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On March 31, the Biden administration released a more than $2 trillion infrastructure outline titled the “American Jobs Plan.” While the plan calls for federal spending over the next eight years to improve the nation’s infrastructure, including for transportation, broadband, energy, and drinking water, it also includes funding for schools and child-car

At the ABC national convention, Tim Mongeau, director of workforce development, announced the pilot of the new online Workforce Development Management System. The WDMS is a simple yet comprehensive self-assessment to evaluate an organization’s current workforce development program to identify opportunities for enhancement and validate they’re on the right track.

From March 7-13, ABC celebrated Women in Construction Week to raise awareness of the growing role of women in the construction industry and encourage women to consider a career in construction. ABC demonstrated the success of women in the industry through social media posts, letters to the editor and op-eds published in various media outlets.

On Feb. 17, President Biden rescinded the Trump Administration’s Executive Order 13801, which promoted industry-recognized apprenticeship programs, and expressed his support for the House-passed and ABC-opposed National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. ABC is working with lawmakers to reconsider these rulemakings and to advocate for an all-of-the-above workforce development strategy.

On Oct. 27, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan attended the grand opening of ABC Greater Baltimore Chapter’s new Construction Education Academy, located at a Project C.O.R.E site in East Baltimore. This new state-of-the-art facility will house the largest concentration of building trade apprenticeship programs in the state, enabling ABC Greater Baltimore to train up to 5,000 skilled workers each year, doubling their current capacity.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service announced an Apprenticeship Pilot Program that will identify, track and increase the number of transitioning service members and their spouses hired into registered apprenticeship programs prior to separation from the military. The pilot will run from 2020 through early 2021 and will take place at eight military installations across the United States that were chosen in collaboration with the Department of Defense.

On June 4, President Trump signed executive order 13927, which directs federal agencies to expedite the delivery of transportation infrastructure projects, an action ABC said will streamline permitting and facilitate infrastructure improvements while protecting the environment, health and safety.

On March 16, as a result of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship, released Bulletin 2020-51 to provide flexibility regarding the requirements for approval for related instruction and reiterate that related instruction may be delivered electronically.

ABC has assembled Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources to help our chapters and members quickly access the latest information and guidance regarding the coronavirus. Resources such as COVID-19 Toolbox Talks, both in English and Spanish, are now available. Other resources, including sample continuity plans and project shutdown and startup procedures are also available.

Construction Spending Source: Census Bureau Value of Construction Put in Place Survey Annual Historical Data and “Annual Total Table”