News

ABC Celebrates Political Wins of 2019

Off the heels of the most exciting legislative session for the construction industry in years, ABC- Greater Tennessee was able to pass a majority of our legislative priorities for the year. Thank you to all of the ABC members for their help in marking this achievement. ABC Greater Tennessee is looking forward to many more successes in the years to come.  Below is an update on each piece of legislation that ABC - Greater Tennessee pushed in the Tennessee General Assembly in 2019.  SB324/HB 271  Payment Rights of contractors and subcontractors (Sen. Johnson/Rep. Gant) Prohibits a written contract to have a condition precedent for payment clause where the prime contractor is not required to pay the remote contractor due to contract or until they are paid by the construction owner. Declares that if payment is not received, work by contractor can be suspended until received. Makes other revisions relative to the payment rights of contractors and subcontractors. ABC Position: ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Hosts TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater TN hosted a Membership Luncheon on Thursday, August 15th featuring guest speakers Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner, Clay Bright and Assistant Chief Engineer over Operations, Will Reid. The event peaked interest of approximately 120 ABC members and guests who enjoyed networking followed by lunch and the presentation. Commissioner Bright touched on the values of TDOT, including the safety of their own people, safety of contractors and most importantly the public safety of all of Tennessee. TDOT’s currently planning 2-3 years ahead, allowing them to tell contractors and consultants what’s out there and what’s to come. The commissioner touched on the recently passed Hands Free Legislation. Bright gave insight to the fact that distracted driving reached an epidemic level in the State of TN, killing 36-37,000 people a year on the roadways. Furthermore, the commissioner discussed the Improve Act that was passed in 2 ... Read the rest of entry »

ENR: Gearing up for continued growth

“Construction is still booming in Tennessee,” says Clay Crownover, president and CEO of ABC- Greater Tennessee chapter. But as with most other regions of the country, finding qualified construction professionals to fill the boots can be daunting.

Read more at ENR...

THE IMPACT OF CREDENTIALS AT THE TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

As the Education and Safety Director of the Greater Tennessee ABC Chapter, Michele Correnti has helped 32 schools utilize NCCER curricula. Working with schools and teachers in the Greater Tennessee area, Correnti wants the next generation of craft professionals to have industry credentials backed by training and education.  “Any time a student can get a certification in the crafts, it’s a further step into the world of construction – where there is already a huge shortage,” Correnti said. “It is with great passion that we want to see these young men and women succeed in the crafts and NCCER is a perfect stepping stone for this.”  Last summer, Correnti helped the building construction technology instructor at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), Kelvin Davis, receive his instructor certification with NCCER. After Davis passed the Instructor Certification Teaching Program in July 2018, his students were eligible to receive credentials for t ... Read the rest of entry »

6th Annual Contractor's Showcase Success

     Associated Builders & Contractors Greater TN hosted our 6th annual Contractor’s Showcase on July 18th at the Nashville Fairgrounds. ABC members and guests were welcomed by a massive American flag, which hung from a Sunbelt Rentals lift. Over 300 industry professionals gathered to  network among the 44 exhibitor booths. These booths represented the industry well, having been made up of general contractors, sub-contractors and industry partners. Representatives from each company were available to answer questions and showcase their products and services. In addition to meeting suppliers and seeing product demos throughout the evening, attendees networked with peers and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. The showcase wouldn’t of been possible without our amazing sponsors and volunteers. A big thanks goes out to Amfed, Rio Grande Fence Co., Sunbelt Rentals and Trades Unlimited, our presenting sponsors as well as a special thanks to Rio Grande for setting u ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Celebrates 5 Year Member Anniversaries

It's no secret that ABC wouldn't exist without the dedication of our members. Your involvement allows us to flourish, grow, and provide continuing benefits and resources for the industry across Tennessee. To our 5 year members, we thank you for your continued support!  31-W Insulation- With their corporate office located in Goodlettsville, TN - 31-W Insulation can provide you with bath accessories, garage doors, gutters, home remodeling materials, and related services. Better Business Equipment Co. Inc. - BBE has been providing the middle TN area with office machinery and document solutions for over 35 years.  CIP (Charlie Irwin Painting, LLC) -  Coating the construction industry with quality, excellence and integrity. Color Burst Landscapes - Well-known throughout the Nashville area for quality design, installations, and maintenance with extensive knowledge of the green industry. HireQuest Direct - Formally known as Trojan Labor, HireQuest Di ... Read the rest of entry »

Construction Job Growth Steady in June, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 5 – The construction industry added 21,000 net new jobs in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the industry has expanded by 224,000 jobs, representing an increase of 3.1%. Nonresidential construction employment gained 14,900 net jobs in June and is up 146,700 jobs during the last 12 months.   All major segments of nonresidential construction added jobs in June, with the bulk of job growth in the nonresidential specialty trade contractor segment, which added 11,900 net new positions. The construction unemployment rate stood at 4% in June, down 0.7% from the same time last year, and unemployment across all industries was 3.7%, slightly higher than 3.6% in May. “Today’s employment numbers indicate the economy is not slowing nearly as quickly as data suggested earlier this year, which is promising news for contractors,&r ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Greater Tennessee endorses Janet Testerman for Knoxville City Council

The Greater Tennessee chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors has approved the recommendations for endorsement of Janet Testerman for Knoxville City Council. 

In the City Council, At Large Seat B, Ms. Testerman is set to face an opponent that will not recognize the open shop philosophy that keeps Tennessee growth moving forward. 

We look forward to the election and seeing Ms. Testerman prevail in this race. 

ABC Greater Tennessee Meet with Congressional Leaders in D.C.

ABC Greater Tennessee staff and Board of Directors had the pleasure of speaking with our Tennessee representatives in Washington, D.C. last week to push forward policies to re-enforce the Merit Shop Philosophy. 

Board members and staff met with Rep. Scott Desjarlais, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Lamar Alexander, Rep. Tim Burchett, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and Rep. Phil Roe. They also heard from Mercedes Schlapp, the White House Strategic Communications Director and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX).

For pics, visit our flickr page. 

ABC Greater Tennessee Craft Training Program graduates 54

Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Tennessee Craft Training program graduates 54 NASHVILLE, TENN., June 10, 2019 – The Associated Builders and Contractors of Tennessee (ABC-Greater Tennessee) is pleased to announce that its Craft Training Program has successfully graduated 54 students for the 2018-2019 school year. “Thursday was one of the most important events that we at ABC- Greater Tennessee hold each year,” said ABC- Greater Tennessee President/CEO Clay Crownover. “It’s important because it highlights the accomplishments of our school and our students and the extra effort they have made to furthering themselves and our industry.” ABC- Greater Tennessee is a leader in continuing education for the construction industry, as well as apprenticeship and craft training for merit shop contractors in the state. ABC- Greater Tennessee delivers programs that equip craft professionals with the knowledge and the skills they need to improve their productivity and sa ... Read the rest of entry »