Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas are pleased to see funding for the State Apprenticeship Program preserved in the long debated 2015-2017 North Carolina State Budget, which was passed by the House and Senate. It will now head to Governor Pat McCrory's desk for signature.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, the minimum wage for workers on covered federal contracts and service contracts will increase to $10.15 per hour from $10.10 per hour in 2015. The increase is dictated by the Oct. 7, 2014, Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division final rule that implemented Executive Order 13658.

To read more, click here.

ABC's unique quarterly Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) gives ABC members and the broader construction community a look at the future economic health of the construction industry by measuring the amount of work companies are contracted to complete in the months and years ahead. CBI is a forward-looking indicator compiled from surveys completed monthly by ABC members indicating the amount of work under contract but yet to be completed in the months and years ahead. All reported data is confidential, if you're not participating, sign up today.

Encouraging the young professionals in your organization to grow both professionally and personally can have a major impact on your overall business. During ABC's Leadership Development Track, Nov. 11-12, in San Diego, Calif., young professionals in your company will learn the skills needed to become leaders and team players and to communicate effectively with your clients and other industry professionals.

BEAM Club is a program to reward our volunteer leaders and members for all of their efforts in growing ABC's membership. Furthermore, the program is a tool that can be used to generate enthusiasm as well as healthy competition while promoting membership recruitment to all of your chapter's members.

The Carolinas Chapter of ABC continues to grow and become stronger every day. Our current members are a vital part of this process through their recruitment efforts among colleagues and competition alike. As we say, More Members, More Clout! It is now time for us to recognize and give something back to those who have brought in the most new members with ABC's Beam Club program. This initiative was introduced by ABC National and will track the cumulative number of new members a current member brings in over the years.

• Beam Club: Sponsor 5 new members. Receive a Beam Club plaque, golf shirt and lapel pin.
• Merit Level: Sponsor 10 new members. Receive a Merit Level plaque as well as a $100.00 gift card.
• Merit Level Plus: Sponsor 15 new members. Receive a Merit Level Plus plaque and a $150.00 gift card.
• Presidential Level: Sponsor 25 new members. Receive a Presidential Level plaque and a $200.00 gift card.
• Hall of Fame Level: Sponsor 50 new members. Receive a Hall of Fame Level plaque and a $300.00 gift card. Member's name will also be featured in ABC's monthly newsletter, Newsline, and listed on the Hall of Fame Wall at ABC National's headquarters in Washington, DC.
• Chairman's Level: Sponsor 100 new members. Receive a Chairman's Level plaque and a $500.00 gift card. Member's name will also be featured in ABC's monthly newsletter, Newsline, and listed on the Chairman's Wall at ABC National's headquarters in Washington, DC.