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MBEXers, at long last, it's finally summer!
If your inbox has been as packed as your project schedule lately, I've got good news. For the rest of July and August, I'm keeping the Weekly Bulletin on the shorter side, because I know this is your busiest season, and the last thing you need is more to read.
Each issue will still deliver the MBEX news and headlines you need to know, but I'm lightening the load so you have more time to chase down projects, nail those bid packages, and maybe --- just maybe --- actually enjoy the sunshine instead of just pacing around in it on the jobsite. (You're welcome 😄☀️🏗️)
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Five Quick Things To Know & Do This Week:
1.) Plan Room Demo - Join MBEX staff live next Thursday (July 16) for a free one-hour session covering basics of our Online Plan Room, from navigating the Deskpad, self-adding a company to project bidder lists, setting up project search filters for optimal results, and more. (While offered free to current mements and those intersted in learning more about our digital platform, registration is required.)
2.) Hiring Momentum - Nonresidential construction employment increased by 19,900 positions in June, with nonresidential specialty trades adding the most (14,100), followed by nonresidential building (3,200), and heavy and civil engineering (2,600), per ABC data released on July 2, 2026.
3.) Project to Watch - Epstein, an AEC firm based in Chicago, has been selected as design-build contractor for a $1.3-billion, 1.1-million-square-foot packaged meat and fresh pork processing facility that Smithfield Foods Inc. plans to build in Sioux Falls, S.D. The project is being called the largest business investment in the state's history. (Can't access the link? Click here)
4.) Review Overtime Thresholds - The U.S. Department of Labor issued a technical amendment to its white-collar overtime regulations back in May, formally restoring the salary thresholds adopted in 2019 and removing the vacated 2024 rule from the books. Employers should take a fresh look at employee classifications before year-end planning to confirm that each exempt role still satisfies all three elements of the exemption test, verify weekly salaries meet or exceed the $684 threshold, and flag any positions that were moved to exempt status based primarily on the short-lived 2024 rule.
5.) Five-Minute Video Break - Seasoned construction vet vs. first-year hire. Place your bets 😂 🤷♂️
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Inside Issue No. 27:
• Last Call: Join MBEX in Duluth on July 15 for our Lake Superior Harbor Cruise
• Effective July 1: New Minnesota laws that took effect at the start of the month, including Minnesota Paid Family & Medical Leave, infrastructure funding, social media warning labels, and more
• New Members: Check out which companies joined throughout June
• Know Your Contract [Insurance]: Part 3 of 4 breaking down primary risk mitigation tools found in construction contracts
• Upcoming Events: Online Plan Room Demo (7/16); Construction Estimating Princples & Application online course (8/4); Reading Construction Documents online course (8/5 & 8/6); Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser (8/6) & Golf North (8/19)
• Project Download: Updated project information for the week of July 1-7
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Still Time to Register for Lake Superior Harbor Cruise
Join us in Duluth on July 15
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Time is running out to claim your spot on the water; registration for the MBEX Lake Superior Harbor Cruise closes tomorrow, July 8, at the end of the day.
Next Wednesday, we're setting sail on Lake Superior out of Duluth, boarding fellow member Jeff Foster's retired Coast Guard vessel for an evening of great views, great people, and zero agenda. This is a genuine chance to connect with industry peers in one of the best settings Minnesota has to offer. (Drinks and dinner are also included on the outing.)
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Date: Wednesday, July 15
Time: Boarding begins at 5:00pm | Depart at 5:45pm sharp | Return to dock no later than 9:00pm
Location: For Parking and Boarding - Pier B Resort (800 West Railroad Street, Duluth, Minn., 55802)
Cost: Free for members
Sponsor: Help support the event by making a 'Member of the Exchange' donation during registration
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This event is free for members, and while spots are limited to the first 150 registratnts, members are welcome to bring coworkers and family along as guests (please note that this event is not suitable for children ages 11 and under).
If you'd like to help support the event, there's an option to make a 'Member of the Exchange' donation during registration. Speaking of donations...
THANK YOU, SPONSORS!
We greatly appreciate the support of the following member companies helping make this event possible:
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If you're a contractor in the Duluth area or surrounding regions (or you've been looking for an easy way to get more involved with MBEX), this event is it.
Register before the end of the day tomorrow, and we'll see you on the water!
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New Minnesota Laws In Effect as of July 1
What MBEX Members Need to Know
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July 1 marked the start of Minnesota's new fiscal year, and with it came a slate of new laws covering everything from social media warnings to school safety systems.
Most of these newly effective laws won't land on your radar as a commercial constructor, but a few will.
