total Projects Leads Reported on at MBEX from 10/2/2023 - 10/6/2023: 6
• Total Active Projects Received/Reported on at MBEX as of 10/10/2023: 326
• Total Projects in the Online Plan Room as of 10/10/2023: 3,971
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 10/4/2023-10/10/2023.
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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