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May / 2016
Trends, Forecast and Growth Initiatives that will Impact Your Business

Anirban Basu, chief economist of Associated Builders and Contractors and chief economic adviser to the Construction Financial Management Association, and Carmen Lorentz, director of the NH Division of Economic Development, will be the featured speakers at ABC NH/VT’s Economic Summit on May 24. 

Basu, a Baltimore-based economist, will offer a, data-driven update of the performance of the global, national and regional economies. He is expected to give special attention to financial, real estate, energy and labor market trends. Lorentz, whose agency offers a variety of programs to support New Hampshire

companies attract others to the state, will provide an overview of the state’s strategic plan for economic growth and efforts to create a sustained economic development program. 

The Economic Summit will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tue, May 24, at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.

For more Info, to Sponsor and to Register ... 
Click Here. 
Portsmouth City Council Votes Down Project Labor Agreement for $85 Million Project

At their April 4 meeting the Portsmouth City Council rejected a motion to hold a public meeting to consider implementing a project labor agreement for the city’s new $83.4 million sewer plant.

The council voted down the motion 6-3. Implementing a project labor agreement (PLA) on the sewer project would mean contractors could only hire union workers or workers approved by the union. The vote came after Associated Builders and Contractors provided information to the Portsmouth Herald and City Council  members and ABC President, Mark Holden testified at the April 4 meeting.  
ABC provided information to show that a PLA could increase the cost of the project
by 10 to 20 percent.  ABC stressed that in 
NH, statistics for 2015 show total construc-tion trade employment at 31,985 with 2,467 or 7.7% being union members. Putting a PLA on a NH project will mean that 9 out of 10 NH construction workers will be strongly discouraged, if not essentially barred, from competing for these important jobs and any related economic benefit to NH communities will be lost. There is a very clear lack of support for a PLA that exist among local qualified NH General Contractors and Subcontractors due to the impact the requirements of a PLA will have on their ability to compete. A PLA requirement creates a distinct advantage and a monopoly for unions.  At all levels of government, it has been rightly perceived that favoritism in the award of government contracts is a form of corruption which leads inevitably to higher cost and lower performance.  Open competition promotes performance, productivity, and quality which depends on the workers individual motivation and ability to perform, it is not determined by race, creed, color, national origin, gender or labor affiliation. 

ABC Offers Valuable, Free Safety Training and Evaluation Process - STEP

The Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program is a self-evaluation process, developed and written by contractors, for contractors. There is no charge for this service (unless you are applying for STEP Diamond or Platinum), and your responses are strictly confidential. Why participate? 

Safety is A CORE VALUE - With STEP, You Can BUILD UPON IT

  • Organized approach for analyzing and developing safety and loss prevention programs
  • The Key Component system forms a 20-point guide to starting, updating or auditing a company-wide safety program
  • Incorporates lagging indicator safety performance data with leading indicator use and self-assessment requirements to give a full, wide ranging report on the entire nature of a company's Safety Program
  • Designed to benefit both large and small contractors alike
  • Recognition for ABC members at both National and Chapter level, with various recognition events held throughout the year
  • STEP Diamond and Platinum recipients eligible for ABC National Safety Excellence Award and Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) - CISE award
  • STEP data shows STEP participants beat BLS national averages in all lagging indicator performance metrics, leading to participant benefits in the pre-bid/bid process and when negotiating insurance rates. 

STEP Applications are accepted throughout the year. Detailed instructions regarding STEP qualification criteria can be reviewed by Clicking Here

REMEMBER ... Be Recognized for Company Safety Performance – 
Deadline May 27, 2016

All contractor and supplier members are encouraged to participate in the 2016 ABC NH/VT Annual Safety Awards program. Submit your entry to receive recognition for your efforts to provide a safe work place! Share the recognition with your employees and promote pride and increased morale for a job well done! The Safety Awards Program is also a great opportunity to receive recognition to support enhanced prequalification by owners. In fact, increasingly the data submitted on the awards application is being required by owners. Annual Construction Industry Safety Awards are presented for the ‘best’, ‘most improved’ and ‘most creative’ safety programs among the “large” and “small” member firms that submit entries.  Applications are easy to complete and the potential rewards are great. The deadline for entries is May 27th, the Awards will be presented at ABC’s Annual Education & Employee Recognition Awards Event on Thursday, June 16, 2016. Click here for event information or to register.

ABC Announces New Location for Annual EXCELLENCE in CONSTRUCTION AWARDS EventOctober 27 Event to be held at Manchester Country Club

ABC is excited about the 2016 Excellence in Construction Awards program!  Whether a company who has never submitted an entry or a company who is a past recipient of an ABC Excellence In Construction Award, we want to encourage your participation and offer assistance to support your entry process. This year we have modified some entry requirements and have made changes to help facilitate the judging process. We have also changed the venue for the annual awards gala, which will be held at the Manchester Country Club, Thursday, October 27, 2016.  

Please feel free to contact the Chapter Office to schedule a meeting to assist your planning and preparation of an entry, including questions on entry rules, requirements, tips for submitting an entry and examples of past award winning submissions. Let us help you take advantage of this valuable opportunity to enhance your business development and employee recognition efforts. The deadline for entries is Friday, July 1, 2016.

Upcoming Networking Events

There's Still Time to SPONSOR
ABC "Swing Into Spring" Golf Tournament
Breakfast Hill Golf Club
ABC's Big Top BBQ
Thursday, June 16 - 5:30 PM
Under the ABC Big Top
ABC NH/VT Chapter Office
Concord NH
ABC's Western Region BBQ - featuring the VT FLiC Graduation
Thursday, July 14 - 5:30 PM
Location:  TBD
Seacoast Sunset Harbor Cruise
Thursday, August 11  -  6PM
Isle of Shoals Steamship Company's
M/V Thomas Laighton
Portsmouth NH

NEW - Pre-Reception Aboard the Thomas Laighton  w/ Live Music - sponsored by YPG

Upcoming Education Opportunities

May 11 & 18
OSHA 10 Hour Training - 3 seats left
7:30 pm - 1:00 pm
White River Jct. VT Hampton Inn
Instructor: Matt Towne

May 19   
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
ABC Chapter Office,  Concord NH
Instructor:  Dan Stover, ABC NH/VT

May 25    
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
ABC Chapter Office, Concord NH
Instructor: Mike Durkee - Zampell

May 26   
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
ABC Chapter Office, Concord NH
Instructor: Dave Webb, American Steel & Precast Erectors

May 31   
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
ABC Chapter Office, Concord NH
Instructor: Dave Benson

Webcasts: