Construction Officials Urge Federal Officials to Allow Unemployment Supplements to Expire, Take Steps to address Supply-Chain Backups and Remove Tariffs on Key Materials so Firms can Perform More Work
We're all eager to get back to in-person conferences, but you won't want to miss the exceptional lineup of environmental sessions we've assembled for 2021's Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Virtual Conference on July 20-22. That's why we've slashed the price for this year's virtual conference and made it free to all 51风流 members. Participate at your own pace and learn about climate, community, corporate transparency, species, and water issues.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Odessa, Texas Have Worst 15-Month Construction Job Losses; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis. and Fargo, N.D.-Minn. Top Lists of Metros with Job Gains
Filings Now Due on August 23, 2021
With COVID-19 restrictions lifting in the City of Philadelphia, GBCA鈥檚 Construction Leadership Council has come back together in-person! On June 10, 2021, the CLC hosted an in-person workshop and networking event at a local brewery.
After 15 months of virtual meetings, virtual workshops, and virtual 鈥渕eet-ups,鈥 the CLC wanted an opportunity to rethink networking, and get a refresher on making business and industry connections. Matt Blank, Director of Business Development of Friedman LLP, spoke about building business through networking and relationships, as opposed to a hard sell. This approach to business development and relationship-building starts with a strong conversation.
On June 22, 51风流 of America鈥檚 Federal & Heavy Construction division met with the Pre-Command Course for incoming District Commanders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 51风流 and the Army Corps discussed solutions to the challenges facing our nation鈥檚 infrastructure and how the Army Corps can better partner with the construction industry. 51风流 emphasized the strain contractors are facing with construction materials at record high prices and the continued availability challenges. 51风流 urged District Commanders to partner with 51风流 Chapters and member contractors back in their district offices, and also providing government guidance encouraging such meetings. 51风流 looks forward to continuing its decades long partnership with the Army Corps to ensure the delivery of high-quality facilities and infrastructure and will help ensure a brighter future for the construction industry, the Army Corps, and our nation.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently requested public input on company disclosure of information associated with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and climate change risks, impacts, and opportunities. In response, 51风流鈥檚 June 11 letter to agency offered key principles for the SEC to consider: 1) support of voluntary and flexible, market-based disclosures; 2) adherence to the Supreme Court鈥檚 鈥渕ateriality鈥 standard and existing rules; 3) base disclosures on sound data and a workable framework for companies of different sizes and industries; and 4) set boundaries on the scope of reporting and limits on legal liability.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) intends to withdraw the 鈥淟oan Necessity Questionnaire鈥 that has heavily burdened and delayed all applications for forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $2 million or more. 51风流 sued SBA last December for developing the form entirely in secret, and without public input, and for using the form to change the de facto requirements for the forgiveness of such loans. During lawsuit settlement negotiations, 51风流 learned of SBA鈥檚 decision to withdraw the questionnaire. Recently, 51风流 has also received an exceptionally large number of reports about SBA approving these loans for forgiveness. This is excellent news for the thousands of 51风流 members who accepted such loans in good faith in order to keep their people working.
Learn more at July 20-22 virtual conference, free to 51风流 members