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NEWSLETTER April 2026: Admin Lunches, FDS Class, Online Safety Courses, and Davis-Bacon Made Easy

Updated: 1 day ago

By Stephanie Corken, April 1, 2026


April is packed with chapter meetings, admin luncheons across all three divisions, and NECA Emerge in Atlanta. Don’t forget to check out our members-only online safety courses. Looking ahead, Foreman Development sessions and Safety Break walks kick off in May. Plus, catch up on industry news around AI-driven demand for skilled trades, Davis-Bacon compliance resources, and the $100M BlackRock investment in workforce development. Scroll down for all the details!


📚 Chapter Meetings, Education Courses, & Safety Classes


CHAPTER MEETINGS:

🤝280 LMCC | Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 1-2 p.m. | Central Electrical Training Center 

🦺280 Safety | Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 4-5 p.m. | Central Electrical Training Center

🦺659 Safety | Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | 11 a.m. -12 p.m. | Crater Lake Electrical Training Center

🤝659 LMCC | CANCELLED


LOCAL IN-PERSON EVENTS & TRAINING:

Administrative Professionals Luncheon - UPDATED DATES


Foreman Development Series


Safety Break for Oregon Safety Walks

  • Crater Lake 659 Division: May 11, 2026

  • Cascade 280 Division (Prineville): May 12, 2026

  • Cascade 280 Division: May 13, 2026

  • Sunset 932 Division: May 14, 2026


NATIONAL IN-PERSON EVENTS & TRAINING:

🛠  NECA Emerge | Atlanta, GA | April 13-25, 2026

📜 NECA Legislative Conference | Washington, D.C. | May 4-6, 2026

🦺 Safety Professionals Conference | Atlanta, GA | May 18-20, 2026

🎓 Advanced Executive Leadership Institute | Durham, NC | May 31-June 5, 2026

🌟 Future Leaders Conference | Pittsburgh, PA | June 15-17


WEBINARS & VIRTUAL LEARNING:

🎓 Worker’s Compensation Insurance SAIF | Webinars and Classroom Trainings available year-round:

🤖Boring AI: Automating Repetitive Tasks | Thursday, May 7 | 3:00 PM ET

📝Basic Estimating of Electrical Construction | Monday, June 15 - Friday, June 26, 2026 | 10:00 AM -12:00 PM ET

🧮Advanced Estimating Strategies | Monday, June 15 - Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM ET



March Reports Are Open in EPRLive

March payroll reports are now open in EPRLive.

Benefit payments must be received before the 10th and are considered late after the 15th. If the 15th falls on a weekend or bank holiday, payments are due the Friday before.


⚠️ There are no exceptions or grace periods due to NEBF policies and IRS regulations related to 401(k) contributions. Payments are processed by date received, not postmarked date.


If you are unable to make your payment, you must still file all payroll reports in EPRLive by the 15th. Zero-hour reports are required even if no work was performed.


ACH payments through EPRLive remain the preferred method to avoid mailing delays. Instructions for setting up electronic payments are linked here.


Failure to meet the 15th deadline may result in liquidated damages and interest.


Please ensure your payroll team or third-party provider is aware of these requirements.


If you have any questions, reach out to Melinda.



Administrative Professionals Luncheon

We’re excited to invite you and your office’s administrative team to our annual NECA/IBEW LMCC Administrative Professionals Luncheon, a special opportunity to recognize and celebrate the professionals who keep our shops organized, our projects moving, and our contractors supported every day.


Behind every successful electrical contractor is a strong administrative team. This event is our way of saying thank you.


Date: Friday, April 17th, 2026

Time: 12 P.M.

Location: Medford, OR

Final venue information will be shared once attendance is confirmed. 


Date: Monday, April 20th, 2026

Time: 12 P.M.

Location: Coos Bay, OR 

Final venue information will be shared once attendance is confirmed.


Date: Tuesday, April 21st, 2026

Time: 12 P.M.

Location: Salem, OR

Final venue information will be shared once attendance is confirmed.


Date: Thursday, April 30th, 2026

Time: 12 P.M.

Location: Newport, OR

Final venue information will be shared once attendance is confirmed.


Please share this invitation with your administrative staff, office managers, executive assistants, and support team members.


To help us plan accordingly, kindly return the completed attendee form by Friday, April 3, 2026.


We look forward to honoring the individuals who play such an important role in powering your operations and our industry.



Make Time to Connect in 2026

One of the biggest advantages of being part of NECA is the chance to step away from the day-to-day and connect with contractors who understand the work.

We’ve got three strong events lined up this year, each designed to help you recharge and build relationships across the chapter.


⚾ Picnic at the Park – Eugene Emeralds GameJune 26, 2026 | EugeneA family-friendly evening with food, baseball, fireworks, and time to connect with NECA and IBEW Local 280 members. Register HERE.


🚤 Hellgate Jetboat Excursion & DinnerAugust 15, 2026 | Grants PassA high-energy jetboat ride through Hellgate Canyon, followed by dinner and time with fellow contractors.


❄ Winter Holiday Meeting – Salishan Coastal LodgeDecember 5, 2026 | SalishanA chance to wrap up the year with great food, live music, and time with your peers and families.


These events are built by contractors, for contractors. They are some of the best opportunities all year to stay connected.

We look forward to seeing you there!



LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT: Are Oregon Legislators Actually Competing for Your Vote?

