The Top 12 Drivers of Construction Disputes and How to Avoid Them

Denise GillinNews

By Julie Strupp for ConstructionDive The toll of disputes on the industry is staggering. The value of claims on the 1,100-plus projects HKA, a global consulting firm, studied worldwide from 2018-2020 worked out to $48.6 billion (excluding legal and related fees) and the extensions of time claimed would accumulate to 593 years, according to the report. Click here to learn …

Growth and Expansion: What to Expect From Your Surety

Denise GillinNews

By William Chapman for Construction Executive The decision of whether to grow and expand is one that contractors face daily. Some of the many reasons why a contractor may decide to grow or expand include requests from key customers, access to additional capital, the addition of key personnel, market conditions, strategy or necessity. Growth and expansion can take many forms: …

What’s In The Infrastructure Bill?

Denise GillinNews

By Adam Redling for Construction & Demolition Recycling On Nov. 6, Congress passed the much-anticipated and hotly contested infrastructure bill after months of political wrangling. The plan, which boasts a price tag of $1.2 trillion, will help rebuild roads, bridges and rail; expand access to clean drinking water; ensure access to high-speed internet; reduce the impacts of the climate crisis; and …

Construction’s Diversity Numbers Are Awful. Here’s How 3 Contractors Are Improving Theirs.

Denise GillinNews

By Joe Bousquin for ConstructionDive When it comes to diversity and inclusion, construction is still on the ground floor. Compared to the overall workforce, the construction industry is overwhelmingly White and male. Even though Hispanic or Latino people, which is a measure of ethnicity and not race, make up 30% of construction workers, they’re often in lower-level positions without opportunity for …

Here’s What to Do if You Are Denied PPP Loan Forgiveness

Denise GillinNews

By Lisa Price for Small Business News If you were denied for all or part of the money on your PPP loan forgiveness application, your appeal must be timely. You have 30 days to appeal. The clock starts when you receive written notification from the Small Business Administration (SBA). This is an important element of the 30-day time frame. It’s NOT 30 …

First a Pandemic, Now Rising Prices Complicate Pittsburgh-area Construction Projects

Denise GillinNews

By Mark Belko for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rising construction costs represent the latest challenge facing local developers and contractors as they seek to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. During a panel discussion Thursday, representatives from the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, the Elmhurst Group and Rycon Construction said increases in the price of structural steel, copper, wood and other materials have had an …

Addressing the Skilled Labor Shortage in 4 Steps

Denise GillinNews

By Luiza Mills for ConstructionDive.com “Good jobs at good wages” is not just a political slogan. The electrical industry is making good on this ambitious promise today. Solid careers with promising, sky-is-the-limit futures for smart, hardworking professionals are available right now, no costly college degree required. Given this, how do we explain the chronic shortage of skilled electricians and other tradespeople? …

Construction of Maryland’s Much-delayed Purple Line to Resume Early Next Year

Denise GillinNews

By Julie Strupp for ConstructionDive.com The project has attracted national attention as it is one of the first of its kind to rely on private funding. Unfortunately the line has been plagued with delays and lawsuits, and the initial contractor quit the public-private partnership (P3) last September following disputes with the state over who should pay for the nearly $800 million in cost …

Clark Launches Small Business Inclusion Program

Denise GillinNews

By Jennifer Goodman for ConstructionDive Clark Construction Group has launched a small business initiative designed to expand opportunities for disadvantaged construction firms, even on projects where inclusion goals are not mandated. The SDBE15 program is designed to foster greater participation by small, disadvantaged-, minority- and women-owned businesses on Clark’s construction projects nationwide, according to a press release. Through the program, …

How to Get Your First Bond

Denise GillinNews

By Erik Mueller for Old Republic Surety Start the process early To ensure timely approval, begin the submission process well before the date you need the bond. A good rule of thumb is to allow 30 days for the process to be completed; if you can start earlier, so much the better. Allowing at least 30 days provides the underwriter …