Industry Advancement Through Collective Action

Hosts regular meetings for member companies to discuss current industry issues, developments, and best practices in residential construction.

Produces and hosts public events such as the Parade of Homes, Home & Garden Show, and golf outings to showcase residential construction advancements and engage the community in Central New York.

Produces educational video content and a weekly call-in radio show that offer guidance on homeownership preparation, water conservation, contractor selection, and DIY home repair, drawing on over 28 years of industry expertise.

Provides scholarships to students pursuing education in residential construction fields and participates in job fairs to promote career opportunities in the building industry.

Funds up to $2,000 per student per year for undergraduate education, supporting 24 students in 2024 through its scholarship program.

Provides information and education to engineers, architects, public officials, contractors, builders, property owners, and the general public about plumbing industry standards and objectives.

Advocates at the state level for legislative and regulatory policies that support the residential construction industry, including opposing mandatory fire sprinkler requirements, expansion of prevailing wage laws, and the All-Electric Building Act, while promoting housing feasibility and business-friendly reforms. Engages in coalition-building and mobilizes members to influence policy outcomes.

Funds the William Morehouse Scholarship to support students pursuing education in the residential construction industry, providing financial assistance to advance workforce development in the sector.

Commissions and publishes research studies on key regulatory and technical issues affecting residential construction, including the feasibility of fire sprinkler systems, public perception of the All-Electric Building Act, and the impact of expanded wetlands regulations on housing development.

Offers capacity-building resources such as a seven-part webinar series on energy code compliance and develops self-assessment worksheets to help builders evaluate eligibility for SEQRA exemptions based on project characteristics.

Supports member firms by navigating political, legal, and regulatory challenges, including negotiating labor agreements in the highway construction sector, conducting hundreds of annual specification reviews, and bringing specification-related matters to court 41 times to set legal precedents in competitive bidding law.

Funds scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 annually to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in civil engineering, construction management, construction technology, and diesel technology. Has distributed nearly $1.6 million in scholarships to 669 students and awarded over $347,000 through the Paul B. Richards Memorial Scholarship program since 1987. Offers renewable scholarships of up to $2,000 per year for up to four years.

Offers a 40-hour Project Manager Development Program launched annually in Albany, supervisory training delivered to over 128,000 supervisors over 30+ years, and has graduated 518 professionals from the Construction Leadership Academy between 1998 and 2022.

Provides mobile and desktop-compatible sexual harassment prevention training that meets New York State requirements, with annual completion mandated for all employees and initial training required by October 9, 2019.

Provides annual grants to 14 student chapters at colleges in New York for field trips, competitions, and educational materials since 1997, supporting students in construction degree programs.

Organizes a three-day conference in Saratoga Springs, NY, attended by over 1,000 people, featuring sessions on legal issues, technology, design and code changes, environmental regulations, and business management. The event includes meal provisions for booth renters and offers booth rentals at member and non-member rates.

Maintains a network of 95 chapters to ensure presence in every state and local community, providing support to member firms in the construction industry over a 91-year period to improve financial performance.

Offers guaranteed compensated internships for students in civil engineering, construction management, or related technical fields through collaboration with NYSDOT, ACEC NY, and AGC NYS. Places students in construction-season roles such as transportation construction inspection or engineering support.