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Senate Democrats Call For Expanding Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave Law
Senate Democrats are once again hoping to expand the state’s paid sick leave program to cover more workers during the upcoming legislative session. MORE
Lamont Presents Adjustments to Two-Year Budget Amid Fiscal Constraints
Gov. Ned Lamont unveils his adjustments to the two-year budget today and while the state of Connecticut is in the black by hundreds of millions of dollars, there is not much spending they will be able to do beyond what was already allocated. MORE
Lamont’s Address Sparks Debate Over Fiscal Approach and Education Funding
Gov. Ned Lamont used his state-of-the-state address to highlight Connecticut’s accomplishments and the investments, but not everyone agreed with exactly how he got there. MORE
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$30M Bradley Airport hangar project aims to capitalize on increased corporate jet use, despite business travel’s slow recovery
Of all the “new normals” that the pandemic brought us, one that stubbornly continues to linger is the downturn in business travel. MORE
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Lamont’s fellow Democrats push back on his budget for CT
Gov. Ned Lamont’s fellow Democrats took exception Thursday to key elements of his latest budget plan, arguing higher education, municipal schools and people with disabilities were short-changed. MORE
Lamont’s $26.1B budget plan takes a big bite out of bonded debt
Gov. Ned Lamont will unveil a $26.1 billion budget Wednesday for the next fiscal year that features few new initiatives and a plan to dramatically reduce Connecticut’s bonded debt using rapidly accumulating reserves from its transportation program, according to sources familiar with the plan. MORE
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CT governor says housing expansion is a priority, but Republicans are skeptical
During his annual State of the State Address, Gov. Ned Lamont emphasized the importance of creating more housing inventory across the state and expanding construction, particularly in some of Connecticut’s major cities. MORE
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ABC's STEP Safety Management System provides contractors and suppliers with a robust, no-cost framework for measuring safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry. The self-assessment tool helps you identify real opportunities for scalable growth in your safety program to lower your total recordable incident rates. Complete your STEP self-assessment in as little as 30 minutes with your OSHA 300A in hand.
Maximize your potential as an industry leader in health and safety by beginning your STEP journey now. Completing your STEP Safety Management System self-assessment by March sets you up for success in 2024. The self-assessment takes only 30 minutes with your OSHA 300A in hand, providing you time to complete your Accredited Quality Contractor application by mid-year and qualify for recognition as an ABC Top Performer.
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ABC National News/Beltway Blueprint |
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National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.4% in December, according to an ABC analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. "Nonresidential construction spending finished 2023 up more than 20%—the 19th consecutive monthly increase—and will carry ample momentum in 2024," said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. "While much of that strength is due to surging investment in new manufacturing structures, roughly half of the 16 nonresidential subsegments saw spending increases by 20% or more
in 2023."
The construction industry added 11,000 jobs on net in January, according to an ABC analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "The construction industry added jobs for the 10th straight month in January," said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. "That was hardly the biggest story from the release, however, with total U.S. payroll employment increasing by a staggering 353,000 positions."
The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate at 4.4% was unchanged in December 2023 from the previous year, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by ABC. "Continued high interest rates have been a drag on plans for new construction," said Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC. "However, industry employment remains healthy."
While the U.S. House of Representatives passed the ABC-supported Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act last week, the bill still has an uncertain pathway in the U.S. Senate, where Republicans have taken a harder line against the proposal, calling for an amendment process. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said the expanded child tax credit in the deal is the biggest issue for the GOP.
Per a requirement from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers must post their 2023 Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300A) in their workplace from Feb. 1 through April 30 in a location where employees can see it. Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees or their representatives.
The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission should reconsider its recent vote to approve a union-only project labor agreement for construction of the $325 million West Parish Water Treatment Plant. PLAs require that unions be the "sole and exclusive" source of jobsite labor for a construction project. In Massachusetts, that means excluding the nearly 84% of construction workers who choose not to join a union, wrote Greg Beeman, president of ABC Massachusetts, in a MassLive.com op-ed.
ABC members Hensel Phelps, DPR Construction, Walsh Group and Whiting-Turner ranked in the top of Building Design+Construction's ranking of the nation's largest military facility general contractors and construction management firms for 2023, as reported in BD+C's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Border Deal Declared Dead
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., held a test vote this afternoon, in which Republicans largely blocked the border and Ukraine package in a 49-50 procedural vote that prevents the bill from advancing in the Senate. Schumer now plans to force a vote to bring up a stand-alone bill that would send tens of billions of dollars in funding to Ukraine and Israel without the negotiated language on the border.
Many Republicans were critical of the bill’s reforms to the nation’s asylum system believing the provisions would further encourage illegal immigration into the U.S. The bill’s efforts to expand work authorizations for migrants drew much of the criticism from Republicans who view the provisions as dangling the prospect of expedited work permits for asylum seekers, adding to the incentive for unsupported asylum claims and illegal immigration into the U.S.
