 Wabash Valley Contractors Association Members:
Unfortunately, we have learned that we will not be able to hold our Annual Christmas Party this year that was scheduled for December 4, 2020. Due to the rise of COVID-19 cases, our governor has put in place restrictions that will not allow us to get together for our party this holiday season. Not only is our Christmas Party an event that is enjoyed by all, it is also a major income for our Scholarship Fund. We are hopeful that maybe next year, once things have calmed down in the world, that we will be able to host an alternate event. On behalf of the Wabash Valley Contractors Association, enjoy the holiday season and please stay safe. Sincerely, Bill Hann, President Wabash Valley Contractors Association  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.” 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.
United we stand, building the Wabash Valley. Attention WVCA Members: It's time to register for the upcoming WVCA Annual Scholarship Golf Outing! The annual Golf Outing will take place on September 11th at the Hulman Links Golf Course with tee off at noon. Registration is due by August 7th, so get your teams together today!  Download the registration form below.
Yesterday was a day of celebration, as two local WVCA members came together to break ground on a new construction site in northern Terre Haute. Both First Financial Bank and CDI, Inc. were in attendance as plans for a modern new bank location were unveiled. This project will bring valued jobs to our community, and will include many more WVCA members as the project kicks off. We look forward to seeing this project come to life.  Congratulations to Wabash Valley Contractors Association member, Misco, for their new Grove Hydraulic Crane. This impressive, 5-axel addition was put to use during its first job last week. Misco Crane Services will be using this for custom crane work. Thanks, Misco, for your dedication to providing the best quality service for the Wabash Valley!  The Wabash Valley Contractors Association (WVCA) presented their annual scholarship awards during Thursday evenings bi-monthly member dinner. Five awards were presented to students who have shown exceptional academia over their college curriculum so far.
The scholarship recipients include Christian Biddle and Katherine Winning from Indiana State University, Stacy L. Payton from Ivy Tech Community College, Derrek Miller from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Logan T. Grim from Indiana University. Each student was selected for their outstanding academic performance and extracurriculars. “We look forward to this evening every semester,” states Bill Hann, WVCA President. “WVCA’s mission is to increase the development of local companies and their labor force in the Wabash Valley and that begins with education on any level. We will continue to encourage younger generations to seek out these opportunities.” 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 end-of-the-year Christmas party. WVCA has awarded over $63,000 dollars to eligible recipients since 2013 alone. The next round of scholarship applications are due on June 1, 2020. For applicant qualifications and the full application, visit www.wabashvalleycontractorsassociation.com/awards. Photo caption from left to right: Mike Waldbieser, WVCA Board Member; Bill Hann, WVCA President, Derrek Miller, scholarship recipient; Christian Biddle, scholarship recipient; John Hamblin, WVCA Board Member Wabash Valley Contractors Association (WVCA) started Thursday evening’s VIP Open House with a check presentation to welcome the new Under Construction Exhibit to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum. WVCA partnered with the museum for the exhibit as the title sponsor. The exhibit welcomes children of all ages to explore drawing, driving, lifting, welding and assembling much like the Wabash Valley’s electricians, operators, plumbers, architects, bricklayers and the many tradespeople who make up our region. Not only that, but the exhibit has been strategically scheduled to reflect the coming construction of the Terre Haute Convention Center with a birds-eye view of the site. As the region’s unified coalition for the construction industry throughout the Wabash Valley, WVCA’s sponsorship for the exhibit simply made sense. A focus of WVCA is ensuring individuals are educated and aware of the endless career opportunities within the trade union industries. In turn, the Under Construction Exhibit offers visitors insight into the career paths available in the construction industry amongst many hands-on learning opportunities. “We hope that our involvement adds an extra kick to the exhibit,” states WVCA President, Bill Hann. “Navigating the many career options is challenging and over-whelming. This is an opportunity for kids to think beyond traditional routes and we are here to answer questions and help navigate the many routes and opportunities of the trade union industry.” The Under Construction Exhibit officially opens on Friday, January 24, 2020 at 9 a.m. and is included with admission to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.  (l to r) Bill Hann, Jr., WVCA Presenent; Susan Turner, THCM Executive Director; Katelynn Moats Libermann, THCM Board of Directors Vice Present; John Collett, WVCA Board of Directors Member.
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