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Hey MBEXers, there's something pretty cool happening here. We're dropping our 20th issue of the year on the 20th. In numerology, 20 is known as the number of collaboration, diplomacy, and mutual support; it's the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and bringing together the right people at the right time. Sound familiar? 😏 That's exactly what the Midwest Builders Exchange is built on (no pun intended). Every bid, every recommendation, every handshake between construction partners is the number 20 in action.
For a membership built on connecting contractors, subs, manufacturers, and suppliers, that feels less like a coincidence and more like the universe giving us a nod. (I'm not saying we planned it this way, but I'm not saying we didn't either 😉 ✨ 😄)
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Five Quick Things To Know & Do This Week:
1.) Plan Room 101 - New to MBEX and our Online Plan Room, or want to make sure you're utilizing the platform for maximum benefit? Join us on Thursday (May 21) for our monthly Plan Room Demo. Open to all members and offered free of charge. Consider it one more awesome membership perk.
2.) Event Reminder - Have you registered for the upcoming Member Appreciation BBQ yet? Each member company receives 2 complimentary tickets (and more can be purchased at $20 each). Join us for lunch, complete with ribs and chicken, and all the fixings on June 2.
3.) Congratulations! - We want to give a special shout-out to our members who were recognized at the 2026 MSA General Contractor Partnership Awards:
• Construction Professional of the Year: Amy Jansen, Knutson Construction
• Project Manager of the Year: Chauntel Lelm, Terra Construction
• Champions Award: Nick Frattalone, Frattalone Construction
• Project of the Year: Terra Construction - Carleton College Class of 1974 Center
• General Contractor of the Year (Under $10M): Meisinger Construction
4.) Successful Subcontracting - While subcontracts are not uniform and can be quite lengthy, taking the time to read and understand them is a necessary step. Here are the top seven provisions to know and understand.
5.) Video Break - You haven't done this? 🤨 Bro, yes, you have 😁 🤣
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Inside Issue No. 20:
• Golf Tournament: Your spot at the upcoming Twin Cities Golf Tournament awaits
• Legislature 2026: See what's included in this session's bonding bill
• Take the Survey: Share your thoughts on current industry conditions with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
• Construction Prices: Input prices have risen 6.2% so far since January 1
• Upcoming Events: Online Plan Room Demo (5/21); Memorial Day closure (5/25); Member Appreciation BBQ (6/2)
• Five Headlines: Large contractors with data center work have four months more of backlog, per ABC; Tips for reducing diesel fuel consumption; Bridge inspections made easier and safer with wall-climbing robot; New Minnesota expanded passenger rail service plan; & 10 ways technology is improving jobsite safety
• Project of the Week: $60M freshwater research facility planned for U of M's Duluth campus
• Industry Event: Writing your DBE Personal Narrative workshop - Thursday, June 4 - Virtual Event - Presented by MnDOT and MNUCP (Minnesota Unified Certification Program)
• Project Download: Updated project information for the week of May 13-19
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Tee Time is Sold Out, But Your Spot at the Tournament Isn't
MBEX's Twin Cities Golf Tournament
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The golf teams for June 16's MBEX Twin Cities Golf Tournament have been sold out for a few weeks now, and that's a testament to just how popular this event has become (or how much our members love golf. Either way, we'll take it!)
But if you missed the tee time window, don't count yourself out just yet.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and they're one of the best ways to put your company in front of a full day's worth of industry peers.
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Date: Tuesday, June 16
Schedule:
• 10:30am -Registration Opens
• 11:00am - Lunch
• 12:00pm - Shotgun Start
• 5:30pm - Dinner
• 6:00pm - Program & Awards
Location: Oak Glen Golf Course
(1599 McKusick Road North, Stillwater, Minn., 55082)
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The tournament takes place at Oak Glen Golf Course in Stillwater, with a full day on deck: registration and a Bloody Mary Station at 10:30am, lunch at 11:00am, a noon shotgun start, and then back to the clubhouse after 18 holes for social hour, dinner, awards, and door prizes to cap off the day.
It's a long, well-attended day, and sponsors have visibility throughout all of it.
Opportunities are available at a range of investment levels to fit your goals:
• Drink Ticket Sponsor (Exclusive) - $1,500
• Lunch Sponsor - $500
• Dinner Sponsor - $500
• Hole Sponsor - Hit the Green (Exclusive to Hole #3) - $400
• Hole Sponsor - Hit the "Keg" (Exclusive to Hole #7) - $400
• Giveaway Sponsor (Exclusive) - $250
• Driving Range Sponsor (1 available) - $250
• Putting Green Sponsor (2 available) - $250
• Door Prize Sponsor - $100+
Whether you're looking for exclusive visibility or a lower-commitment way to show support, there's an option here for you. And even without a golf team, sponsoring this event puts your company name in the hands and minds of everyone on the course.