Here's a focused look at the changes most relevant to MBEX members, plus a broader overview of what else went into effect.
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👪 Minnesota Paid Family & Medical Leave is Now in Full Effect
This one has been on the horizon for a while, but it's now fully in play and showing up as a real operational challenge for construction employers across the state.
Minnesota's Paid Leave law, which took effect January 1, 2026, requires employers to provide paid leave to employees for their own serious health condition, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to bond with a new child, to address needs related to domestic or sexual violence, and to handle the impact of a family member's military deployment.
The program covers nearly all employers in Minnesota regardless of size, and applies to full-time, part-time, and temporary workers. That's a broad net, and for construction companies managing variable crews, seasonal workers, and project-based schedules, the scheduling and coverage implications are real. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis' Spring 2026 construction survey specifically flagged Minnesota's paid family leave law as a top regulatory concern among contractors, with respondents citing complications around project scheduling.
The premium rate for 2026 is set at 0.88% of taxable wages, with employers and employees splitting the cost (employers can collect up to 0.44% from employees through payroll deductions). The second set of 2026 premiums was due July 1, 2026, so if you haven't already squared away your payroll and compliance setup, that clock is now ticking. Adjustments will be made beginning July 31, 2026, and every year thereafter, so employers should check these rates each July to confirm accuracy.
For more information on employer obligations and compliance, visit pl.mn.gov or review the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's employer guide at mnchamber.com.
🏗️ Infrastructure Funding
For members who do public work, the start of the new fiscal year brings welcome news on the project pipeline front.
A $46-million cash bonding bill made infrastructure funding available for a set list of state projects, supplementing a much larger $1.2-billion bonding bill that went into effect last month.
The cash law supports projects across the state with a focus on employment and economic development, and includes (but is not limited to):
• $10-million for predesign and design of updates and improvements to Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul;
• $6.1-million to design the renovation of an existing water treatment plant in Apple Valley to address PFAS in the city's drinking water supply;
• $4.5-million to construct a water tower in North St. Paul;
• $2.9-million for local road improvement planning and a future Mississippi River crossing in Ramsey;
• $2.25-million for environmental remediation activities and geotechnical soil corrections at a public works facility in South St. Paul;
• $1.3-million for Neighborhood HealthSource to construct a new clinic in north Minneapolis;
• $500,000 for a renovation project at Haven for Heroes in Anoka;
• $400,000 for final design of an interchange at Trunk Highway 61 and County Highway 22 in St. Paul Park; and
• $250,000 to build a regional shelfter facility in Cambridge to provide comprehensive support services for families with children experiencing homelessness.
That's a meaningful amount of design and construction work coming down the pipe; keep an eye on the MBEX Online Plan Room as these projects move toward procurement.
The full list of funded projects is available from the Minnesota House of Representatives.
🚨 Emergency Shelter Facility Grants
A new emergency shelter facility account was created in the bond proceeds fund, with money appropriated to the Department of Human Services to make grants for projects to improve or expand emergency shelter facility options.
A grant can pay for 100% of total project capital expenditures or a specified project phase, up to $7-million per project, with at least 40% of awards going to Greater Minnesota projects.
If your company does work in this space, such as renovations, additions, or new construction for nonprofit or human services facilities, this is a funding stream worth tracking.
🔒 Capitol & Courthouse Security
A public safety law appropriated $47.44-million in the 2026-27 biennium to fund legislative, judicial, and State Capitol security programs, including $4-million for a competitive grant program for courthouse safety and security improvements.
Security-related construction and renovation work on public facilities has been a steady and growing category; this funding makes it more so.
📋 Everything Else
Beyond what directly touches the construction industry, other new laws include a requirment for school districts and charter schools to create anonymous threat reporting systems, with $4-million appropriated for grants to support these upgrades (another source of public construction and technology infrastructure work at the school district level).
Minnesota is also establishing a $90-million fund to modernize local information technology systems across the state, including $15-million to improve fraud detection technology.
The Outdoor Heritage Fund will also distribute $191-million for projects meant to protect and restore ecosystems across the state, with $82-million focused on habitat projects for fish, game, and wildlife.
Social media platforms operating in Minnesota are now required to display a mental health warning label each time a user opens the app, relevant if your company manages social media (but not a construction issue per se).
| | For the full list of new laws that took effect July 1, the Minnesota House of Representatives has published a complete summary (found below by clicking the light green button), and the Minnesota Star Tribune also provided a good quick-read summary. | | | New laws also in effect, unrelated to the commercial construction industry, include establishing early childhood mental health consultation programs for children ages 5 and younger; implementing identity verification systems to combat "ghost student" financial aid fraud; and police departments / county sheriffs notifying appropriate licensing boards when a teacher is criminally charged with an offense that triggers automatic license denials, refusals to renew, or revocations without a right to a hearing. | | |
Meet MBEX's Newest Members
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In June, we welcomed 10 more new member companies to the Midwest Builders Exchange.
