The State of Wyoming Construction Management Department will be holding an informative construction meeting on Monday, May 11th in Cheyenne, 10 AM to 2 PM in Room B63 of the Herschler Building. RSVPS are requested before April 30.
The main focus of the meeting will be alternative delivery methods available to state agencies to build public buildings.
However, many ABC of Wyoming members may be interested in attending the meeting as concerns have been raised about more and more non-resident contractors obtaining state construction jobs through the use of non-traditional delivery methods.
At the ABC of Wyoming Convention in Cody, members made it clear that they wanted Wyoming’s construction laws consolidated and revised to provide clarity as well as reinstating the resident preference to 51% ownership as well as the original 80/20 resident contractor ratio. State law must be clear about how preference applies to government entities and every delivery method.
Governor Dave Freudenthal has made it clear that continuing the state’s construction programs, including schools, is a top priority to help the state better weather the national economic downturn.
Wyoming has the dubious distinction as having the highest per-capita payout under President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Much of this money will be used for construction projects in the state with over $82 million for school renovations and repairs.
However, concern remains over a number of projects the ARRA will fund, including how much red tape will have to be slogged through, and how much of this work will actually go to local contractors.
These topics and many more are likely to be discussed and brought to the attention of state officials at the May 11th meeting.
For more information, please contact Phil Kiner , Deputy Administrator, State of Wyoming Construction Management (307) 777-8516 or email twales@state.wy.us.