While the deal sought to toughen the “credible fear” standard for asylum claims, it also would create a new process that bypasses the immigration courts and relies on asylum officers to make asylum determinations. Then, under the bill, migrants whose asylum claims receive positive determinations under the expedited asylum process would immediately receive work permits. Additionally family members of certain visa holders would also get work permits, and migrants would also receive work permits if the screening process is delayed by administrative issues for 90 days after they enter the country.
The deal’s proclaimed end to the Biden administration’s “catch and release” policy also came under fire for providing a loophole for the Homeland Security secretary the authority to send migrants to “Provisional Noncustodial Removal Proceedings” if they express a fear of persecution or request asylum.
On Tuesday evening, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who had backed the negotiations, essentially declared the border security-foreign aid package dead, telling reporters “we have no real chance here to make a law.”
In the House, GOP leaders released a statement in opposition to the deal and attempted to pass a stand-alone bill to provide Israel with more military aid, that failed under a suspension vote requiring 2/3 majority of the House to support. This effort undermines the Speaker’s efforts to separate Israel from other national security priorities, including funding for Ukraine and additional border security measures.
ABC Survey on Apprenticeship Proposed Rule – Responses Due Feb. 21
Today, ABC is launching a survey to obtain contractor and chapter feedback on a recent proposed rule overhauling government-registered apprenticeship programs. The proposal would implement wide-ranging changes to how GRAPs are implemented, adding more bureaucracy and paperwork requirements while also eliminating flexible competency-based approaches to workforce development.
ABC National is working on comprehensive comments that will seek regulatory clarity for our contractor members and chapters engaged in GRAPs and push back on concerning aspects of the proposed rule. Understanding the impact of this proposed rule on ABC members and chapter will be critical to drafting informed and effective comments.
An email will be sent out to all ABC contractor members, as well as chapter education and government affairs staff, today from Ben Brubeck with the email address “noreply@qemailserver.com”. The following shareable link may be provided to any ABC contractor members or chapter staff who may be interested in participating:
Reminder – ABC Apprenticeship Webinar Recording
The “What Does the Biden DOL’s Controversial Apprenticeship Proposed Rule Mean for ABC Members and Chapters?” webinar that took place on January 30 webinar recording is now available. You can also find it archived on ABC’s Academy for Construction Ethics, Compliance and Best Practices site, which is restricted to ABC members in management positions and chapter staff. The materials included in the Academy are intended for and limited to members of management. In order to receive log-in information and gain access to the password-protected site, the request must come from an ABC member in a management position or chapter Staff* via the online Academy Login Request Form.
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Mazzotta Rentals, Inc. (MRI) Names Thomas Caldaroni Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
MIDDLETOWN, Conn., Jan. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazzotta Rentals, Inc., a leading supplier of construction equipment rentals, sales, service, and parts, has appointed Thomas Caldaroni CAO effective October 30, 2023. Caldaroni has held numerous leadership roles with operational and financial responsibilities for large Fortune 500 companies, including Terex Corporation, as well as smaller to medium-sized enterprises. Most recently Mr. Caldaroni served as CFO of ABLE Equipment Rentals, Inc. in New York, managing its' recent sale to United Rentals.
"We're thrilled to have a proven leader like Tom join our team," said CEO Joseph Mazzotta. "He has the unique ability to quickly digest functional processes while fostering immediate and continuous improvement."
"Tom brings with him strong financial skills and key industry relationships, and he has previously demonstrated a successful strategic leadership approach," said Davide Pugliares Mazzotta's CFO, adding "Tom will be a vital team member as we continue to execute on our existing growth plans".
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Steelpointe Groundbreaking
Construction will be underway soon on The August at Steelpointe in Bridgeport, CT. There was a great turnout at the recent groundbreaking, including the state’s governor, Ned Lamont, City of Bridgeport officials, the development team of Flaherty & Collins with Robert Christoph and Robert Christoph, Jr., and the KBE project team. This new residential/retail complex will be an impressive addition to the cityscape. The KBE team was honored to be part of this celebratory event, with shovels in hand to help usher in the launch of this new project.
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Site Shots: Congratulations to the Wohlsen team members on successfully renovating Gaylord Hospital’s Jackson Pavilion’s ground floor!
Wohlsen provided preconstruction and construction management services for the newly renovated space in Wallingford, CT.
The 10,788 square feet of renovation spaces included an administrative area, common spaces, restrooms, lounge, innovation/collaboration space, new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, and new finishes, such as floor coverings, ceilings, and casework. We applaud the hard work of the Wohlsen crews, who made this project a success!
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Thank you for Your Loyalty |
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Business Partner of the Week |
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Save as much as $5,400 on a single vehicle! Members can take advantage of significant incentives on 2023 and 2024 Nissan trucks and cars, and potentially qualify for a Section 179 tax deduction.
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Articles from the Industry |
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Many CT ABC Members are already taking advantage of their free access to CareerPlug since our partnership in 2021. Keep your eye out for resources like the blog entries below and weekly webinars to help CT ABC Members hire better with CareerPlug!
All members already have an account and a customizable CareerPlug page. All you need to do is activate it. Contact Chris Abel, Membership Director at abel@ctabc.org to get started!
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