Have an idea for a sponsorship not listed, or want to discuss one of the listed options further? Contact Melanie at melanie@mbex.org or (612) 381-2628. Get creative! We want to support your sponsorship goals as much as we can.
| | | PRO TIP: Hole sponsorships are a great way to meet every golfer participating in the tournament, as they'll have to visit your hole at some point throughout the day! | | |
Minnesota Approves $1.24B Bonding Bill
Legislature 2026 Update
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Approved 122-11 in the House and 60-7 in the Senate, the $1.24-billion bonding bill advances notable projects, and construction industry leaders say the package of public projects approved was worth the wait.
The bill, which is headed to the governor's desk, offers $420-million for water infrastructure, roughly $100-million for asset preservation on college campuses, and $176-million for transportation.
Also included is roughly $80-million for Department of Natural Resources projects, $54-million for the Department of Corrections, and $17.5-million for public housing rehabilitation, among other projects.
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDING FUNDS
• $64.81-million for asset preservation at Minnesota State
• $47-million for local road improvement fund grants
• $40-million for asset preservation at the University of Minnesota
• $39.21-million for Department of Corrections asset preservation
• $30-million in drinking water grants
• $30-million for the Department of Natural Resources' asset preservation
• $26-million for clean water grants
• $25-million for local bridge replacement programs
• $19-million for the Department of Public Safety
• $17.5-million for public housing rehabilitation
• $15-million for lead service line replacement
• $10-million for emergency shelter capital gains
• $9-million for flood hazard mitigation
PROJECTS OF NOTE ALLOTED FUNDING
• $50-million for renovations at the Grand Casino Arena complex in St. Paul
• $45.17-million for renovations ot the Minnesota Veterans Home - Hastings Campus
• $40-million for improvements to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul
• $35-million for the first phase of the St. Paul Campus Center at the University of Minnesota
• $17.5-million for water treatment for PFAS and nitrates in Hastings
• $17.2-million for the Minneapolis Veterans Home - Building 16 remodel
• $12.4-million for structural renewal of a 36-inch water main in Minneapolis
• $12-million for North Zumbro's sanitary sewer district - wastewater system
• $10-million for the Mahnomen Hospital in Mahnomen County
• $10-million for flood mitigation improvements in Moorhead / Clay County
• $9.4-million for the Como Zoo and Conservatory's Big Cat Habitat in St. Paul
• $8.9-million for HRA of Duluth's Mission Engagement Center
• $6-million for the Lake of the Woods County jail
• $5.5-million for wastewater treatment facility improvements in Cold Spring
• $5-million for city center redevelopment and revitalization in Plymouth
• $4.9-million for accessibility and energy improvements at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) in Duluth
• $4.7-million for Rum River Dam modifications and reconstruction in Anoka
• $3.5-million for Duluth Hangar design
Though this year's $1.24-billion bill is more generous than the governor's recommendation ($907-million) and the $700-million package approved in 2025, some of the line items fell short of the amount requested.
For example, the $420-million allocation for water infrastructure includes $15-million for lead service line replacement infrastructure, but that's well below the $100-million sought. (Three years ago, the Legislature passed a bill "calling for the removal and replacement" of all lead service lines in Minnesota.)
| | | Builder and labor representatives are pleased with the investments, which will put more tradespeople to work at a time when Minnesota is experiencing double-digit construction unemployment. | | |
What's Keeping You Up at Night?
The Minneapolis Fed Wants to Know!
| | MBEX has partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to gather real-time feedback on current conditions in the construction sector, and we need to hear from you. | | |
Your input matters more than you might think. Take a few minutes to complete this short survey (it takes about 8-minutes) and your responses will go directly to the Minneapolis Fed president, giving him a ground-level view of how current economic conditions are affecting your business. That perspective gets carried into Federal Open Market Committee deliberations as they chart the path of the country's monetary policy. What you share in this survey has real reach.
To give you a sense of what your peers are already saying: when 155 construction businesses were recently asked to identify their most pressing challenge today and in the months ahead, the top responses were:
• Competition for available projects (just over 30%)
• Labor availability (around 20%)
• Increasing input prices & state and local government policies and regulations (each coming in near 10%)
Federal government policies and regulations, as well as increasing labor costs, weren't far behind.
