The Wabash Valley Contractors Association (WVCA), in partnership with the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, continues to showcase a unique exhibit, Under Construction. The exhibit, made possible by WVCA members and the Museum’s dedication to educational experiences, originally opened in January of 2020. Overlooking the site of the coming Terre Haute Convention Center, the exhibit has a unique bird’s-eye view of the progress taking place downtown.

Under Construction encourages children of all ages to explore drawing, lifting, welding and assembling much like the Wabash Valley’s trade experts. With the convention center’s construction directly across the street, visitors can apply the skills they are learning with tangible projects within the community.

“Our hope is to show kids that there are opportunities beyond traditional routes and career paths, understanding that workforce has been a huge topic of conversation lately,” states Bill Hann, Jr., President of WVCA. “Educating on the importance of the trade industry and allowing them to start thinking about occupations in general will help establish a foundational understanding for finding skilled and reliable employees for the future. We are grateful for the Children’s Museum and for all of those who believe in the importance of this and for continuing to make it a reality.”

The Terre Haute Children’s Museum and the exhibit is open Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sundays from 12:00 – 5:00 pm.

On behalf of the WVCA membership, we would like to thank Sgt. Matt Rains and Officer Anthony Mazzon from the Terre Haute Police Department, who spoke about the Special Response Training courses at our last dinner meeting. Concluding their presentation, the WVCA presented a check donation to their program. In addition, WVCA member companies Garmong Construction Services and Anna Wetnight, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, also presented donations to the program.

The Wabash Valley Contractors Association celebrated their members at the annual awards night dedicated to recognizing excellence within the industry and the association. 

“Every year, we have the opportunity to reflect on the excellent work of our members, and every year we recognize how every single member is truly making a difference and working for the betterment of the Wabash Valley,” states Bill Hann, Jr., President of WVCA. “The members recognized tonight are true leaders within our trades.” 

Rick Harruff of CDI, Inc., received the prestigious President’s Award. The President’s Award is the highest honor within the association. Harruff was recognized for his outstanding support and dedication to the construction industry, commitment to the trades, and support of the association.  

John Hamblin of Garmong Construction Services was awarded the Honorary Member Award. Hamblin’s many years of service are recognized through this award along with his passion and pledge to the industry.  
 
Mike Waldbieser of Michael R. Waldbieser Engineering & Consulting, Inc., was the recipient of the Cornerstone Award. The Cornerstone Award recognizes a progressive company for their contributions within the construction industry. 

The annual awards night also recognized students who have shown exceptional academic excellence over their college careers by awarding seven scholarships. Recipients include Emma Crossley of Indiana State University, Levi Herb of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, George Hosking of University of Southern Indiana, Derrek Miller of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Stacy Payton of Ball State University, Amanda Waldbieser of Purdue University and Alex Waugh of Indiana State University.  

WVCA began their scholarship program in 1999 to encourage higher education for students of the Wabash Valley. Every year, the scholarship funds are supported by membership fees, the annual golf outing held in September and the Christmas party. WVCA has awarded over $65,000 dollars to eligible recipients since 2013 alone.  

The next round of scholarship applications is due on June 1, 2021. 

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The 2021 member event schedule is now available on our website.
We are kicking off this year with the annual awards night, highlighting the scholarship recipients. As a reminder, please RSVP to sjulbert@ohdth.com if you plan on attending.

FEBRUARY 18: Dinner Meeting- Awards Night

APRIL 15: Dinner Meeting

JUNE 17: Dinner Meeting

AUGUST 19: Dinner Meeting

SEPTEMBER 10: Golf Outing

OCTOBER 21: Dinner Meeting

DECEMBER 3: Christmas Party

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch met with board members of the Wabash Valley Contractors Association (WVCA) to tour Terre Haute Children’s Museum exhibit, Under Construction, and visit the nearby Terre Haute Convention Center construction project. The Lt. Governor had the opportunity to speak with board members of the WVCA to highlight the impact of these major projects. According to the WVCA, half a billion dollars in construction investment is currently taking place in West Central Indiana. 

“I’m excited to see the type of collaboration that West Central Indiana is exhibiting between local and state elected officials, construction industry and community leadership,” states Senator Jon Ford. “It is collaborative efforts that make these investments possible. 
These projects represent growth and showcase the hard work of the Wabash Valley Contractors Association and the individuals continuing to move their communities forward.” 

With so many upcoming construction projects in the Wabash Valley, WVCA took the opportunity to highlight the positive momentum surrounding their members and their projects. Current construction projects include the Terre Haute Convention Center, the Terre Haute Veterans Affairs clinic as well as higher education institutions, municipalities and private investment projects in the Wabash Valley. 

“The Terre Haute Children’s Museum has a front row seat to the collaborative effort of the construction of the Terre Haute Convention Center,” states Susan Turner, the Terre Haute Children’s Museum Executive Director. “Our region is home to so many valuable trades that are a pivotal part in construction projects like the Terre Haute Convention Center. Our Under Construction Exhibit presents an amazing opportunity to teach and allow children to explore these trades and how to accomplish them all while having fun.” 

