URGENT: The Builders Association is calling on the construction industry for its support of FY2016 (HB2913/SB2024) and FY 2017 (HB6407/SB3255) Capital Reappropriations. The Democratic majorities have not assigned these bills (proposed by the Governor) to committee, meaning that an extreme amount of proposed construction funding will be cut off if we don’t unite as an industry and take action now.

100 construction professionals convened on May 12th for this year's Spring Summit, sponsored by The Horton Group. The Summit began with a Compliance Seminar presented by the Compliance Committee. Attendees learned about proposed changes to regulations for the Fair Labor Standards Act, exempt/non-exempt classification of employees under FLSA, and The Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act.

The Compliance Seminar was followed by a luncheon where BA members were awarded with various safety awards. We congratulate all members who applied to the Contractor Safety Award program.

Ray Messer and Matt Pavelchak of Walter P Moore in Texas then gave an enthralling and eye-opening presentation on building erection stability, an issue they believe to be the next frontier of safety.

Thank you to all members who attended the Spring Summit. The Summit is an invaluable opportunity to honor safe practices, gain new insights on safe jobsites, and network with fellow Association members.

Many contracts take effect today. The most up-to-date wage allocations can be found on our website.

On May 26th, AGC prevailed in securing the introduction of the Public Buildings Renewal Act of 2016. The legislation seeks to create a new class of projects eligible for financing through private activity bonds (PABs) including public buildings such as schools, post offices, libraries, and courthouses. In short, the bill would create $5 billion in Private Activity Bonds (PABs) for public buildings for states to access through the Treasury Department. Visit AGC’s Action Center and urge your members of Congress to support this bill.

The Builders Association is hosting a free training on the new silica standard on June 9th for all Association members from 8 to 10AM at 8430 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., First Floor Conference Center, Chicago, IL.

This training will cover the Standard’s history, health effects of silica exposure, contents and provisions of the standard, and compliance options to ensure your company is properly prepared.

The Builders Association will host a free health and wellness program on the morning of June 15th designed for superintendents, foremen, crew leaders, and other employees with field leadership, to learn the skills and proper technique needed to implement a stretch and flex program on their jobsites.

Join the Builders Foundation at Ruffled Feathers in Lemont on July 13th for a sunny day of golfing for a cause. The Builders Foundation has awarded a record-breaking nine Chicago-area college students with scholarships this year, and we need to show more support than ever.

For youth who left high school early and lack a state equivalency diploma, a continuing education and career success can be a goal beyond reach. Throughout the nation, YouthBuild programs seek to help these young people in learning critical job skills in construction as a path to economic independence.

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of $80 million in grant funding to support and expand YouthBuild programs nationwide. For those programs that offer the "YouthBuild Construction Plus" model, participating youth can take advantage of expanded occupational skills training in additional in-demand occupations, such as health care, information technology or logistics.

"In America, your zip code should never determine your destiny," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "YouthBuild offers valuable opportunities for young people to get the education and skills training they need to succeed on the job and in life."

The Concord Group is a team of highly skilled professionals specializing in the fields of Project Management, Cost Management, Cost Segregation and Real Estate Advisory Services. Headquartered in Chicago and with offices in Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, The Concord Group has provided services in every state in the country. Founded in 1996, The Concord Group has built a reputation for delivering high quality, accurate and timely work for governmental agencies, healthcare organizations, institutional clients and architectural/engineering firms along with retail, residential and property development companies. Learn more about The Concord Group by visiting www.concord-cc.com.