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Volume 43 - 2023 | Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | www.mbex.org | |
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Five Things To Do / Know This Week:
1.) New events and education offerings have been added to the MBEX calendar; see what's new.
2.) Complete the 2023 AGC of Minnesota Construction Industry Assessment survey before it closes on November 3rd. If you haven't received your link, please contact Renee.
3.) Friday is National Mentoring Day. Volunteer and become a mentor for another within your company, the industry, and at local schools and universities. Perhaps you yourself had a mentor; send them a thank you note to show your appreciation.
4.) Stock up on Halloween candy. In Minnesota, regular M&M's reign supreme!
5.) Test your knowledge: At $444 per square foot, which city is the most expensive to build in as of 2022? A.) Beijing, China; B.) San Francisco, California, United States; C.) Zurich, Switzerland; or D.) Osaka, Japan. Check your answer
Keep grinding; the weekend is only a couple of days away!
IN THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN:
• Holiday Cheer: Registration now open for Holiday Party North
• DEI: Five ways to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in construction
• ICYMI: MBEX plans to sell Minneapolis office building
• We Rock: Minnesota beats U.S. in construction job growth
• Clean Energy Jobs, More Women, and Painting Robots : Five construction headlines, and one (perhaps last) office tower project in Minneapolis
• Member Benefits: Advanced device protection with tech21
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REGISTER NOW: Holiday Party North on 12/7 | |
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Join MBEX for a night of festive cheer at the annual Holiday Party North!
• DATE: Thursday, December 7
• TIME: 5:30pm - Cocktails | 6:30pm - Sit Down Dinner | 7:00pm - Short Program & Door Prize Giveaways
• LOCATION: Ridgeview Country Club (Duluth, Minn.)
• TICKETS: $45 per person
As winter blankets the Northland in its snowy splendor, come gather with fellow construction industry professionals for an evening of celebration and camaraderie as we close out another business year and look ahead to 2024.
Sponsorship Opportunities: If you're interested in showcasing your company's products or services and gaining exposure to a targeted audience, consider becoming a sponsor of this event. Sponsorships can be added to your order within the registration form.
Register for Holiday Party North Here
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Five Ways to Improve Construction DEI | |
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The construction industry is a cornerstone of the American economy, shaping the nation's physical environment. Yet, it significantly lags in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Although some in the construction industry may overlook the significance of DEI, the business case is compelling. A 2020 McKinsey study highlighted that companies with diverse workforces are 35% more likely to financially outperform the national industry average. This is because diverse and inclusive companies excel in serving their workforce, communities and customers.
Jim Fowler has seen this firsthand. As the CEO of Novo Construction --- a certified minority business enterprise --- he's leveraged his experience as a first-generation Chinese-American to embed diversity into the company's DNA.
Read More on Construction Dive
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ICYMI: MBEX to Sell Minneapolis Office Building | |
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After nearly a decade of discussion and consultation with multiple commercial real estate experts, the MBEX Board of Directors has decided the moment is right to sell the organization’s long-time office building in Minneapolis.
With the dramatic changes brought on by the Internet leading to our best-in-class electronic plan room, and the changes in staffing brought forward by COVID, the building is simply more than the organization needs. The Board is taking this bold action to ensure an even stronger future for MBEX as we celebrate 135 years of operation and look to the next 135 years. The plan calls for the MBEX staff to be housed in rented office space following the sale.
The sale is being coordinated by Nate Erickson and Ben Youds from Transwestern. If you have any interest in purchasing the building, or know of a company that might benefit from this space, please reach out:
• Ben Youds: (612) 359-1650 | Ben.Youds@transwestern.com
• Nate Erickson: (612) 359-1657 | Nate.Erickson@transwestern.com
View Sales Brochure Here
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Minnesota Beats U.S. in Construction Job Growth | |
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Construction job growth in Minnesota far outpaces the nation as a whole in the past year --- and that should continue thanks in part to major investments in renewable energy and other projects, according to state officials and data released October 19th by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Minnesota's construction industry added a modest 200 jobs from August to September, but the sector's gain of 7,322 jobs from September 2022 to September 2023 --- a 5.1% increase --- is far greater than the 2.7% increase for the entire U.S., DEED said. Heavy and civil engineering (up 8.3%), building and equipment contractors (up 7.3%), and specialty trades (up 5.8%), saw the biggest growth.
Read More on Finance & Commerce
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October 31 - Ads for Buyers Guide & Membership Directory Due
Submit your ad artwork for the 2024 Buyers Guide & Membership Directory to Ashlee.
November 16 - 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
November 16 - Bluebeam for Administrative Professionals (online class)
Administrative teams have unique document workflows that demand a different set of tools compared to design and construction teams. In just two hours you’ll be ready to combine documents, mark for redaction, apply digital signatures and several other important administrative tasks. Register Here
November 23 & 24 - MBEX Closed
MBEX will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, and will return to regular business hours on Monday, November 27.
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
November 28 - 2nd Annual Summit on Mental Health in Construction
The Minnesota Construction Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coalition is proud to host their annual summit focusing on substance use and mental health in construction. This Summit is open to anyone in the construction industry from field personnel to executive leadership. Register Here
January 10 - MBEX Annual Meeting & Luncheon
Save the date for the first members-only event of the new year. The MBEX Annual Meeting provides members the opportunity to enjoy lunch and socialize with fellow industry professionals, congratulate new incoming Board Members, recognize those leaving the Board, all while actively observing annual meeting protocol. This event is open to ALL current MBEX members.
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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CLIMATE & ENERGY
🔋 Clean Energy Transition in Buildings Could Create 2M+ Jobs in US and Europe
Implementing and sustaining technologies like solar photovoltaic, heat pumps and battery storage systems could generate more than 2 million new clean energy jobs and around 141 million additional jobs across Europe and the U.S., according to the study published in the June 2023 Electricity Journal. The findings can help business owners and operators make retrofit estimates and help improve forecasts around scope, investment, lifecycle management and impact for building projects. (Smart Cities Dive)
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
👷🏽♀️ 👷🏻♀️ 👷🏿♀️ More Women Working in Construction in 2022
The number of women employed in the construction industry increased to over 1.28 million in 2022, as the construction industry recovered all jobs lost during the pandemic. Currently, women make up 10.9% of the construction workforce, up from 9.3% in 2002. (National Association of Home Builders)
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
🤖 PaintJet Puts Robots to Work in Construction & Maintenance
With just 20 employees and a fleet of remote-controlled robots, a startup called PaintJet has managed to cover more than 1.5-million-square-feet of building exteriors and ships in less than three years. The startup, based in Hendersonville, Tenn., started after CEO Nick Hegeman drew inspiration from his first foray into business ownership: running a CertaPro Painters franchise in greater Nashville. (CNBC)
LABOR & SAFETY
💵 Construction Lost as Much as $40B on Poor Productivity in 2022
U.S. contractors wasted between $30 billion and $40 billion in 2022 due to labor inefficiencies, and it appears to be getting worse, according to a new survey from FMI Corp. Nearly half of respondents (45%) said they saw declining labor productivity on their jobsites in the last 12 to 18 months, compared to 23% who claimed improvements. The report describes labor as "the largest, riskiest, yet most controllable variable cost" in construction and said that these problems could worsen in coming months.(Construction Dive)
CONSTRUCTION TECH
📐 2023 Tech Report Details the Framework for Successful Technology Adoption
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recently released its third annual construction technology report, which consists of a framework and complementary real-life case studies from ABC contractors that utilize construction technologies to strengthen safety, workflows and profits. Technology and innovative practices included are cybersecurity, virtual reality, equipment and asset management systems, business information modeling, data-driven analytics, technology training, capturing and analyzing spatial data through light detection and ranging scanning, innovation labs, and more. (Compact Equipment)
🦺 PROJECT TO WATCH
The Twin Cities May Not See Another New Office Tower for a Long Time
An 18-story tower under construction near Target Field (North Loop Green) could be the last new office building we see in the Twin Cities for a long time. This project is the only large office project to have broken ground in the Twin Cities since the pandemic hit. Office buildings are huge property taxpayers, injecting millions into schools, public safety, and social services. Building them also keep construction workers on the job. However, the permanency of remote and hybrid work continues to take a toll on the office market as companies downsize their space needs. (Axios - Twin Cities)
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The back office tower on the right of this rendering could be the last new office building
in the Twin Cities for awhile. Image by ESG Architecture via the City of Minneapolis.
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Best Practices for Construction Business Expansion
Presented by Construction Executive
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DATE: Wednesday, October 25
TIME: 1:00pm CST
LOCATION: Online
COST: Free
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Whether you're 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; and
• 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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ACI Certification Classes
Minnesota Concrete Council Continuing Education
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DATES:
• November 2: ACI Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification Class
• November 2: ACI Post-Installed Concrete Anchor Installation Inspector Certification Class
• November 15: ACI Concrete Flatwork Associate and Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher Certification Review and Written Examination
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The ACI Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification is required by the Minnesota Building Code as well as MnDOT.
The performance of any post-installed adhesive anchor relies on the correct installation of the anchor. Research has shown that if not mixed properly or if cleaning procedures are not followed per manufacturer's instructions, the anchor will fail. Prevent unnecessary problems in the future and get your installers certified. Not all post-installed adhesive anchors are created equal so understand the differences.
Information on class cost, how to register, and more can be found here.
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Benefit of the Week: tech21 | |
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Advanced protection for all your devices.
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Each and every one of tech21's products is the result of their passion for protection. You'll notice the difference every time you pick up your phone or tablet. Their in-house design, engineering and R&D team use the latest science, cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and unique materials to make this happen.
MBEX Members receive:
• 25% off device cases
• Limited-time warranty
• Free Returns
Login in to your MyNPP account, or sign up (it's free), and start saving.
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This offer, and others like these, is available through our member benefit provider, National Purchasing Partners (NPP). To get started, enroll your business for free at mynpp.com/association/mbex. | |
PROJECT INFORMATION + UPDATES | |
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 10/16/2023/2023 - 10/20/2023: 77
• Total Projects Leads Reported on at MBEX from 10/16/2023 - 10/20/2023: 4
• Total Active Projects Received/Reported on at MBEX as of 10/24/2023: 320
• Total Projects in the Online Plan Room as of 10/24/2023: 4,125
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 10/18/2023-10/24/2023.
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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