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Shoptalk with Sherrie – February 20, 2023


Our Summit event is fast approaching! Don’t forget to get your tickets and nominate a company for the Construction Champion Awards!
Here are some of the items we are working on this week:

  • SWCA’s next Safety Training is on Wednesday, Feb. 22nd via zoom. Contact Sherrie for more info.
  • Nominations for the Construction Champion Awards are open! Nominate a company that you think showcases that they are committed to the construction industry and exhibit qualities of leadership, craftsmanship, and community action! Nomination Form
  • Save the date for March 30th for our next member open house at our SWCA office.
  • The Summit schedule is now online. Check out all our amazing speakers here.
  • Registration is open for our annual Construction Executive Summit on March 2nd, 2023. 12 breakouts, 3 keynote speakers, supplier expo & more! Presenters this year include economic updates, cybersecurity, and mental health in the workplace.  Just announced, keynote speaker & economist Dr. Michael Wilkerson of ECONorthwest will be presenting!
  • The SWCA Foundation Scholarship application deadline has been extended to February 28, 2023!  Click here to find out more and to complete an application.
  • Save the Date: April 26th for a NEW and highly requested legislative event at the AC Marriott.
 
In Olympia
Check out 2023 Legislative Session – Week 6 Review / Week 7 Preview here.
Key bills of focus:
  • SB 5726: Concerning Prevailing Wage and Sick Leave - The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee passed
  • SB 5133: Modifies responsible bidder criteria for public works projects - the bill passed the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee with an agreed to amendment that ensures the training agent requirements only apply to apprenticeship utilization projects, provides a process for warning contractors before being barred from bidding on public works projects for one year, and allows for compliant contractors an exemption from taking prevailing wage training.
  • SHB 1013: Establishing regional apprenticeship programs. Comments: This workforce development legislation is focused on rural communities - attempting to develop pre-apprenticeship programs meant for harder to reach industries in rural communities. The bill establishes two pilot programs to get real, on the job training in high school.
 
A few bills we support:
  • SB 5088: Contractor registration - Adding references to contractor registration and licensing laws in workers' compensation, public works, and prevailing wage statutes. Comments: WCIC Supports
  • HB 1342: Embodied carbon reductions - Modeling, measurement, and reporting embodied carbon emission reductions from structural building products in state-funded projects. Comments: The legislation is an industry-led approach to removing embodied carbon at the design phase of a building with
Other bills to watch out for include
  • SHB 1067: Concerning wages for journeypersons in high-hazard facilities. Comments: The legislation would require private employment contracts to utilize prevailing wages in high-hazard facilities (refineries). The broader concern is, where will this be required next? Business is opposed.
SHB 1282: Public building materials - Requiring environmental and labor reporting for public building construction and renovation material. Comments: This is the buy clean, buy fair legislation being promoted to use EPDs to calculate embodied carbon reductions in public buildings. The bill also would set standards for forest certifications through sourcing requirements and require all building materials to provide labor data related to sourcing, production, and delivery.
 
  • Interested in providing feedback or have another bill that you’d like us to track?  Email Sherrie.
 
Community News
  • An overview of Clark County comprehensive planning and the draft Public Participation Plan for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update will be presented. The work session is scheduled to take place on Feb. 22, 2023, following the Board of Health meeting that begins at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will take place in a hybrid format, with options to attend remotely or in person at the Public Service Center 6th floor Hearing Room. More details here.
  • Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council yesterday appointed Karl Johnson and Jack Harroun to the county’s volunteer Planning Commission. Both will serve four-year terms that begin immediately and end Dec. 31, 2026.
  • Small Business Loan Opportunity: Micro Enterprise Services (MESO) in Vancouver, WA is reaching out to small businesses located within Vancouver City limits to offer a loan opportunity for small business growth. This loan, up to $10,000 per business, could help qualified small businesses refinance expensive credit card debt, buy new equipment, or offer support in other areas. Funds are limited. Applications must be submitted by March 6, 2023. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3lxslBk.
  • Nominations are open for business leaders to serve on AWB’s Board of Directors. Employers of all sizes are invited to serve. The nomination deadline is March 17. Send nominee names and contact information to Bonnie Millikan.
  • Leadership Clark County is hosting their first annual Rock & Roll Bowl-A-Thon on April 29th, 2023. Check out there sponsorship opportunities here. And find more information on their Facebook page.
  • The Washington State Department of Commerce is seeking public comments now through Feb 24th, on “making adequate provisions” for housing needs. Read their draft here and send comments to laura.hodgson@commerce.wa.gov  
 
Member News  
Are you interested in getting more involved with SWCA? Ask us about our committees! Email info@swca.org for more information.
 
Have a great week!
Sherrie

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