Sound familiar?
These are conversations MBEX members and other industry peers are having daily. Make sure those realities are heard at the highest levels of economic policymaking.
Beyond the national stage, your responses help paint a clearer picture of how Midwest construction is responding to today's economic realities, which benefits your peers across our region as well.
After the survey closes (May 22) and results are finalized, Erick Garcia Luna (Regional Outreach Director with the Minneapolis Fed) will host a free webinar to present said findings. We'll share more information as it becomes available.
It's a quick ask with meaningful impact. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts!
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Construction Prices 'Surged' in April
Up 6.2% Year-to-Date
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Construction input prices leapt 1.7% month-to-month in April and rose 6.2% so far in 2026, according to an analysis of the latest economic data by Associated Builders and Contractors (released May 13).
Energy and metals-related materials drove much of the monthly escalation. Crude petroleum prices, for example, jumped 11.3% month-to-month in April, followed by a 9.2% increase in unprocessed energy materials.
Overall, construction input prices sit 7% higher than one year ago, with nonresidential costs up 7.4%. Over the prior three years, input prices grew about 4.8%.
| | Commodities Prices - April 2026 | | |
Though much of the recent rise stems from oil price surges, escalation was also more widespread in April. Transportation and fuel-related costs accelerated sharply during April, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America.
Tariff-affected materials, such as iron and steel, posted particularly large price increases during the month of April, too.
The latest inflation data also dashes hopes for lower borrowing costs later this year.
"In addition to the direct impact of reemerging materials prices escalation, too-hot inflation data coupled with upbeat labor market indicators suggest that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut rates this year," said Anirban Basu, ABC's Chief Economist. "While contractors remain busy...these cost pressures will likely weigh on construction activity over the coming months."
| | | The latest Federal Reserve meeting took place on April 28-29, 2026. At this meeting, the committee held the benchmark federal funds rate steady at a target range of 3.50% to 3.75%. | | | |
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
May 21 - Online Plan Room Demo - Register by 2:30pm on Wednesday, May 20
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
May 25 - Memorial Day - MBEX Closed
MBEX will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday, returning to regular business hours on Tuesday, May 26.
June 2 - Member Appreciation BBQ
MBEX wants to show our membership our appreciation for their continued and ongoing support. Lunch will be catered by Famous Dave's, and this year's BBQ will be hosted at The Builders Group in Eagan. Register
June 16 - Twin Cities Golf Tournament
Teams are sold out! A variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available, as well as lunch and dinner options. Register
June 18 - 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. Not yet open for registration
August 6 - Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser
Aim, pull, and shoot to raise funds for the MBEX Scholarship Fund at this great annual outdoor event at Game Unlimited Hunting Club. Save the date!
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Five construction-related headlines you need to read over the next coffee break.
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BACKLOG INDICATOR | ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
📊 AI Boosted Backlog to 10-Month High, But Only for Biggest Contractors
Large contractors with artificial intelligence work are pulling away from the rest of the construction industry, according to ABC's latest backlog data. For example, 42% of contractors with more than $100-million in annual revenues are under contract to work on data center projects, compared to 7% of contractors with less than $100-million in annual revenues. Contractors under contract to work on data centers have about 12.2-months of backlog, which is about four months longer than contractors without those jobs, per ABC. (Construction Dive)
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
⛽ Tips to Reduce Fuel Consumption as Diesel Prices Climb
Depending on what part of the country you live in, it will cost you upwards of $500 to fuel up a midsize excavator these days. As of May 19, diesel nationwide, on average, costs $5.63 a gallon. That's about a 60% increase from just a year ago, according to AAA. Small tweaks to the way you operate and maintain your construction equipment can help preserve fuel and add up to big savings. Here are a handful of tips to minimize fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emisssions. (Equipment World)
CONTECH | ROBOTICS
🧗 Wall-Climbing Robot Makes Bridge Inspections Easier & Safer
Dubbed HB3 and developed by UK-based Hausbots, the crawler-style robot is helping engineers inspect infrastructure and hard-to-reach places (like bridges, dams, cooling towers, and other massive vertical structures) in a more efficient, quick, and safe way than traditional methods involving lifts, scaffolding, or rope crews. Inspired by Formula One racing, the 29-inch-wide machine features a PCI camera and is controlled via a joystick. It's able to adhere to concrete and other flat surfaces using a mix of airflow technology and suction. (Engineering News-Record | ENR Midwest - Can't access the link? Click here)
MINNESOTA | RAIL PROJECTS
🚄 MnDOT Features Expanded Passenger Rail Service in New Statewide Plan
The Minnesota State Rail Plan (previously updated in 2015) identifies 195 freight railroad capital projects that include 101 funded projects, 65 unfunded projects, and 29 projects with unknown costs. The updated plan takes into account recent Union Pacific investments in Minnesota, including a new intermodal terminal in Minneapolis that provides domestic service between the Twin Cities and Los Angeles. The plan advances several key initiatives to support an updated vision for rail in Minnesota over the next two decades. (Government Market News)
JOBSITE SAFETY
🦺 10 Ways Technology is Improving Safety on Jobsites & Roadways
The risks are everywhere, from heavy machinery, fickle weather and fatigued crews to distracted drivers and tight timelines. Luck alone is never a winning strategy in work zones. But new technology is giving safety leaders the chance to step in where human reflexes tap out. The tools we have at our fingertips today can see what we miss, react faster than we can, and turn a chaotic jobsite into a better coordinated, data-driven safety net. (For Construction Pros)
| | U of M Plans $60M Duluth Freshwater Research Facility | | |
Read more on Finance & Commerce
University of Minnesota officials are seeking design services for a new research facility at the Large Lakes Observatory on the Duluth campus, a project that would advance the scientific study of critical freshwater systems.
