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Volume 47 - 2023 | Wednesday, November 22, 2023 | www.mbex.org | |
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Five Things To Do / Know This Week:
1.) We'll be OOO (out of office) this Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. We'll be back to regular business hours on Monday, November 27.
2.) It's Membership Renewal time. If you haven't paid your dues yet for 2024, now's the time to make that payment. Renew before December 31st to avoid access disruptions to the Online Plan Room. Call or email Shauna with questions or to request a copy of your renewal invoice.
3.) Big congratulations goes out to Lois Martin with M.A. Mortenson Co. She was named CFO of the Year by Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. In the six years since she was named chief financial officer, Lois has helped launch 12 new lines of business within Mortenson.
4.) Don't just shop for yourself on Black Friday; order something for your crew, too. Employees are the backbone of any company, and here are a handful of ideas for getting them something they *actually* want this year.
5.) Test Your Knowledge:
According to the National Equipment Register (NER), what is the number one most-stolen piece of machinery type from North American construction work sites?
A.) Skid Steer Loaders; B.) Pavers; C.) Trenchers; or D.) Forklifts. See the Answer
This Thanksgiving, we're thankful for our members, our trade partners, our families and friends. Have a warm and safe holiday!
IN THIS WEEK'S BULLETIN:
• Register Now: Join us for Reading Construction Documents & Holiday Party North
• OSHA Reporting: New injury / illness reporting changes effective January 1, 2024
• Sneak Peek: A look inside the latest Pre-Plan Pipeline
• Minnesota Housing: 2024-2025 Affordable Housing Plan Draft available to view
• Minority Notices: ECI seeks qualified MCUB vendors for two upcoming projects
• October Backlog Indicator, Impact of Office-to-Residential Conversions, & a 500-Bricks-Per-Hour Laying Robot: Five construction headlines, and recap of MnDOT's advanced or completed projects for 2023
• Member Benefits: Save on fleet fueling with Circle K Pro
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Elevate Your Expertise & Celebrate the Season with MBEX | |
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As the year progresses, MBEX is excited to host two upcoming events that promise both professional enrichment and festive enjoyment.
READING CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS - Online Course
November 27 & 29 | 2:00pm-5:00pm | MBEX Members - $295, Non-Members - $395 | Taught by Troy DeGroot with UChapter2
Join us for an introductory course specifically tailored for construction professionals. Here's why you shouldn't miss out:
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• Enhance Understanding: Grasp the nuances of construction documents, plans, and specifications --- vital skills for anyone in the construction industry.
• Error Reduction: Learn to interpret documents accurately, reducing costly mistakes and misunderstandings on the job.
• Professional Development: Enhance your resume and marketability in a competitive industry.
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This two-part course is ideal for apprentices, entry-level tradespersons, project coordinators, assistant project managers, estimators, specialty sales representatives, entry-level architectural or engineering designers, anyone in a career transition looking for a refresher, and those looking to deepen their understanding of construction documentation.
HOLIDAY PARTY NORTH
December 7 | Beginning at 5:30pm | $45 per person | Ridgeview Country Club (Duluth)
It's time to celebrate our business and industry achievements and camaraderie at our annual Holiday Party North.
Here's why this event is a must-attend:
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• Festive Networking : Mingle with your peers and industry leaders in a relaxed setting.
• Great Food & Drink: Enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by Ridgeview Country Club's staff.
• Building Community: Strengthen the sense of community within MBEX, fostering a supportive network for the coming year.
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Sponsorship opportunities are also available to showcase your company's products or services and gain exposure to a targeted audience.
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Don't miss these opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate with the MBEX community. Whether you're looking to enhance your professional skills or to celebrate the year's achievements, these events are for you.
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OSHA has updated its electronic reporting requirements to improve the tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. The final rule goes into effect January 1, 2024, and will require certain employers to electronically submit workplace injury and illness data from OSHA Forms 300 and 301.
CURRENT RULE
The new rule retains these requirements and adds to them.
The following establishments are required to electronically submit their OSHA Form 300A from the previous calendar year.
All MN employers with 20 or more employees, regardless of their NAICS code, must submit.
Other establishments that fall under Federal OSHA:
• Establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries.
• Establishments with 250+ employees are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records.
NEW RULE
The new rule retains the current requirements listed above and expands to include the following requirements:
Establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries must electrically submit information from their OSHA Forms 300 and 301 once a year.
• These submissions are in addition to the submission of Form 300A.
• Establishments with a peak employment of 100+ employees during the previous calendar year meet this size criteria.
• Industries including logging, manufacturing, waste collection, warehousing / storage, transportation, boat building, certain contractors, etc.
The data must be electronically submitted through: OSHA's Injury Tracking Application (ITA).
OSHA will begin accepting 2023 injury and illness data on January 2, 2024. The due date to complete this submission is March 2, 2024.