The Under Construction Exhibit at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum has a 3rd story view of the construction of the Terre Haute Convention Center. As children watch the construction, they too can interact with the different trades that take part in construction projects including masonry building, playing with excavators and bulldozers, learning about electricity and so much more. This exhibit was made possible thanks to the WVCA sponsorship. 

“On behalf of the Wabash Valley Contractors Association, I want to express my gratitude to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch for taking the time to visit and have conversations around the development of the construction projects happening here in the Wabash Valley,” states Bill Hann Jr., Board President of the Wabash Valley Contractors Association. “We are thankful for all of our WVCA members who make these projects possible. It’s an exciting time to be in West Central Indiana.” 
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The WVCA represents numerous contracts across West Central Indiana. These discussions promoted the development and showcased the museum and new construction investments throughout our region.

Work continued Friday on the convention center downtown, with crews drilling and filling some of the hundreds of pilings needed to support the $32 million project. Little did the crew know but as they worked before noon Friday, they had an audience with Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who watched for a moment from the third floor of the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.

In a sit-down facilitated by local public relations and lobbying firm RJL Solutions, Crouch met with representatives from the construction trades, Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett and Indiana Sen. Jon Ford to talk about all the projects currently underway in West Central Indiana. The group estimates $500 million is being invested in current projects throughout the Wabash Valley. Bill Hann Jr., president of the Wabash Valley Contractors Association and vice president at Hannig Construction Inc., said the construction boom is not just good for business in the short term, but good for the people of West Central Indiana for years to come.

“Just outside the window here you can see an enormous amount of work going on,” Hann said. “... You look out east at the coming casino project and the VA hospital that is going to be such a huge blessing for so many of our veterans who have been going to either Danville or Indianapolis.”

Crouch said renewed investment in the area is likely borne of strong leadership and collaboration between public and private entities.
“The kind of explosion of growth you’re seeing here in Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley is due to the strong leadership, especially in Mayor Bennett and Senator Ford,” Crouch said.“You have to have relationships and that leadership at the local and state level to get things done. And I think that is what you have and is somewhat responsible for your success.” Not wanting to draw direct comparisons to other locales around the state, Crouch said Terre Haute has been on an impressive roll and is helping drive growth in the state.

“It’s a great time to be in Terre Haute,” she said.

Ford attributes the area’s recent successes to local stakeholders visualizing what they want for the community and then advocating for them at the statehouse. “We have a community that has wanted opportunities and have gone after them when they’ve come along,” Ford said. “When we had the convention center and casino opportunities, folks came to the statehouse to build relationships and that’s what has really impressed me.

“... And we’re just beginning, I think there are a lot of opportunities we’re still chasing down.”
Bennett said as much, but also stressed the importance of seizing on the region’s momentum and not being content with what’s been achieved thus far. “We have a lot of positive things happening for us, and I think there are more on the way,” Bennett said after referring to the prospect of Terre Haute being a finalist to become home to the Air Force’s F-35 Foreign Military Sales Training Center.

Crouch also offered Bennett, Ford, Hann and others a chance to voice what regulations they think might pose as unnecessary roadblocks moving forward, especially given the budget issues Indiana faces as a result of COVID-19. Ford said he’d like to see Indiana peel back some of its restrictions on divisible load weight limits, saying it unnecessarily burdens some industries.

He’s been arguing the issue since he took the idea to summer study committee in 2019. Some other industries, including rail, oppose allowing higher weight limits for tractor trailers.Bennett, Hann and Mark Unger, president of Freitag-Weinhardt Inc., said easing some restrictions placed on construction companies and municipal governments might allow for some savings.


Article and images attributed to Tribune-Star.

​The 2020 Annual Scholarship Golf Outing was a success! Thank you to all who participated in this event. We value each of our members and sponsors who helped make this event a success. 
 
1st place: Crown Electric 
2nd place: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
3rd place: International Union of Operating Engineers and Central Wabash Valley Building Trades

 
Thank you to our sponsors:
 
AllTrade Solutions
Benchmark Steel
Case Building Solutions
Central Wabash Valley Building Trades
CDI, Inc.
Crown Electric, Inc.
First Financial Bank
Freitag-Weinhardt
Garmong Construction Services
Hannig Construction, Inc. 
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
Kirby Risk Electrical Supply
Lough Brothers Roofing & Siding Co.
MacAllister Rentals
Misco Enterprises 
NRK, Inc.
Old National Bank
ONI Risk Management
Overhead Door
Rapid Reproductions
Republic Services
SDR Coating, Inc.
Sentry Safety Services, Inc. 
Strode Construction
Sycamore Engineering
Terre Haute Chevrolet 

Without our members and unions, the Wabash Valley Contractors Association would not be able to accomplish its mission and purpose. On Labor Day, we honor those whose labor contributes to developments of their communities in America.
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United we stand, building the Wabash Valley.

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