News

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Greater Tennessee Chapter News & Updates

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Greater TN Chapter News

Knox and Davidson County SAFER AT HOME ORDERS

To further combat the spread of COVID-19, the Metro County and Knox County Health Departments have issued a Safer at Home Order — directing all residents of Nashville and Davidson and Knox Counties to stay inside their homes, and immediately limit all movement outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs.

Construction and facilities design businesses have been deemed essential at this time.For full details, follow the links below. 

Read More: Davidson County

Read More: Knox County

Nashville Business Journal: Delays loom at construction sites. For now, contractors are taking their temperatures

Mike Meagher, whose construction company is building two Midtown high-rises, has ordered a dozen laser thermometers to check the temperatures of work crews. And he's limiting how many people ride in a buckhoist, an elevator that can fit as many as 30 workers.

At the Fifth + Broadway project downtown, where 550 people work each day, Dennis Georgatos has nixed the routine "stretch and flex" group gatherings that mark the start of a shift and help orchestrate the day's activity.

Read more...

ABC Modified Office Schedule

Dear ABC Greater Tennessee Members, ABC Greater Tennessee’s top priority has always been to deliver superior service to our members and students. To do that in the current environment, we are taking every precaution possible to protect the health and safety of our team and their families. Therefore, in step with much of the rest of the country, ABC Greater Tennessee’s offices will be closed with staff working remotely from March 16th to March 27th. During this period, our team will be available to you during regular business hours by email and phone as usual – though maybe not as quickly.  We are monitoring COVID-19 pandemic updates closely and will extend these working arrangements on a week-by-week basis as the situation warrants. Our staff is committed to continually serving the industry and our members through this process. DATES TO NOTE: Craft Training classes are suspended begi ... Read the rest of entry »

The PRO Act is an assault on worker freedom, choice and privacy | Opinion

Hardworking people from coast to coast have hit the new decade with the economic wind at their backs. In the construction industry, for example, there are more job opportunities than people to fill them, and construction unemployment in Tennessee stood at 3.1% last December. 

Wages are growing, and it’s never been easier to access low-cost education programs to launch a career in the field. Indeed, there are many reasons to be optimistic in 2020.

However, Last week, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives dealt a harsh blow to U.S. workers and Tennessee’s booming economy by passing a bill that would bypass America’s labor laws and give union bosses greater power to coerce employees to join unions in the face of a decades-long membership decline. 

Read more at The Tennessean...

Construction Dive's 'mini megacities' to watch: Nashville, Tennessee

Commercial contractors know that government roadblocks and regulations can slow even the most booming construction market while business-friendly policies can stoke development.

The latter is definitely the case for Nashville, Tennessee, which boasts one of the strongest economies of any U.S. metropolitan area. These days, builders and businesses there not only enjoy unprecedented economic growth but also the support of elected officials from city council members to the governor's mansion, with Tennessee’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who ran a mechanical contracting business for 20 years before entering politics. A longtime member of Associated Builders and Contractors, Lee understands how the principals of a free enterprise approach supports local businesses and industry.​

Read more...

Nashville Morning News: Nashville's booming growth continues & that means career opportunities!

Hear ABC Greater Tennessee President, Clay Crownover on Nashville Morning News discuss the booming growth for Nashville and what that means for the construction trades. Link

Announcing new 2020 board members

The ABC- Greater Tennessee Chapter is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to the Board of Directors: Stephon Bishop (Brasfield & Gorrie), Blake French (The Wakefield Corporation), Ryan Frost (Glenn E. Mitchell & Company), and Ty Jennings (The Comfort Group). In the truest sense of the word, ABC - Greater Tennessee Chapter is a member-run association. Members identify issues critical to merit shop construction and work together to find solutions using the resources of one of the largest construction-related groups in the world.  Clay Parkes will serve as chair of the 2020 Board of Directors. A full list of 2020 board members can be found here. 

ABC Celebrates Safety in the Industry

On October 16, 2019 the Associated Builders and Contractors recognized and awarded ABC members for their best safety practices. Participating ABC member companies measured their safety processes and policies on 24 key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents.  Guest speaker Steve Hawkins, Deputy Commissioner of Employment Safety and Security for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, plays a key role in several safety organizations throughout the state. After addressing the audience, Hawkins presented all award winners with their awards.  CLICK HERE to view event photos 2019 STEP Award Winners Diamond - Carter Group, LLC - Gaylor Electric, Inc.  Platinum - Batten & Shaw, Inc.- Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC - Concrete Pump Partners - FAST Electrical Contractors, Inc. - HOAR Construction, LLC - JE Dunn Construction - Robins & ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC President Tennessean op-ed: Cones and cranes mean new jobs, healthy economy and opportunity

If you’ve spent any amount of time in downtown Nashville, chances are good that your path has crossed a busy construction site. While the noise, traffic and delays from these major jobs can be understandably frustrating, it’s important to remember what the cones and cranes that we see everyday symbolize—jobs, economic growth and a stronger Nashville.  This year, the greater Nashville area was ranked as the strongest metropolitan area economy in the U.S. in POLICOM’s annual community "economic strength" rankings. In a recent Engineering News-Record article, Tennessee State Data Center Director Tim Kuhn highlighted the recent population boom in Tennessee. “Nearly two-thirds of the state’s population increase is driven by residents moving from other states, including almost 40,000 people who moved to Tennessee from surrounding states in the past year,” said Kuhn. “Tennessee has a strong economy and a favorable climate. We ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Greater TN Celebrates Prestigious Construction Projects of the Past Year

Laughter and warmth filled the ballroom of the OMNI Nashville Hotel on September 26, 2019 as ABC Greater TN hosted the Excellence in Construction awards. This annual program honors outstanding merit shop construction projects throughout Middle and East Tennessee and recognizes contractors, project architects, engineers and owners.

Over 300 ABC members and guests enjoyed the program that recognized forty-three projects among thirty-one categories. In addition, ABC Greater TN recognized both the Sub-Contractor and Contractor of the Year. Congratulations toRio Grande Fence Co. and Brasfield & GorrieLLC!

This event would not be possible without the support of our many generous sponsors. A special thank you to our Ballroom Sponsors Batten | Shaw Construction and Frank E. Neal & Co

Event photos can be found here, courtesy of Bell & Associates Construction and Aerial Innovations.