RESOURCES
To learn more about OSHA's Injury / Illness Electronic Reporting or to access TBG's safety video library, visit:
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A Look 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 this issue was a double-feature. October contains 65 projects, and November contains 56.
Take a look at each section by clicking the images below:
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Already a Premium Member but not seeing the Pre-Plan Pipeline? First, check your spam / junk folder. If not there, email Ashlee so she can doublecheck you are indeed on the mailing list (and add you if not).
Only have Basic Access services but want to upgrade so you too can receive this monthly publication? Contact Ashlee to get started.
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2024-2025 Affordable Housing Plan Draft Available | |
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Minnesota Housing released its draft 2024-2025 Affordable Housing Plan for public comment.
The Affordable Housing Plan outlines Minnesota Housing's key policy, program and operational initiatives. It is their business plan for implementing the first two years of the new 2024-2027 Strategic Plan and estimates the funds they will make available by program over the two years.
GOING BIG
Minnesota Housing is Going Big So Everyone Can Go Home. To take on Minnesota's persistent housing challenges, the 2023 Legislature made available $1.3 billion of new state resources to be deployed in 2024 and 2025. This supplements the resources they have from the federal government, bonding, and Agency earnings.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Minnesota Housing is taking public comments on the draft plan through Friday, December 1, at 4:00pm. Email comments to mn.housing@state.mn.us with "Comments on Draft Affordable Housing Plan" as the subject.
View the Official News Release
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November 23 & 24 - Thanksgiving - MBEX Closed
MBEX will be closed Thursday and Friday for the 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. Open to both MBEX Members and non-MBEX Members. 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
December 7 - Holiday Party North
Come gather with fellow construction industry professionals for an evening of festive cheer and networking at Holiday Party North in Duluth. Event will be held at Ridgeview Country Club and includes a social hour, sit-down dinner, short program, and door prize giveaways. Register Here
December 13 - 2024 Construction Economic Forecast
Crafted with commercial contractors in mind, Anirban Basu's (chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors) presentation will reflect on an unusual year --- one that started with high inflation and fears of an impending recession but ultimately held steady --- and will continue with a look forward into 2024 and beyond. Register Here
December 21 - 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
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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Engineering & Construction Innovations Inc (ECI) is seeking qualified MCUB subcontractors, suppliers and vendors for the following projects:
• Metropolitan Council Environmental Services' Lake Elmo West
• Metropolitan Council Environmental Services' Seneca Pipe and Site Restoration
Bids for the Lake Elmo West project must be submitted to ECI by December 11 at 3:00pm. View Full Notice
Bids for the Seneca Pipe and Site Restoration project must be submitted to ECI by January 15 at 3:00pm. View Full Notice
Please send quotes for either project 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
📉 Backlog Indicator Falls Sharply for Small Contractors, Increases for Large Contractors in October, Contractors' Confidence Dips
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported on November 14 that its Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.4 months in October from 9.0 months in September. The reading is down 0.4 months from October 2022. Backlog now stands at its lowest level since the first quarter of 2022. Declines were concentrated among the smallest contractors, those with less than $30 million in annual revenues. All three other revenue categories experienced a backlog in October. (Associated Builders and Contractors)
RECONSTRUCTION + RENOVATION
🔁 The Impact of Office-to-Residential Conversion on Downtown Areas
Many civic-minded developers see an exciting opportunity to play a role in the transformation of their cities. As the market has proven time and time again, making these conversion projects work financially can be difficult without additional incentives. However, we are beginning to see multiple cities tackle this issue by offering incentives ranging from cash grants for projects that meet certain criteria, waived permit fees or development charges, and property tax breaks over a period of time. (Building Design + Construction)
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
🧱 Hadrian X: A Robot That Can Precisely Lay 500 Bricks An Hour
Rome was not built in a day, but if a city had to be made, it would surely need the help of the fastest bots to do all the construction work. FBR's Hadrian X, a bricklaying robot, would undoubtedly be a part of the core team. Just look at it lay bricks, and you will know. Back in 2015, FBR was looking to complete the laying down of bricks for an entire house in just two days. Technological improvements over the years have meant that its bot can put in place walls over 750-square-feet in just one hour. (Interesting Engineering)
BUSINESS
💵 How to Predict Cash Flow as a Small Construction Business Owner
The world is a volatile place. What can small businesses that form the deep foundation of the construction industry do about it? While they can't necessarily control the macro forces that buffet the economy, they can monitor their cash flow, which in turn builds their confidence and bolsters their capacity to weather any storms. Construction Executive recently talked to Brett Sussman, a vice president with American Express, about the current climate for small construction businesses --- including how to navigate the collapsing banks, inflation, supply-chain issues, legislative and regulatory hurdles and lingering after-effects of a global pandemic that have plagued the industry for the last three years. (Construction Executive)
LABOR + WORKFORCE
🤔 Job Openings Tumble in Some Industries, Easing Worker Shortages. Others Still Struggle.
