Masonry Magazine August 2012 Page. 48
INDUSTRY NEWS
The DOT's Bonding Education Program has resulted in more than $123 million in bonds. The program, based on SFAA's Model Contractor Development Program (MCDP), helps small and disadvantaged businesses qualify for surety bonding, so they can participate in public transportation-related contracts.
During the summer of 2010, the DOT kicked off the program in three locations. Fifty contractors completed the workshops in Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas, and total bonding in Dallas, alone, is more than $37 million to date.
In 2011, more than 200 contractors completed the Bonding Education Program in 10 cities throughout the country, resulting in $69.4 million in total bonding. Nine of the 14 programs planned for 2012 have been completed with impressive results - $17 million in bonding to date.
One of the highlights of the Bonding Education Program has been the successful outcome for participating Denver contractors, with bond amounts totaling $21 million in 2011, and $14 million in 2012. The program participants are benefiting from the area's job boom. The Association of General Contractors reported that from February 2011 to February 2012, the Denver-Aurora-Bloomfield metropolitan area had the most construction job gains out of 171 metro areas in the United States that added jobs during that time.
The Bonding Education Program features a series of educational workshops, during which participants learn how surety bonding relates to all aspects of their business operations, and specific approaches and techniques that result in a successful bond application. The program also employs a bond readiness component, consisting of one-on-one interactions with surety bond producers, underwriters and other professionals who help participants assemble the materials and information necessary for the bond application.
Preparing small and emerging contractors for surety bonding or increased bonding capacity is necessary for these contractors to play a significant role in government contracting. For many small companies,
MCAA Certification Calendar
The following is the MCAA's education calendar for certification:
August 15
Recognizing Protected and
Concerted Activity
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics and Business
Practices
Credits: 1
August 22
Improving Team Performance with
High Payoff Activities
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics and Business
Practices
Credits: 1
August 29
Improve and Maximize Field
Productivity
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics and Business
Practices
Credits: 1
September 5
Miller Act Claims
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics and Business
Practices
Credits: 1
September 18
MCAA Safety Forum -TBD
ONLINE
Safety
Credits: 1
September 19
The Benefits of Renting Vs. Buying
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics and Business
Practices
Credits: 1
August 29
Grow Your BIZ -
How to Win More Contracts and
Find New Customers
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics and Business
Practices
Credits: 1
October 3
How Mason Contractors Can
Become Invincible to Lawsuits and
Save Thousands in Taxes
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics & Business
Practices
Credits: 1.5
October 10
Defending Independent
Contractor Status
ONLINE
Discipline: Ethics & Business
Practices
Credits: 1
October 17
Green Building with Stone
ONLINE
Discipline: General
Credits: 1
October 24
Make More Money! - Numbers
Contractors Need To Know To
Make A Profit
ONLINE
Discipline: Bidding Practices
Credits: 1
October 31
Introduction to Structural
Repair of Masonry
ONLINE
Discipline: Masonry Products
Credits: 1
ONLINE
29 CFR 1926 Subpart
R Steel Erection
Discipline: Safety
Credits: 1
ONLINE
Analyzing Financial Statements
Advanced
Discipline: Ethics & Business
Practices
Credits: 3
ONLINE
Arbitration and Mediation
Discipline: Ethics & Business
Practices
Credits: 2
ONLINE
Beryllium and Cadmium Hazards
in the Workplace
Discipline: Safety
Credits: 1
ONLINE
Bloodborne Pathogens
Discipline: Safety
Credits: 1
ONLINE
Brick Efflorescence, Stains and
Cleaning
Discipline: Masonry Products
Credits: 1.5
Online classes available at www.masoncontractors.org.
We now offer Masonry Live Education Webinars on
Wednesdays at 9 a.m. CST.
For more information or to register for any of these programs, please go to
http://certification.masoncontractors.org/education/index.php