ABC – Coronavirus Legislative Update

Good morning,

The CARES Act just passed the House Friday afternoon by voice vote and is expected to be quickly signed into law by President Trump today. ABC wanted to provide some additional information on the bill’s small business and tax provisions for you and your members. Lawmakers will leave town again and return to their home districts as the nation continues to combat this medical and economic crisis. The Senate isn’t scheduled to be back for any votes until April 20th.

ABC also encourages members to consult with their tax accountants on these provisions to see what best fits their business needs. Feel free to share with your members and reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Paycheck Protection Program Overview:

The bill authorizes $2 trillion in federal funding for programs to support our nation’s hospitals and businesses, and the most critical of these programs for ABC and our members (a majority of which are small businesses) is the Paycheck Protection Program that authorizes $349 billion in forgivable loans from the Small Business Administration. PPP loans must be made during the period prior to June 30, 2020.

The bill defines eligibility for these loans as a small business, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a 501(c)(19) veteran’s organization, or Tribal business concern described in section 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act with not more than 500 employees, or the applicable size standard for the industry as provided by SBA, if higher. It also includes sole-proprietors, independent contractors, and other self-employed individuals as eligible for loans and allows businesses with more than one physical location that employs no more than 500 employees per physical location in certain industries, mainly franchise and food services, to be eligible.

The bill requires eligible borrowers to make a good faith certification that the loan is necessary due to the uncertainty of current economic conditions caused by COVID-19, and that they will use the funds to retain workers and maintain payroll, lease, and utility payments; and are not receiving duplicative funds for the same uses from another SBA program.

PPP Loans:

PPP loans can be as large as 250% of a business’s average monthly payroll costs over the last 12 months, however, the maximum loan amount under this program is $10 million through December 31, 2020. It also specifies allowable uses of the loan to include payroll support, such as employee salaries, paid sick or medical leave, insurance premiums, and mortgage, rent, and utility payments.

PPP loans are made by SBA-certified lenders (over 800 financial institutions currently), in all 50 states, through delegated authority from the SBA. In addition, the SBA Administrator and Secretary of Treasury may further authorize additional lenders to join the program, as needed. SBA-certified lenders simply need to verify that a small business was in operation on February 15, 2020, and paid employee salaries and payroll taxes or paid independent contractors, as reported on Form 1099- MISC, for eligibility in the PPP.

The SBA is required to issue regulations on the application process within 15 days after the enactment of the CARES Act, and ABC will be sure to provide updates on any agency guidance that comes out.

Loan Forgiveness:

Principal amounts on PPP loans, for the first 8-week period from when the PPP Loan is made, may be forgiven, if loan funds are used to cover payroll costs, interest payments on mortgages (not including prepayments or principal), rent and utilities.

The amount of a PPP loan that may be forgiven cannot exceed the principal amount of the loan. The amount forgiven will be reduced proportionally by any reduction in employees retained compared to the prior year and reduced by the reduction in pay of any employee beyond 25 percent of their prior year compensation. To encourage employers to rehire any employees who have already been laid off due to the COVID-19 crisis, borrowers that re-hire workers previously laid off will not be penalized for having a reduced payroll at the beginning of the period.

Tax Provisions:

Other critical provisions in the bill include tax provisions that will help businesses maintain liquidity through this national crisis.

  • Retention Tax Credit. Creates a refundable payroll tax credit for 50 percent of wages paid by employers to employees during the COVID-19 crisis.
    • Qualifying Employers are those whose (1) operations were fully or partially suspended, due to a COVID-19-related shut- down order, or (2) gross receipts declined by more than 50 percent when compared to the same quarter in the prior year.
    • For employers with greater than 100 full-time employees, qualified wages are wages paid to employees when they are not providing services due to the COVID-19-related circumstances described above.
    • For eligible employers with 100 or fewer full-time employees, all employee wages qualify for the credit, whether the employer is open for business or subject to a shut-down order.
    • The credit is capped at $10,000/quarter per employee, including health benefits paid.
    • The credit is provided for wages paid or incurred from 3/13/2020 through 12/31/2020.
  • Delay of payment of employer payroll taxes. Payment would be due over the course of two years with half due 12/31/2021 and the balance due 12/31/2022. 
  • Modification for net operating losses (NOL). This provision would allow five-year carryback for 2018, 2019, and 2020 tax years, respectively.
  • Modification of limitation on losses for taxpayers other than corporations. The 80 percent carryback limitation would be lifted for pass-through entities to harmonize with corporate NOL treatment for 2018, 2019, and 2020.
  • Modification of credit for prior year minimum tax liability of corporations. This would accelerate the ability of companies to recover AMT credits in the form of refunds.
  • Modification of limitation on business interest. This would loosen the limitation on interest deduction to 50 percent of EBITDA for 2019 and 2020.
  • Technical amendments regarding qualified improvement property (QIP). This fix to the so-called “retail glitch” would unlock $15 billion in liquidity for QIP expenses incurred by hard-hit sectors like restaurants, hotels, and retail, among others.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act—DOL Resources