In a request for proposals, the U of M says the project will provide a "permanent home for field research vessels" on Lake Superior and offer "contemporary research laboratories, offices, and support functions."
An existing structure on campus, known as the "Old Chemistry" building, would be demolished to make way for the new 60,000-square-foot Large Lakes Observatory research facility.
The estimated cost, including construction and demolition, is $60-million, according to the RFP.
"The waterfront facility will have access to a new boat slip, and will support research activities in a port-side building with high bay spaces, providing direct access to the outdoor equipment, site-related building support, offices, and outreach programs," the RFP notes.
Funding for the project remains a work in progress. The project, which includes a predesign cost of $6-million to $12-million, will be up for funding in the 2027 state bonding bill.
The building was constructed in 1927 as the "Model School Building and Laboratory School," making it the last addition to the Duluth State Teachers College.
Track this Project in the Online Plan Room:
- Project ID: 2026-0A8B
- Title: Large Lakes Observatory Project - University of Minnesota, Duluth
- Phase: Prebid - No A/E
- Category: Educational
- Type: New Construction
| | ABOVE PHOTO: The current Large Lakes Observatory research building, located on the old Duluth State Teachers College campus on East 5th Street, in Duluth. | |
Writing Your DBE Personal Narrative
Workshop presented by the MnDOT's Civil Rights Office & MNUCP
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DATE: Thursday, June 4
TIME: 11:30am-1:00pm
LOCATION: Virtual Event
(Link and workshop materials shared after registration)
COST: Free
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In response to the Interim Final Rule (IFR) released on October 3, 2025, MNUCP (Minnesota Unified Certification Program) and MnDOT have put together this workshop to assist DBEs with writing Personal Narratives that are required as part of the reevaluation process.
Workshop topics include:
• How the Interim Final Rule (IFR) changes DBE certification requirements
• How to reflect on and articulate key personal and professional challenges
• Techniques for identifying and describing impactful life experiences
• How to structure a compelling personal narrative with clarity and purpose
• Ways to connect personal experiences to broader patterns of disadvantage or bias
• Strategies for assessing and communicating the impact of those experiences
• Tips for organizing supporting documentation to strengthen your story
Invites are sent in a separate email; if you do not receive the invite, please check your spam / junk folders.
Workshop speakers include:
• Lee Nordstrom - State Program Admin Manager (MnDOT)
• Ismael Martinez-Ortiz - President
• Cassie Kenning - Office Manager
If you need registration assistance, contact amy.severson@state.mn.us.
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 5/11/2026 - 5/15/2026: 103
• Total Project Leads Reported on at MBEX from 5/11/2026 - 5/15/2026: 21
• Total Active Projects Received / Reported on at MBEX as of 5/19/2026: 441
• Total 2026 Projects posted to the Online Plan Room as of 5/19/2026: 2,758
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 5/13/2026 - 5/19/2026.
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 Manager.
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UPCOMING MBEX EVENTS
• May 21 - Online Plan Room Demo
• May 25 - Memorial Day - MBEX Closed
• June 2 - Member Appreciation BBQ
• June 16 - Twin Cities Golf Tournament
• June 18 - Online Plan Room Demo
• August 8 - Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser
• August 19 - Golf North
• 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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