Who is ABC?
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of North Alabama is a construction industry association, representing commercial and industrial general and specialty contractors, suppliers, and professional associates.
 

We are an active advocate of free enterprise, smaller more efficient government and a level playing field at all levels of government. ABC was built on the merit shop concept. That is, we believe all contracts should be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. ABC fights to guarantee that right. Merit shop also means employers have the responsibility to develop a healthy, productive relationship with their workers. ABC provides services and programs to help facilitate that relationship. The merit shop concept and the free enterprise ethic go hand in hand.

Merit shop is more than just a way of doing business. There is a spirit of togetherness at ABC; it comes out in everything we do because we all share so many of the same interests. This spirit is the engine which keeps ABC running. You can be a part of it!

Almost 200 North Alabama companies entrust their industry needs to ABC of North Alabama.

ABC focuses on important needs within the our industry, including:

Business Development

Networking and current customer communication opportunities

Peer group networking for the collective wisdom of members of all sizes and resources

Networking events-informative monthly lunch meetings, breakfasts, golf tournaments, bass tournaments, sporting clay shoot, after hours socials Name recognition and awards on a local and national level

Training & Education

Broad range of courses-from introductory to intensive levels, publications and videos

Management training enables employee growth in all stages of careers

Executive development through lifelong learning opportunities that no one can match

Government Affairs

Effectively educates and motivates the state’s elected officials to promote a government responsive to the needs of the merit shop construction industry

Nationally, ABC has been rated by “Forbes” magazine among the top 40 associations for political effectiveness

ABC’s “National Construction Economic Update” is a timely bulletin, updated about four times a month with a wealth of construction industry charts, graphs, indicators and economic analysis

Services & Products

Members may take advantage of special discounts on goods and services purchased on a regular basis by doing business with companies who have established affinity programs with ABC, including GM and Ford truck/fleet discounts, Shell Oil, Office Depot, Blue Book, Fed Ex, Enterprise Fleet Management, Foundation Software, PayChex, Aramark, The Contractors Plan, and ConsensusDOCS.

Verizon Wireless savings program - ABC contractor members are eligible to receive a 20% discount on all new and existing Verizon Wireless calling plans and data services (with no change to existing terms of service).  Also, employees of participating companies are eligible for a 15% discount on their personal accounts.  Other program discounts and special offers also apply.  Discounts also available for Associate and Supplier members.

The Penn National property, casualty and auto insurance program, offered exclusively to ABC members, saves participating companies a substantial amount (up to 10%) on insurance premiums.  After one year of ABC membership and participating in this program, member companies are eligible to receive annual dividend checks.  In 2009, Penn National delivered checks totaling over half a million dollars to ABC member companies.   

We offer a scholarship program that awards employees (or children of employees) of member firms the opportunity to further their education in construction or a construction-related field.

Members receive one free consultation with a labor attorney for any union issue that may arise.

Information Resource

Free subscription to “Construction Executive” magazine read by more than 44,000 top management decision-makers in construction firms

Informative ABC Website for national and local chapters including a complete membership directory

Online newsletter that covers issues that matter to construction companies, their employees and the small business community

ABC/Penn National Property & Casualty Insurance Program
This exclusive insurance program offers competitive pricing, large group buying power, information and services to help reduce losses, and enhanced coverage endorsements on auto, general liability, property and business owners insurance.

If you are already insured with Penn National Insurance and a current member of the ABC of North Alabama Chapter, please tell your insurance agent that you are interested in enrolling in the program. If you are a member of the ABC of North Alabama Chapter but not insured through Penn National Insurance, please contact one of the independent agents listed in our Member Directory and ask about this money-saving program. 

Name recognition and branding are paramount in the construction industry. ABC offers several avenues to gain exposure for your company. These are just a few!

Excellence in Construction Awards
ABC’s Awards of Excellence Program has become the premier competition within the construction industry. It is your company’s chance to SHINE!!! It recognizes and publicizes the outstanding projects that you have been a part of or built. It increases awareness of the quality work produced by firms from our area and is a great marketing tool to set the stage for repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.  We publish an EIC magazine and send it to 8,000 targeted businesses all over North Alabama and Southern Tennessee.  In addition to the project entries, this magazine includes a complete list of member companies, contact names, phone numbers and company address.  

Sponsorships
Some ABC networking events are made possible by Member Sponsorships. Sponsors gain recognition at the sponsored event through program announcements, imprinted program materials, sponsor signs and other corresponding event materials.

ABC Website
Members can easily link from the ABC website. Members only need to provide their URL and staff will add the member’s listing to the ABC site, found at www.abcnalabama.org. All members are listed in the national web-based directory found at the website under “find contractor” or at www.findcontractors.com. To build your business, you can make your company stand out with a Corporate Profile on this searchable directory. More than 30,000 searches are conducted on this website each month. This service allows customers outside our area, to link to our website and locate contractors and vendors needed to meet their construction needs in our area.

Networking
ABC offers over 30 events and seminars each year to assist members with their networking needs. These events provide the perfect forum to create open lines of communication with clients, peers and prospects. With sporting events, scholarship fund raisers, awards programs and many other special events, ABC is sure to offer a networking venue that is right for your business.

A great way to become involved in the association is by joining a member-run committee. ABC has a committee that’s right for you! There are many to choose from and you are welcome to join multiple committees! You will soon be on your way to meeting a wonderful group of business contacts while promoting ABC programs. The following is a list of available committees:  Membership, Activities, Safety, Excellence In Construction, Workforce Development, Scholarship, Community Service, Legislative-PAC & Legal Rights and Strategies. 
 

• ABC has 78 professionally staffed chapter offices located throughout the country, representing almost 28,000 member companies, which local members can contact for assistance if they are doing a job in a different location.
• ABC performs the tasks that are very important to our member companies, but they don’t have the time, staff, or resources to accomplish for themselves.
• An association gives a voice to those who otherwise would not be heard and keeps members apprised of the industry trends in an ever changing market.
• Our chapter offers a free consultation with ABC of North Alabama’s labor attorney on any union issue.
• ABC recruits high school students to work in the construction industry.
• We offer scholarships for members, their employees and employee’s children, who are pursuing careers in a construction related field.
• ABC gives back to our local community through annual community service projects.
• In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "Every man owes a part of his time and money to the development of the industry in which he is engaged."

If you take into consideration the events, resources and opportunities ABC can provide your company and your employees, the question isn't "Why would you join ABC"? — it becomes "Why wouldn’t you join ABC"? 

Contact the ABC of North Alabama office - (256)355-1168, P.O. Box 6125, Huntsville, Alabama 35813