Whether they joined to find new project leads, build out their networks, stay up to date on the latest and buzziest construction news, become more deeply involved in the Midwest construction community, or perhaps all of the above, these newest additions to our community will not only find value, but add value as well.
Help us welcome those who joined MBEX last month:
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Know Your Contract: Insurance
Risk Mitigation Tools Every Contractor Should Understand [Part 3 of 4]
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We're three-quarters of the way through our four-part series on the risk management tools built into every construction contract.
In Part 1 (June 24th issue), we covered bonds, the three-party guarantee that protects owners, subcontractors, and suppliers when a contractor defaults. In Part 2 (July 1st issue), we tackled indemnification, the contractual mechanism that determines who carries the financial weight when a third-party claim comes in.
This issue, we're turning to insurance, which operates differently than both. Where indemnity reallocates liability among the parties already on a project, insurance transfers risk to an outside insurer entirely.
Understanding the difference and the details can be the deciding factor in whether your coverage protects you when it matters most.
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🔄 Insurance: Transferring Risk to an Outside Party
Insurance is a critical component of construction risk management, and it works differently than the other tools we've covered.
Rather than shifting liability between project participants, insurance transfers risk to an external insurer, meaning that when a covered event occurs, a third-party carrier steps in to bear the financial consequences. That's a powerful protection, but only if the right coverages are in place, the limits are adequate, and the policy is backed by an insurer capable of paying.
✅ Getting the Coverage Types Right
Construction contracts typically require a range of insurance coverages, and the right mix depends on both the scope of the project and the nature of the risks involved.
The standard lineup includes commercial general liability, workers' compensation, and employer's liability, but depending on the project, builder's risk and professional liability coverage may also be required.
Don't assume your existing policies automatically satisfy what's required in a new contract. Read the insurance requirements section carefully and verify your coverage matches before signing.
⚠️ Coverage Limits: More Important Than You Might Think
Having the right types of insurance is only half the equation; the limits must be sufficient to actually cover a loss. Inadequate limits can leave parties exposed to significant uninsured losses, particularly in cases involving catastrophic injury or substantial property damage.
A policy that looks solid on paper can fall short fast when real numbers enter the picture. Review your limits regularly, especially as project sizes and complexity grow.
💪 Working with a Qualified Insurer
Just as a qualified surety matters in the bonding world, the financial strength and reliability of your insurer matters. Coverage is only as valuable as the insurer's ability to pay claims.
Before accepting a certificate of insurance from a subcontractor or trade partner, take a look at the carrier, not just the coverage amounts. A financially unstable insurer is a risk in itself.
✒️ Additional Insured Endorsements & Waivers of Subrogation
These two contractual mechanisms show up in nearly every construction contract and are worth understanding clearly.
• An additional insured endorsement extends coverage under one party's policy to other project participants (typically parties like owners and general contractors). This allows those parties to access the subcontractor's insurance directly in the event of a claim, rather than relying solely on indemnity provisions to recover losses.
• On the other hand, a waiver of subrogation prevents insurers from pursuing recovery against other project participants after paying a claim. In practice, this reduces the likelihood of intraproject litigation, meaning if your insurer pays a claim, they can't then turn around and sue the GC or owner to recover what they paid. These waivers promote a more collaborative risk-sharing environment on the project, and it's worth confirming they're in place on both sides of any significant contract.
⚖️ Don't Forget to Watch Defense Costs
Insurance also affects how claims get defended. When coverage is triggered, insurers typically assume the defense, appoint counsel, and control the litigation strategy. While this can reduce costs for the insured, it can also create tension if the insurer's interests diverge from yours.
One more important detail: defense costs are often deducted from policy limits, which can reduce the funds available to actually cover the underlying loss. On high-exposure claims, that dynamic can matter significantly.
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Insurance is one of the most familiar risk tools in construction, but familiarity can breed complacency. The difference between a policy that truly protects and one that leaves gaps often comes down to details (coverage types, limits, carrier quality, specific endorsements and waivers a contract requires, and so forth).