On March 26, the U.S. Department of Labor issued additional guidance explaining paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act:

ABC Coronavirus Update webpage:  https://abc.org/coronavirus

Additional updates will be sent as they become available.

Thank you, and BE SAFE!

Masie Reece

North Central Council Manager – Accounts Payable

ABC Headquarters

5001 North Shadeland Ave.

Indianapolis IN, 46226

masie@abcindianakentucky.org

  317.596.4950    x107  

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 Pandemic

As ABC members, business owners, and managers, we want to help prepare you for changes stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Attached you will find an update from ABC National’s attorney, Littler Mendelson P.C. regarding the Senate approved bill that is expected to become law. This bill includes information on the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act, Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Tax Credits and Other Efforts, Going Forward: Economic Stimulus, More Employment Provisions?. We hope you find this information helpful.

In addition, today Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb held a press conference which covered the following:
• Extending the state of emergency another 30 days once it expires April 30
• The closing of K-12 schools until May 1
• Economy updates – includes low interest small business loans
• Unemployment Insurance Benefits
• Housing
• Social Services
• Insurance
• BMV
• Veterans
• Health and Professional Licensing

A copy of the press release is attached, and to see the press conference video, see below.

As you are aware, ABC apprenticeship classes were cancelled through March 26. The Trust Board will reevaluate and provide an update by the end of next week.

There are helpful handouts and posters available in regard to COVID-19 available HEREABC National Attorney Recent Development.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

We are all in this together, so be healthy, be safe and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need us!

ABC National Attorney Recent Development

Excellence in Construction Award Gala Info

Please join us for a spectacular evening celebrating the best in Merit Shop Construction at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station

Last day to Register will be on September 13th

ABC has reserved a block of hotel rooms at the Crowne Plaza for our traveling guest – please let them know you are apart of the ABC Construction Awards Gala when reserving the rooms!

Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station
123 West Louisiana Street
Indianapolis, IN 46225
317-631-2221

Congratulations to our 2019 Graduates!

ABC INKY was thrilled to watch our graduates excel in thier respective programs and take home some recognition for following thier passion while working hard,  To see all event pics, CLICK HERE.

Join Us for the 2019 Craft Championships!!

Sponsorships are available.

We appreciate the support of all of our amazing members!

 

The National Political Circus

A letter from J.R. Gaylor
ABC Indiana/Kentucky President

So how do you cut through all of the political posturing to make a meaningful difference when the November elections come around? You want your voice heard, but you are not sure what the legalities are. You may question, can I talk to my employees about political matters? Short answer: You cannot direct employees who to vote for or against. Period. BUT you are not helpless. ABC is here to help. I recommend two new websites just released for the very purpose of educating our members.

ABC Votes is intended for you and your management team (the restricted class of your company). It contains everything you need to make an informed decision on Election Day-Including Do’s and Don’ts for communicating with ALL of your employees and the candidate’s positions on the issues that impact our industry. You can also customize the WeBuildAmerica website to include your company logo and personalize their experience.

WeBuildAmerica is ABC’s brand new online (and mobile friendly) election portal intended for ALL employees of your company. It focuses more on the importance of voting, how and where to do so—there is even an intro video to help articulate that message.

In our world today, everything is politicized. ABC coined the phrase many years ago. ‘Get into Politics or Get out of business’. What that means is that the rules that govern how we do business comes as the result of the political/governmental process. Elections matter. They determine who the decision makers are that govern. The forces against free enterprise and our way of doing business are even stronger. So, no matter how much you don’t like the political happenings in our world, we cannot sit on the sidelines. No other organization fights the political battles for your company like ABC.

ABC Craft Professionals Rank in the Top 3 at the National Craft Championships

Long Beach, CA, 3/22/18– Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky (ABC) brought home four medals at this year’s National Craft Championship competition in Long Beach, CA. The apprentices from Indiana/Kentucky competed alongside 170 of the association’s top craftsmen from 28 states. Apprentices can win a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Safety medal for their performance.  “The National Craft Championships is a great opportunity to show off the exceptionally skilled and well-trained craftsmen and women that work on Associated Builders and Contractors member job-sites,” said 2018 ABC National Past Chair Chuck Goodrich, president of Gaylor Electric Inc. Indianapolis. “ABC looks forward to showing off the very best the merit shop construction industry has to offer and drawing needed attention to the terrific career opportunities available in the construction industry.”

