NRMCA e-news

Pavement

American Society of Contractors to Join Build with Strength Efforts

At the recent American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) Board of Directors meeting held during World of Concrete in Las Vegas, board members voted to become a partner in the Build with Strength program. In a model similar to the NRMCA-ASCC Joint Paving Committee, whose mission is the partnering of ready mix producers with contractors in pursuit of local parking lot paving, the newly formed group will focuses on the retainment, promotion and advancement of concrete in low- to mid-rise buildings in the contractors' local markets.

For more information, contact Jon Hansen, senior vice president of local paving and NRMCA liaison to the ASCC Board of Directors, at jhansen@nrmca.org.

Parking Lot Boot Camp Finds Receptive Audience in Ohio

NRMCA's popular Parking Lot Boot Camp program was delivered in late January to NRMCA Producer member Buckeye Ready-Mix, LLC, and its partnered contractor in Reynoldsburg, OH. As a result, both companies were armed with a customized pricing database, prospecting tools and templates, and a complete knowledge of parking lot design for both new projects and concrete overlays of existing asphalt parking lots – all the tools necessary to grow their businesses in parking lot pavements. The two-day program was led by NRMCA's Jon Hansen, senior vice president, local paving and Phil Kresge, vice president, local paving, with assistance from their colleagues Ken Justice, senior director, local paving and Julie Buffenbarger, senior vice president, local paving.

During the Boot Camp, several influencers, key decision makers and targeted projects were identified by the attendees and its success has now sparked interest by other ready mixed concrete producers in Ohio. In fact, three additional boot camps are planned in February for Northeast Ohio.

For more information about bringing the Parking Lot Boot Camp to your company, contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org, Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org or or any member of the Local Paving Team found here.

Association & Industry News

NRMCA’s Member to Member Benefits Program Helps Point Customers Your Way

NRMCA Associate members play a vital role in helping NRMCA provide service and value to NRMCA Producer members. Through the Member to Member (M2M) Benefits Program, NRMCA members can find the goods and services they need while saving money with the rebate programs and discount pricing. NRMCA works with participating associate members to help spread the word to member producers about any special "NRMCA Members’ Only" rebate programs, discounted pricing or other member to member benefits offered. Associate member participation not only adds value to NRMCA membership, but also adds to the benefits of belonging for the Producer member customers through discounts, rebates or incentives.

Click here to see the current M2M offerings and access the M2M enrollment form to become a participating member. For more information, contact Jacques Jenkins at jjenkins@nrmca.org or 240-485-1165.

Government Affairs

NRMCA Advocacy News Roundup Updated Through February 3

Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for January 30 - February 3, 2017, please click here.

If you would like to receive this weekly updated link in a separate e-mail, or if you have questions or comments about the roundup, contact NRMCA’s Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.

Add Your Company Name Here: Become a CONCRETEPAC Corporate Sponsor for 2017

CONCRETEPAC gives a strong voice to the ready mixed concrete industry on Capitol Hill – and our plans for 2017 are bigger than ever! While we raise personal contributions to fund CONCRETEPAC’s political activities, the PAC is sustained by corporate contributions made by our members to underwrite our administrative operating costs. We invite all NRMCA Producer and Associate members to consider becoming a CONCRETEPAC corporate sponsor in 2017.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=424125&issueID=51181 to view the full article online.

More of Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Poised for Confirmation

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has votes planned this week for more of President Trump’s cabinet nominees, including Betsy DeVos, Jeff Sessions, Tom Price and Steve Mnuchin, nominees for Secretary of Education, Attorney General, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Secretary of the Treasury, respectively. Depending on how Democrats choose to behave on the floor of the Senate, Leader McConnell may also be able to bring Scott Pruitt, the President’s nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, up for a vote. Mr. Pruitt was approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week after Democrats boycotting of committee votes prompted Republican leadership to suspend committee rules and proceed with the vote. All President Trump’s cabinet nominees are expected to be confirmed by the full Senate.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=424184&issueID=51181 to view the full article online.

NRMCA Continues Advocacy Efforts on Capitol Hill

Last week, NRMCA Government Affairs team was busy on Capitol Hill supporting tax reform and infrastructure investment to members of Congress and their staff. In addition, NRMCA staff urged legislators to oppose the Timber Innovation Act (TIA) if reintroduced. The TIA unfairly accelerates the use of "mass timber" by authorizing the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide federal funding placing cross laminated timber (CLT’s) as the material of choice in the tall building market, fund a Tall Wood Building Prize Competition at the USDA, fund grants to state, local and private sectors for education, R&D, promotion and marketing, and fund technical assistance programs for architects and building designers in mass timber applications in tall building structures 85 ft. and above. NRMCA reminded members of Congress and their staff that the TIA is by definition an earmark and picks winners and losers by giving the wood industry market share advantages above all others in tall building structures. We also reminded them that a growing coalition of 28 like-minded industries oppose this legislation.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=424187&issueID=51181 to view the full article online.

Webinar to Discuss How Washington Can Affect You

Join the NRMCA Government Affairs team as they walk through a preview of some of what we might expect from the first 100 days of the Trump Administration and the first session of the 115th Congress. Tune in on Thursday, February 9, at 1 p.m. Eastern time for a discussion of which regulations are most likely to go away, why the upcoming Senate battle over the Supreme Court nominee is important and what Congress’s legislative agenda looks like for the first year of the Trump Administration.

NRMCA will also give a brief snapshot of what legislative items it will be advocating on behalf of the industry and how you can help become a stronger advocate for your business from behind your desktop. Also joining Thursday’s Webinar is former Congressman Geoff Davis (R-04-KY) a consultant to the ready mixed concrete industry who will discuss tax reform and its impact to your business.

Click here to register for Thursday’s Webinar.

Buildings

Latest New Jersey Apartment Fire Renews Calls for Revising Building Codes

Early last Saturday, firefighters in Maplewood, NJ, battled a huge fire at an apartment complex that is currently under construction. The structure was unoccupied; it is scheduled to open in March. One person was injured, a firefighter who slipped on ice. It is not clear how many of the 235 units planned for the complex were destroyed. A large section of the building was in rubble, but about 120 firefighters from two dozen fire companies in Essex and Union counties were able to keep the fire from damaging the finished part of the structure. This building is owned the same developer, AvalonBay, that built the structure in Edgewater, NJ, that also went up in flames (twice).

Does this sound familiar? There are several pieces of legislation in New Jersey (seven bills, to be exact) that address this very issue and, most importantly, come from the logical construct that most of us have come to realize: this type of wood-based construction is not safe. It burns and we need to find ways to control the fire or prevent it from ever happening by building with safer, fire-resistant materials, such as concrete or steel. Through the Build with Strength initiative, NRMCA has resources to help members and state affiliates advocate for resilient and safer construction, including model legislation, talking points, public relations and other key strategies.

To learn more about how NRMCA can assist in state advocacy, please contact John Loyer, vice president of state and local government affairs, at 703-675-7603 or jloyer@nrmca.org.

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association