Next issue, we'll close out the series with warranties: what they actually guarantee, how long that protection lasts, and why they matter most for the issues you don't see coming at project closeout.
| | | The information for this feature was sourced from Construction Business Owner. Members are encouraged to do their own due diligence regarding bonding, indemnity clauses, contract provisions, and any insurance policy by speaking with legal counsel. | | | |
A valuable benefit of an MBEX membership is invitations to our social and educational events; by being an employee of a member company, you, too, can take advantage and attend all MBEX-sponsored events.
** indicates a newly added or updated event
July 15 - Lake Superior Harbor Cruise - Register by end of day on July 8
See the Duluth-Superior Harbor, Aerial Lift Bridge, and the city skyline as you may not have before, aboard fellow MBEX member Jeff Foster's retired Coast Guard vessel. Register
July 16 - Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, and adding your company to a project's bidders list, this free one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. Register
August 4 - Construction Estimating & Principles [Online Course]
This half-day estimating course tackles both the principles and the technology behind competitive bids, covering advanced estimating concepts like cost analysis, risk management, escalation, and flexibility, alongside a practical look at how digital tools like Bluebeam Revu can produce faster, more consistent estimates. Sign Up
August 5 & 6 - Reading Construction Documents [Online Course]
Designed to quickly build confidence and skillset, this course, offered through our partnership with UChapter2, covers the fundamentals of how to read and understand construction documents. From identifying title block information to reviewing floor plans, elevations, and combing through specification sections, participants will learn how to navigate a full set of drawings and interpret material and construction requirements with clarity. Sign Up
August 6 - Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser
Aim, pull, and shoot to raise funds for the MBEX Scholarship Fund at this annual outdoor event at Game Unlimited Hunting Club. Register
August 19 - Golf North
Join MBEX for a day on the greens of Ridgeview Country Club in Duluth, a favorite annual tradition bringing together golf, networking, and plenty of friendly competition. Register
** August 25 - Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics
This session teaches attendees how to navigate menus, toolbars, panels, shortcuts, and key settings. Attendees will also get hands-on with markup and measurement tools, plus insider tips that boost speed, accuracy, and proficiency. Sign Up
** August 26 - Bluebeam 2: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basic)
This session introduces standard measurement tools and markup customization options to help convert highlighters into powerful takeoff tools. With emphasis on the Markups List and workflow tips, this session helps estimators improve speed and accuracy from day one. Sign Up
** August 27 - Bluebeam 3: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Advanced)
Learn to create custom columns, embed formulas, organize information, and export or live-link Excel templates. Sign Up
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 6/29/2026 - 7/3/2026: 78
• Total Project Leads Reported on at MBEX from 6/29/2026 - 7/3/2026: 15
• Total Active Projects Received / Reported on at MBEX as of 7/7/2026: 365
• Total 2026 Projects posted to the Online Plan Room as of 7/7/2026: 3,508
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 7/1/2026 - 7/7/2026.
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 Director.
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UPCOMING MBEX EVENTS
• July 15 - Lake Superior Harbor Cruise
• July 16 - Online Plan Room Demo
• August 4 - Construction Estimating Principles & Application [Online Course]
• August 5 & 6 - Reading Construction Documents [Online Course]
• August 6 - Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser
• August 19 - Golf North
• August 25 - Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics
• August 26 - Bluebeam 2: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basic)
• August 27 - Bluebeam 3: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Advanced)
• September 9 - Sporting Clays North
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Information within the MBEX Weekly Bulletin are obtained from sources deemed reliable. The Midwest 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.
2026 BOARD OFFICERS: President - Brian Kalla, St. Cloud Acoustics; Vice President - Sean Ochis, Northern Industrial Insulation; Treasurer - Allie Brady, Veit USA; Past President - Heidi Sedlacek, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
2026 DIRECTORS: Kevin Bohrer, Donlar Construction; Ben Bowman, Adolfson & Peterson; David Brandt, Schadegg Mechanical; Matt Lennartson, RJM Construction; Chris Niemand, Frattalone Companies; Jason Rentmeester, Kraus-Anderson Construction; Harry Rothstein, Weidner's Mechanical Contractors; Jim Rothstein, Erickson Electric; and Alanna Soukkala, Holden Insurance Agency.
MBEX STAFF: David Siegel - Executive Director; Julie Miller - Executive Assistant / Project Coordinator / Accounting; Ashlee Hartwig - Membership & Communications Director; Melanie Hendrickson - Events & Membership Coordinator; Jeff Boelter - Project Acquisition & Plan Room Support; Shauna Baska - Project Reporter & Bidders Lists; Ka Yang - Addenda & Apparent Lows; Peggy Esboldt, Madison Gentil & Michelle Siegel - Project Reporters; Don O'Connor - Independent Event Planning Contractor
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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