Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released its annual Merit Shop Scorecard, ranking Florida the No. 1 business environment in the U.S. for merit shop construction contractors, according to www.wfmj.com. ABC's ranking rates states regarding policies and programs that encourage open competition, workforce education and job growth, as well as the inclination to award construction contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation. Florida moved up eight positions compared with 2017.
"Florida's executive branch and legislature have built a robust economic and business environment that allows merit shop construction contractors to thrive," says George Cuesta, president of ABC of Florida, which has 2,500 active members.
Florida received "A" rankings for all the major categories, including project labor agreements; prevailing wage; right to work; public-private partnerships; workforce development incentives; career and technical education; and job growth rate.
Florida's successful Scorecard Rankings reportedly were helped by House Bills 599 and 377 signed into law in 2017. House Bill 599, Public Works Projects, is meant to promote a more open, competitive bid process for public construction projects, with state dollars representing 50 percent or more of the funding. House Bill 377, Limitations on Actions other than for the Recovery of Real Property, is meant to help clarify when and how Florida's 10-year Statute of Repose begins to run on a completed project.
For more information about Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard, click here.