The competitors from Indiana/Kentucky received the following awards:

HVAC
Silver Medal, Austin Tingler, DEEM LLC (Indianapolis, IN)
Instrumentation
Silver Medal, Lucas Anderson, Gaylor Electric Inc. (West Lafayette, IN)
Plumbing
Silver Medal, Geoff Lippert, Ellis Mechanical Inc. (Indianapolis, IN)
Sprinkler Fitting
Bronze  Medal, Zach Dague, Brenneco Fire Protection (Flora, IN)
ABC Indiana/Kentucky also recognizes the following Craft Champions who competed:

Travis Helmuth, Electrical- Commercial/Industrial, J.O. Mory (Ft. Wayne, IN)
Justin Spivey, Pipefitting, DEEM LLC (Indianapolis, IN)
Randy Waterman, Carpentry, Ancon Construction (Goshen, IN)
Mark Zeller, Electrical- Commercial/Residential, Huff Electric (Indianapolis, IN)

Finally, Gene Senter, an Electrical 3 Instructor for the chapter, was recognized as a National Craft Instructor of the Year Finalist.

In addition to the strong performance of our apprentices, ABC of Indiana/Kentucky received 3 membership awards (for achieving 90% retention, for achieving growth, and meeting our annual membership goal for 2017) at the annual Chapter Awards Luncheon. ABC Indiana/Kentucky is thrilled with the high performance of our chapter at the 2018 National Craft Championships!

Congrats to Our Recent Grads!

ABC Indiana/Kentucky Congratulates our 2 year Foreman training graduates and ABC Instructor Glen Brock for leading such a great group.

2017 Year in Review

Based on the merit shop philosophy, ABC helps members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they live and work.

READ THE FULL 2017 YEAR IN REVIEW

ABC of Indiana/Kentucky Hosts 2017 Merit Shop Construction Awards Gala

Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky (ABC) hosted the annual Merit Shop Construction Awards Gala last Thursday night at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. The purpose of the Gala is to recognize Excellence in Merit Shop Construction. ABC Members from across the chapter submit a variety of projects to compete for the esteemed “Award of Excellence” and “Award of Merit.” Projects are evaluated on criteria including Safety, STEP- status*, and Constructability. A panel of judges (comprised of industry experts) review submissions and name winners. The Gala is a great opportunity for the construction industry to come together and celebrate the accomplishments of our ABC members. In addition to the Awards of Excellence and Merit, the ”James W. Rabold Safety Award” and the “S. Douglas Trolson Image Award” for member engagement are presented.

This year, the event featured Warren Central J-ROTC for the presentation of the colors, followed by the National Anthem sung by Joanna Reinhardt. Al Wurster, of Wurster Construction, gave the invocation. At the ceremony, more than 30 projects were recognized – 90 Awards of Excellence and 50 Awards of Merit were presented to those involved. Our Presidential Sponsor, Gaylor Electric Inc., presented Meyer Najem with the evening’s Presidential Award, as they earned the highest overall score for their Community Cancer Center North project. Paul Zuranski (Gaylor Electric Inc.) and Larry Sheets (RLTurner Corporation) were presented with Rabold awards by Mr. Rabold himself. Both Paul and Larry are exemplary models of safety in our industry and thanks to their hard work and passion, ABC contractors continue to lead the industry in safety. Finally, J.R. Gaylor presented two members (Fredericks, Inc. Contractors, and Commercial Trade Source) with the S. Douglas Trolson Awards for member engagement. Both contractors are avid supporters of the Association and our members.

Details on the winning projects can be found in the Indianapolis Business Journal (starting October 10th) and featured HERE on our website.  For those with winning projects outside of the Indianapolis area, ABC will work with your local news outlet to share your achievements.

To learn more about the Merit Shop Construction Awards Gala, contact Catrona Lanctot at cat@abcindianakentucky.org

*Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) is a certification we encourage all members to pursue. A STEP certified contractor is a minimum of 150% safer on the job than the industry average. For more info: abc.org/STEP

 

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Associated Builders and Contractors ABC) is a national construction industry trade association representing nearly 21,000 chapter members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 70 chapters help members develop people, win work and delivery that work safety, ethically, profitably and for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its member work. Visit us at www.abcindianakentucky.org