Associated Builders and Contractors is asking members to participate in COVID-19 Safety Stand-downs today, Thursday, April 23, 2020.

 

We believe having a stand-down is a vital opportunity to persuade employers and workers in construction to ensure their behavior keeps them safe and slows the spread of the virus.

 

Click here for Tool Box Talks and suggestions for hosting and promoting a COVID-19 Safety Stand-down or you can use other resources that your company may have developed. The stand-down can be held digitally, simply by distributing the materials via text or email message. If they are held in person, please be mindful of social distancing guidance during the event.

Finally, we encourage everyone to use the hashtag, #COVID19SafetyStandDown for sharing stories and photos on social media to spread awareness of the merit shop construction industry's stand-down efforts on social media.  

On Tuesday, the Senate approved an additional coronavirus relief package, which provides $310 billion more in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill is expected to be signed into law later this week. The program ran out of the initial $349 billion the federal government earmarked for it in just 13 days. This time, smaller businesses may have a better chance at receiving funds.

The new bill provides $30 billion specifically for community lenders, small banks and credit unions. An additional $30 billion will be allocated for medium-sized banks and credit unions.

Which Businesses Qualify?

Small businesses with 500 or fewer employees can apply for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. One loan will be granted per business.

How Much Money Can a Business Get?

The maximum loan granted from the PPP will be equal to 2.5 times the average monthly payroll costs for the previous calendar year, up to $10 million. Payroll costs only apply to annual salaries up to $100,000; while calculating your monthly payroll costs, you’ll have to subtract any excess salary amount over that cap.

Costs Covered Under the Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program will give small businesses loans to continue to pay employees and cover other business expenses during the COVID-19 crisis. All loans have a 1% fixed interest rate, require no collateral or guarantor and will be due in two years with no prepayment penalties or fees. Loan payments will also be deferred for six months; during that time, interest will accrue.

Payroll costs include:

If a small business uses a Paycheck Protection Program loan for the specified expenses over an eight-week period, the loan will be forgiven. Mortgage interest, rent and utility payments are also eligible for payment with the loan funds.

How Will the Loans Be Forgiven?

Loans granted under the Paycheck Protection Program will be forgiven in full—essentially making them grants from the government—only if certain requirements are met. Companies must keep workers on their payrolls for an eight-week period after the loan is granted, and the businesses can only use the loan for the other costs listed above.

Loan forgiveness will be reduced depending on how businesses use the money. If staff counts are reduced, or salaries for employees who earn less than $100,000 annually are reduced by more than 25%, then the business must repay the loan. Businesses have until June 30, 2020 to restore full-time employment and salary levels that were changed between February 15 and April 26.

Businesses will need to submit a request for forgiveness to the lender that services their loan. According to the Treasury, the request must include documents verifying employees and pay rates, as well as what the loan money was used for. 

Where Can You Apply?

Small business owners can apply through an existing U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender or through any federally insured deposit institution. A list of SBA lenders can be found on the  SBA’s website.

Webinar: Bringing Your Project Back Online: Tips to Ensure a Smooth Restart 

Date: Tuesday, April 28th

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Join ABC Empire State's Statewide Safety Director, Jason Ashlaw, to prepare you and your employees with tips and suggestions for a safe return to work after a shutdown.

 

Register in advance for this webinar:

REGISTER HERE

 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Virtual Safety Awareness Training

Statewide Director of Safety, Craft Training, and Workforce Development,

Jason Ashlaw is offering the following

Safety Awareness Trainings:

Electrical Safety Training : Thursday, April 30th 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Silica Awareness : Tuesday, May 5th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Confined Space : Thursday, May 7th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Excavation Safety : Tuesday, May 12th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Stairs & Ladders Training : Thursday, May 14th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Cost: $80 per person, per course.

**Virtual training requires Laptop with a camera or smart phone with internet access

To register, contact Amy Platenik: [email protected] (585) 363-1657

Protecting your Company and Remote Workforce from Cyberthreats

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020

Time: 3 p.m. EDT

Length: 90 minutes

WEBINAR DESCRIPTION

One of the unintended consequences of the coronavirus pandemic is the increase of cybersecurity threats due to the prevalence of remote working. Without the right protections in place, your company and workforce can be at risk from a wide variety of hackers. Join Nick Espinosa, cybersecurity and network infrastructure expert and president of Security Fanatics, as he walks through precautions your company should take to protect itself and your employees.

REGISTER HERE

Construction Shut-downs: Technology to Secure your Jobsite

 

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Time: 3 p.m. EDT

Length: 60 minutes

 

WEBINAR DESCRIPTION

 

Learn about a variety of technologies to help ensure security for your jobsites, including intuitive software solutions and hardware that can immediately make an impact where you work. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions and challenges that need solving for the presenter to address.

 

REGISTER HERE

The Impact of New ANSI Standards: What You Need to Know and Do…Now!

 

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Time: 3 p.m. EDT

Length: 60 minutes

 

WEBINAR DESCRIPTION

 

The ANSI standards that govern the access equipment industry are scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2020. As we face COVID-19 and navigate its effects on the construction industry, it is even more crucial to be proactive, informed and prepared about compliance. Who’s affected? Everyone. Rental companies, equipment owners, supervisors, operators and technicians.

 

Join Rick Smith, Senior Director Training at JLG Industries, as he reviews the changes to be made in the areas of training, job site safety and machine selection. And, more importantly, what you can do now to meet the new standards. ANSI/CSA compliance is critical. So, join us to make sure you’re ready by the impending June 1, 2020 deadline. Sign up today!

 

REGISTER HERE

ABC Empire State Webinar Series

Recorded Webinars

The Empire Chapter is offering a library of recorded webinars from both ABC National and our Empire Chapter Professional Services Committee. T he purpose of these webinars is to keep members educated on all things that affect your business and the construction industry.

To view previous recordings, click here.

Previous topics, include:

*To access ABC National’s recorded webinars you must apply for a login

The CARES Act and its Impact on Retirement Plans

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act as part of the federal stimulus package intended to stabilize the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act has opened up a number of provisions for employer-sponsored retirement plans by making additional funds available to Plan participants who are impacted by COVID-19.

To learn more, click here to listen to DirectAdvisors podcast

The personal safety and health of each employee is of primary importance. We believe that employees are our most important assets and that their safety at the worksite is our greatest responsibility. As such, the Empire Chapter is offering members a

Supplemental Health and Safety Plan to address Novel Coronavirus  

Click here for the word document

Click here for the PDF