Surety Industry Launches Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program

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The Surety & Fidelity Association of America and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers have jointly developed and launched the surety industry’s new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program. This free program helps small, new, emerging, minority-owned and other disadvantaged contractors learn how to qualify for construction surety bonds, thereby expanding their business opportunities and providing the services and benefits of these bonds. The Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program includes two components: a set of eLearning modules available online 24/7, which can be taken on demand at the learner’s pace, and an optional mentor program with industry professionals … Read more

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Monthly Construction Input Prices Increase in December, Says ABC

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Construction input prices rose 0.6% in December compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data recently released. Nonresidential construction input prices also rose 0.6% for the month. Input prices for all three energy subcategories decreased for the month. Crude petroleum was down 16.4% in December, while unprocessed energy materials and natural gas were down 13.1% and 12%, respectively. Prices in all three energy subcategories, however, are still up significantly on a year-over-year basis. Overall construction input prices are up 22.3% from a year ago, while … Read more

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ABC Construction Backlog and Contractor Confidence Rebound in November

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ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels increased in November. All three indices stand above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations of growth over the next six months. Associated Builders and Contractors reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.4 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted Nov. 19 to Dec. 3. The reading is up 0.3 months from October 2021 and 1.2 months from November 2020. “It’s getting better out there,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While the outlook for construction remains imperfect, extraordinarily low interest rates have created … Read more

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ABC Publishes Inaugural Construction Technology Report

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Associated Builders and Contractors released its inaugural Tech Report, a study of the innovative technology and tools that ABC contractor members are using on jobsites to be safer, more profitable and primed to win more work. The report was sourced from a survey conducted from March through May 2021. It details opportunities for construction contractors to improve their operations in project coordination, planning, estimating, production and scheduling. Among the findings, the 2021 Tech Report reveals: 70% of respondents listed an operational issue as one of their top three challenges that technology can help solve More than half of respondents rely … Read more

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ABC Unveils Safety Technology Guide

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Associated Builders and Contractors has issued its online Safety Technology Guide, a resource for contractors looking to implement construction technology for the best possible safety performance. “Executing on ABC’s commitment to world-class safety on jobsites requires ABC member contractors to continuously innovate,” said Matt Abeles, ABC vice president of construction technology and innovation. “To keep contractors on the pulse of technology, ABC provides its members numerous resources like this guide to help them not only build the workforce of the future, but also ensure that they achieve optimal safety through the STEP Safety Management System, a world-class safety program founded … Read more

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