Construction Industry News

WASHINGTON (April 2, 2021) — Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has detailed one of the top priorities for the upcoming infrastructure bill from the Biden administration: the $11.6 billion Hudson River Tunnel project in New York City. The project’s goal is to repair and replace sections of the tunnel damaged by saltwater in 2012.

WASHINGTON (March 31, 2021) — President Biden detailed his next legislative push Wednesday — an economic stimulus with a focus on infrastructure and creating jobs. The plan would spend $2.5 trillion over an 8-year period, paid for by a corporate tax increase to 28%, up from the current rate of 21%. According to the White House, the plan would be funded by the tax hike in 15 years.

WASHINGTON (March 26, 2021) — President Biden’s advisors are said to be working on a $3 trillion economic package that will have a major infrastructure component. More details are expected on March 31, when the president will travel to Pittsburgh to announce more details on the upcoming push. Gina McCarthy recently discussed the infrastructure plans, which will include efforts to combat climate change and work toward a greener economy.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 24, 2021) — Construction Business Owner, the leading business magazine for contractors, is pleased to announce a free webinar presented in partnership with AvidXchange.

The live, online event, “The Future of Payments: What's Next for AP?” will take place April 29, 2021, at 1 p.m. CDT, and will explore the era of automation and what it means for construction businesses.

Registration is free at constructionbusinessowner.com/webinars.

WASHINGTON, (March 23, 2021) — According to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) study of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released this week, the construction industry will need to hire 430,000 workers in 2021. The analysis also revealed that every $1 billion in extra construction spending generates an average of at least 5,700 construction jobs.

WASHINGTON (March 23, 2021) — Former Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has been confirmed as secretary of labor in a Senate vote this week. Walsh is notable in that he is the first union leader to serve in the position in more than 40 years. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released a statement supporting the appointment and encouraging Walsh to focus on the construction industry.

WASHINGTON (March 18, 2021) — The PPP Extension Act of 2021 passed the House of Representatives in a 415-3 vote this week, extending the program to May 31 from the current application deadline of March 31. The Senate is expected to approve the bill this week. The push to extend the program follows the passing of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which includes $7 billion to expand the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

HAMILTON, N.J. (March 16, 2021) — A report recently released by Dodge Data & Analytics shows that construction starts fell 2% in February to an adjusted rate of $797.3 billion. Nonresidential and residential building starts both declined.

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2021) — The $1.9 trillion relief bill signed by President Biden today includes $10 billion in funds for the "Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund." These funds will go toward projects that "carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education and health monitoring, including remote options," in response to the COVI

INDIANAPOLIS (March 8, 2021) — NTEA - The Association for the Work Truck Industry, kicked off its virtual Work Truck Week March 8. The event showcased new product releases and offered a glimpse at the future of trucks in the construction industry.

WASHINGTON (March 5, 2021) — According to an 

WASHINGTON (March 3, 2021) — The American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) released its 2021 Score Card today, bumping America’s infrastructure score up to a C-, the first time it has graded outside of the D range in 20 years. The C range of scores indicates a “mediocre score with some elements exhibiting significant deficiencies in conditions and functionality.”

WASHINGTON (March 2, 2021) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the upcoming boost to United States infrastructure a once-in-a-generation opportunity in an interview Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (March 1, 2021) — Nonresidential construction spending increased by 0.9% in January over the previous month according to

LONDON (Feb. 24, 2021) — According to survey results in the latest IHS Markit and the Procurement Executives Group (PEG), construction prices have continued an upward trend in the past month. This is largely attributed to copper prices increasing for the eighth consecutive month, a rise in carbon steel pipe and fabricated structural steel prices from January and a third straight price increase for transformers.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 26, 2021) — A report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) shows that the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Law funded more than 110,000 Road & Bridge Improvements between fiscal years 2016 and 2020. The research shows that states leveraged nearly $200 billion in federal funds to support over $340.5 billion in new highway and bridge program improvements. 

WASHINGTON (Feb. 24, 2021) — Lumber prices have risen dramatically this year, prompting concerns for the construction industry. Data from Random Lengths indicates softwood lumber prices have risen 112%. The costs for homebuilders and renovation contractors are nearing record highs and have even prompted The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) to pen a letter to President Biden asking for his intervention.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 22, 2021) — The Biden administration has announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan program that may impact the construction industry. For a 2-week period beginning on February 24, only small business with fewer than 20 employees can apply for new PPP loans. The goal is to help the smallest businesses collect funds to offset financial instability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WASHINGTON, (Feb. 19, 2021) — The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) has released a new, comprehensive report that includes policy recommendations to combat the growing infrastructure problem in America.

HAMILTON, N.J. (Feb. 17, 2021) — According to Dodge Data & Analytics' latest Construction Starts release total construction starts dropped 4% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $794.3 billion.