Energy codes, prevailing wage rules, apprenticeship funding, permitting timelines. These all flow through the Oregon Legislature. So it matters that out of 30 Senate seats, only four or five see a real contest, and just eight to 10 of 60 House seats are truly competitive. For most districts, the election is over before November even starts.


A recent analysis by Rick Metsger of The Political Center explores how we got here and what a more competitive map could look like. His hypothetical model, built on county lines and multi-member districts similar to Oregon's pre-1960s system, would push competitive Senate seats from five to roughly 20 and competitive House seats from about 10 to over 40. That would mean candidates actually have to earn a broad base of support, including from the contractors, project managers, and business owners who keep this state running.

NECA represents your interests in Salem and Washington, D.C., no matter who holds office. But when elected officials face real competition, they are more likely to listen to what our industry needs. That is worth paying attention to.



Elevate Your Safety Expertise — On Us!

Through our longstanding partnership with Integrity Safety, we offer complimentary access to a full library of online safety training courses. Designed for the modern professional, these courses empower you with state-of-the-art safety protocols, including advanced electrical safety practices, to ensure that every spark is controlled and every connection remains secure.


Training Built for the Work You’re Doing

These courses cover the real risks your crews face every day:

  • CPR, AED, First Aid & Bloodborne Pathogens

  • Fall Protection & Competent Person Training

  • Confined Space – Competent Person

  • Excavation, Trenching & Shoring

  • Aerial Lift Safety

  • Rigging & Hoisting

  • Lift Director

  • Lead Awareness

  • And more


Take Advantage of It

If it’s been a while since you logged in, or if your team hasn’t used it yet, this is an easy win.

👉 Register your account HERE!



📱 Connect with us on social media


Follow us on social media for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive insights.

We’d love to hear from you! Engage with our posts, share your thoughts, and connect with like-minded professionals.



Applications Now Open: 2026 NECA Project Excellence Awards

The NECA Project Excellence Awards recognize the most outstanding electrical construction projects completed by NECA contractors across 13 market sectors.

Winners are honored on stage at NECA’s Annual Convention this October, putting your company in front of industry leaders, peers, and future partners.


Why Apply?

  • National recognition for your company

  • Visibility at NECA’s Annual Convention

  • Industry credibility and differentiation

  • A chance to celebrate your team’s excellence

If your team delivered a project you’re proud of, this is your opportunity to showcase it.


Eligible Projects

Projects must have been completed in 2025.You may submit multiple projects, but only one per category. Categories include Commercial/Institutional, Design-Build, Industrial, and more.


📅 Submission Deadline: July 13, 2026


Let’s make sure ORPAC NECA contractors are well represented. If you’re considering applying, the Chapter office is here to support you.


Apply HERE!



Davis-Bacon Compliance Made Simpler

Compliance isn’t complicated because it’s hard… It’s complicated because there are many moving pieces.

The good news: you don’t have to manage it alone.


Start with the Right Resources

If you’re working through prevailing wage requirements, these are worth a look:


Prevailing wage work can be a strong part of your business when it’s managed right.

The right resources and tools make the difference.

For even more resources, check out LCP Tracker HERE.



$100M Investment Signals Strong Future for Skilled Trades

BlackRock has announced a $100 million initiative called Future Builders to expand training and career pathways in America’s skilled trades, aiming to support 50,000 workers over the next five years.


The announcement reflects what many contractors already see on the ground: demand for skilled electricians and other trades is growing fast as infrastructure investment accelerates.


Industry leaders, including Kenneth Cooper and David Long, emphasized that the NECA–IBEW apprenticeship model plays a key role in preparing the workforce needed to build and maintain the country’s energy, digital, and infrastructure systems.


Bottom line: The future of infrastructure depends on a strong pipeline of skilled trades professionals, and the electrical industry will continue leading that effort.

Read more at Engineering News-Record HERE.



AI Is Driving Demand for Skilled Trades

AI isn’t replacing electrical contractors; it’s creating more work for them.

Demand is rising fast for roles tied to infrastructure like data centers, power systems, and automation. And skilled trades are now harder to hire than office roles.


What This Means

AI runs on physical systems:

  • Power

  • Cooling

  • Maintenance


That’s our work.


As AI grows, so does the need for skilled electrical contractors.


The Takeaway

This isn’t a threat, it’s an opportunity.

Contractors who invest in training and workforce development will be the ones who stay ahead. NECA is here to support that, every step of the way.


Read the full article at Construction Dive HERE.



Construction Market Update: Where Construction Work Is Growing

Construction backlog ticked up slightly in February, but the work isn’t evenly spread across the industry.


What contractors are seeing right now:

• Data center construction is driving demand: Contractors working on data center projects reported about 11 months of backlog, significantly more than firms without projects in that sector. AI and digital infrastructure continue to fuel this growth.

• Larger contractors are carrying more work: Companies with over $100 million in revenue reported roughly 12 months of backlog, reflecting the rise of larger, more complex projects.

• Material and energy costs remain a concern: Rising input costs could put pressure on profit margins and hiring plans in the months ahead.


What it means for electrical contractors:

• Opportunities are growing in technology infrastructure and large-scale projects

• Workforce development and efficiency remain key to staying competitive

• Strong industry partnerships and training will help firms adapt as the market shifts

At NECA, we’re here to support our members with the training, resources, and connections needed to stay ahead.


Read the full article at Construction Dive HERE.



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