Contractor Business Strategy

Romania $4.7B Offshore Gas Project Is Set to Make It Largest EU Producer, Cutting Off Russia

Tue, 12 May 2026 13:57:00 -0400

Italy-based contractor Saipem holds $1.75B award to build 160-km, 30-in. pipeline to transport gas to European Union network, and other infrastructure, with Black Sea project set to cut dependence on Russian supply.

ENR's Top 400 Contractors Proceed With Caution Amid Intensifying Market Challenges

Wed, 21 May 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Confusion over the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda and rising construction costs drive company execs to shift resources toward innovative solutions.

Australia Giant Lendlease Sells US, UK Assets—With One Deal Done

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Tue, 28 May 2024 17:00:00 -0400

Developer-contractor exits U.S. markets after 45 years to refocus operations in home country.

Federal Spend Keeps Contractors Optimistic for 2023 Growth, Says AGC

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:00:00 -0500

An annual outlook released by the Associated General Contractors of America shows construction firms are bullish on growth in most sectors, but not retail, office and lodging.

Ariz. Contractor Faces Big Fines Over Alleged Worker Pay Infractions

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0400

A federal judge has ordered a plastering and stucco firm to rectify longstanding recordkeeping violations or face weekly coercive fines of up to $10,000.

Whistleblower Contractor Exposes Competitor's Alleged DBE Fraud

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0400

An Illinois steel and rebar contractor agreed to a settlement after the government intervened in the case.

Contracting Firms Seek to Improve Work-Life Balance

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 13:22:00 -0400

After two years of coping with lockdowns, social distancing, teleconference learning curves and virus variants, construction and design firms find themselves adapting to yet another pandemic-related challenge—safely returning employees to the office while accommodating a newfound appreciation and desire for the benefits of working remotely.

Biden Signs $1.5T Omnibus Spending Bill, With Good News for Highways

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 16:26:00 -0400

New law boosts 2022 funds for many, not all, construction programs.

Labor Dept. Gears Up To Revamp Davis-Bacon Act

mcfarlandp@enr.com (Pam McFarland) — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:24:00 -0400

Proposed changes would be the first major revisions to the law in about 40 years.

Carpenters Union in Southwest Elects Its First Hispanic Leader

doug@knpr.org (Doug Puppel) — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:15:00 -0500

Rodriguez credits his father, an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. undocumented and worked as a union laborer, for encouraging him to become a carpenter.

Bobcat Introduces All-Electric Compact Track Loader, Sees Future in EVs

rubenstonej@enr.com (Jeff Rubenstone) — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 20:45:00 -0500

The new T7X model eliminates the diesel engine and the entire hydraulics system, pointing the way toward a future of fully electrified heavy equipment.

Contractors' 2022 Outlook Turns Positive Despite Challenges, AGC Survey Shows

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Associated General Contractors latest outlook is more positive for this year across most building segments.

Texas Crane Accident Problems Persisted in 2021

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

OSHA records describe alleged errors in crane assemblies.

Biden Finalizes EU Steel Imports Deal With Direction to Rework Exclusions

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0500

President Joe Biden has issued a proclamation on adjusting imports of steel into the U.S.

A Nuclear Fusion Facility Isn’t the Only Project Heating Up Central Massachusetts Construction Market

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 10:08:00 -0500

With more than $1 billion in development, the decommissioned Fort Devens base has become one of the top hotspots for construction in the state, including an estimated $500M facility for a revolutionary MIT-launched nuclear fusion startup .

Vermont Contractor to Pay $638K to Settle Federal False-Claims Charges

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 16:22:00 -0500

Allegations deal with federal-aid bridge contracts in the state.

With Solid November Jobs Gain, Construction Workforce Nears Pre-Pandemic Level

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 10:27:00 -0500

The unemployment rate was up from October level but has improved year over year.

Industry Groups Seek US COVID-19 Aid for Projects Slowed by Supply Chain

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:00:00 -0500

AGC, ARTBA, AASHTO and others want the US Treasury Dept. to clarify use of American Rescue Plan spending.

Settlement Enables Start of $464M Dam Expansion Near Boulder, Colo.

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 13:20:00 -0500

Agreement marks end of several years of legal disputes between Denver Water and Boulder County over the disruptive nature of Gross Reservoir construction.

Project Running Late? Don't Be Shocked When Trying to Extend the Insurance Coverage

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 10:57:00 -0500

Project extensions are becoming more difficult in today’s property/casualty insurance market.

US Appeals Court Halts OSHA Vaccine Mandate, Unclear How Long

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 16:15:00 -0400

Government says OSHA enforcement is "unambiguous ... in addressing grave dangers to employees in the workplace," in rollout of COVID emergency temporary rule.

Construction 2020 Workplace Injuries Down but Illnesses Rise

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 18:30:00 -0400

Labor Dept. report shows spike in respiratory illness cases.

Dodge: Overall Growth Will Continue, But at a Slower Pace in 2022

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:20:00 -0400

Total construction starts are set to rise 6% in 2022, down from 12% this year, with warehouse and residential sectors continuing to lead the recovery, says Dodge Construction Network.

Boston Developer Sues Contractor Alleging Delays That Cost Millions

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Contractor John Moriarty & Associates has filed to place liens on the property, alleging project payments it still is owed.

Steel Prices Causing Construction Pain Point

zevina@enr.com (Alisa Zevin) — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:22:00 -0400

Steel mill and energy prices have increased more than 100%, year over year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index.

Construction Industry Gains 11,000 Jobs in July as Jobless Rate Falls

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 11:31:00 -0400

Despite the overall gain, some nonresidential construction segments still show job losses in July.

Eyeing 2030, CII-CURT Attendees See Big Workforce, Climate Challenges Ahead

judys@enr.com (Scott Judy) — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:29:00 -0400

Construction’s future workforce is going to continue to trend older, and likely less mobile, which creates a challenge.

Builder of Halted Keystone-XL Pipeline Seeks $15B NAFTA Claim

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 08:07:00 -0400

But TC Energy announces big clean energy push to operate other North American pipelines, as federal judge declines to dismiss still pending suit against the Biden-cancelled project; Alberta government also seeks trade claim for its investment loss.

What HR Leaders Face: Plenty of Change and Uncertainty

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:20:47 -0400

“Nimble” is frequently used to describe how AEC human resources leaders responded to the cascade of challenges in the past year. On top of supporting field crews to help keep jobsites safe and productive amid Covid-19 outbreaks, HR teams scrambled to craft strategies for maintaining connections across a suddenly dispersed office workforce, sustain recruiting efforts with only limited access to prospective candidates and conduct sometimes difficult discussions of social justice issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.

NLRB Says Scabby the Rat, Other Inflatables, Can Remain at Secondary Boycott Protest Sites

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 18:25:00 -0400

The union protests were ruled protected speech by the National Labor Relations Board last week.