Worker shortages are finally easing along with the pandemic. That has slowed the sharp wage growth U.S. employees enjoyed the past couple of years but also allowed businesses to raise prices more moderately, reopen shuttered restaurants and fix product shortages. But that doesn't mean labor shortages have improved in all industries, shifting bargaining power from workers to employers. Some sectors are still scrambling to find employees. For the construction industry, the market appears loose, but it's tight by historical standards per Ken Simonson, chief economist at AGC. (USA Today)
🦺 PROJECT TO WATCH
MnDOT Says Nearly 230 Projects Advanced or Completed in 2023
A major bridge renovation in downtown Minneapolis and a three-year fix of Highway 52 in southeast Minnesota are among the high-profile road and bridge projects completed during the 2023 season, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said Monday. MnDOT, which officially wrapped up its construction season Monday, said nearly 230 projects overall were advanced or completed during the past year. In April, the department said its $1.3 billion 2023 season would touch 171 road and bridge projects and 52 improvements related to airports, water ports, railroad crossings and transit infrastructure. (Finance & Commerce)
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The $129.3M makeover of the Third Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis was one of the projects MnDOT completed in 2023. Workers "extended the life" of the historically significant 105-year-old crossing. (Photo: Bill Klotz). | |
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2nd Annual Summit on Mental Health in Construction
Presented by the Minnesota Construction Coalition
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DATE: Tuesday, November 28
TIME: 7:30am - 12:00pm
LOCATION: Ames Center (Burnsville)
COST: Free
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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.
Who should attend? Construction company owners, executives, project leadership, field personnel, and anyone else within the industry who wants to learn more about mental health and make a difference in the wellbeing of others at work and at home.
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Regional Economic Conditions: Construction Sector Outlook
Presented by the Ron Wirtz, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
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DATE: Wednesday, November 29
TIME: 9:00am - 9:30am CST
LOCATION: Online
COST: Free
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How are current conditions in the construction sector, and how was the summer busy season? How are interest rates affecting the sector? What's the outlook for 2024 across the Ninth District?
Join Ron Wirtz, Regional Outreach Director, for a live webinar discussing the latest results from an early November survey of activity levels, challenges, overall conditions, and outlook in the construction sector.
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OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety Outreach (2 days)
Presented by The Builders Group
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DATES:
• Tuesday, December 5 (7:00am - 3:30pm with lunch provided)
• Wednesday, December 6 (7:00am-11:00am)
LOCATION: The Builders Group (Eagan)
COST *:
• TBG Members - $100 per person
• Association Members - $120 per person
• Non-TBG Members - $275 per person
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This class will provide an in-depth look at compliance and safety issues related to the OSHA training curriculum set forth for the OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety class. Topics to include Fall Protection, Electrical Safety, Excavation Safety, Hand / Power Tools, and several more topics necessary to complete the course objectives.
Attendees are required to attend and complete both days.
Registration closes on November 28, 2023. If after November 28, contact Emily at ecutts@tbgmn.com to check for availability. Cancellations must occur 10 days before the event for a refund.
* Starting in 2022 as a benefit of the TBG Safety Service Association, all members will have two free OSHA 10 registrations per year. Once those two FREE registrations are used, the cost to participate will then be $100 per member.
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Benefit of the Week: Circle K Pro - Fleet Fueling | |
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Members can save at 500+ Holiday stores and 6,000+ Circle K stations.
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With Circle K Pro, MBEX members can save 30-cents per gallon of fuel for the first 90 days, and then earn 7-cents back on every gallon after the those first 90 days at any Circle K or Holiday locations.
• Always Convenient: Circle K Pro Partner is accepted at any one of their 6,000+ Circle K or Holiday locations, wherever you see one of their logos.
• Greater Savings: Save administrative time and eliminate paper receipts. Prevent unauthorized fuel purchases and easily track every gallon purchased by your drivers.
• More Control: Help prevent unwanted spending with pre-set controls and alerts. Your online account allows you to set these limits and flag any transactions outside of those set guidelines.
• Security: Know which driver is buying what, where, and when. A unique Driver ID is required with every purchase to add a level of security that helps protect against lost or stolen cards.
• Level III Data: Unlike standard credit cards, the Circle K Pro Partner Card captures Level III line-item data with every purchase, requiring your driver to input a driver ID and odometer mileage. This allows you to track fuel expenditures and better facilitate cost analysis for your vehicles.
For more information or to get started with Circle K Pro for your business, contact Brian Korb, inside sales and key accounts rep, at (984) 389-1759 or brian.korb@circlek.com.
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PROJECT INFORMATION + UPDATES | |
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 11/13/2023/2023 - 11/17/2023: 79
• Total Active Projects Received/Reported on at MBEX as of 11/21/2023: 281
• Total Projects in the Online Plan Room as of 11/21/2023: 4,415
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 11/15/2023-11/21/2023.
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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