Alten Construction Wraps Up Largest Project to Date at College of Marin
RICHMOND, Calif. — Alten Construction, a full-service San Francisco Bay Area commercial construction company, recently wrapped up its largest project to date with the completion of the Dr. David Wain Coon Center for Student Success at the College of Marin. Alten Construction was tasked with building a new 86,000-square-foot learning resource center located on the college’s Kentfield Campus at 835 College Avenue. Designed to be a holistic hub of student-centered services, the center integrates critical
Celebrating our Member Referral Partners - Thank You for Helping Us Build Our Community!
We would like to recognize and celebrate our wonderful REFERRAL PARTNERS! Interested in helping us BUILD OUR COMMUNITY? It's EASY! Click HERE for all the details2026:Ciaran Mackey, CMAC Construction, who referred Richie O'Sullivan, West Cork Welding (Special thanks to Ciaran, for pledging his bonus to our Workforce Development and Scholarship Fund again!)Tyra LaMar, Urban Painting, who referred Preston LaMar, LaMar ProductionsCiaran Mackey, CMAC Construction, who referred Garry Devaney, Hydro Flow
Now Recruiting Learning Leaders for Big Skills (Fall 2026)
The Big Skills Program is officially beginning recruitment for our next cohort of Construction Trainees, starting in August 2026. Big Skills offers construction skills training through hands-on, real-world learning — building a small house from scratch to completion. We are looking for highly motivated, reliable high school graduates (18+) with a desire to learn about the building trades. No experience is required. Construction Trainees will join our crews at our build sites in San Rafael and
Safety & Training Short - Heart Health - Diet
Take heart disease seriously: Everyone knows that a beating heart is fundamental to human survival, but very few people take steps to ensure that their heart is in good health. Each year heart disease tops the charts as the number one killer of Americans, even though there are many easy steps that can be taken to ward off this devastating medical condition. Diet is a key factor: One of the most common problems associated with heart disease is a poor diet. By regulating the foods you eat, you can take a
The Preliminary 20-Day Notice
Tool: The Preliminary 20-Day Notice Construction projects face all sorts of issues, not the least of which is payment to subcontractors, material suppliers, and general contractors. Failing to serve a preliminary 20-day notice, as required by California law, can leave you unpaid on troubled projects. Here’s what you need to know to protect your payment. The preliminary 20-day notice informs property owners, direct contractors, and construction lenders that you will provide, or have provided, labor,
Contractors License Guru Announces License Maintenance Support Services
&##128226; ANNOUNCEMENT: Never Miss a Deadline Again! &##128736;️ Maintaining your California Contractor’s License just got easier. Contractors License Guru is proud to announce our License Maintenance Support Services—designed to take the paperwork off your desk so you can stay focused on the job site. As every contractor knows, a lapsed license or a missed filing doesn't just mean a fine; it means your business stops. With the "Guru" on your side—Phil Cocciante, a former CSLB technician with over 20
Top 10 New Laws and Regulations Affecting California Employers
With 2026 now upon us, so is a slew of new laws and regulations that affect California businesses. Every year, laws passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor take effect, and 2025 was a busy legislative session in Sacramento. The end result is another wave of new legislation that California employers need to stay on top of. Here’s what California employers should be aware of.1. PROTECTED LEAVE EXPANDED AB 406, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, expands on revisions made in 2024 to
Safety & Training Short - Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Basics
Objective: To understand how to utilize a chemical's safety data sheet (SDS) to learn more about associated hazards.What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)? SDSs are required documents under the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard, which regulates the provision of information on hazardous chemicals in the workplace. OSHA updates this standard to remain aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), an
IN THE NEWS: Why construction hiring still isn’t working and what Hammerloop is designed to fix
Published by Under the Hard Hat January 27, 2026 Why construction hiring still isn’t working and what Hammerloop is designed to fix. Contractors keep winning work they can’t staff. It's a common problem that's yet to be solved despite construction being one of the largest industries in North America. It still relies heavily on word of mouth and outdated hiring tools. That gap is only growing, with the industry facing a projected shortage of nearly 500,000 workers in the coming year. That’s the
Zero Waste Marin Survey on Deconstruction
As we enter 2026, the Zero Waste Marin board has supported a year-long outreach campaign to improve the awareness of deconstruction in the county. To track the current awareness of deconstruction in Marin County please take the survey below. The survey is intended for contractors, architects, construction professionals in Marin County.Deconstruction Awareness Survey To view the infographic in Spanish, please click here.
Blood Donor Awareness Month
Did you know that January is Blood Donor Awareness month? Since 1970, fifty-six years and counting, every January celebrates the heroes who donate blood and blood-related products to help those with critical needs. January was selected to call attention to the year-round need for blood donations, especially during the winter months when weather, holiday travel, and seasonal illnesses can increase the risk of blood shortages. Blood cannot be manufactured. The only source is generous people willing to donate,
90-Second Home Hardening Videos for Building & Real Estate Professionals
Professionals who build, maintain, landscape, and sell homes play a critical role in wildfire resilience—often long before homeowners recognize their risk. In wildfire-prone regions like Marin County, research consistently shows that home hardening works, reducing how embers, flames, and radiant heat reach a structure. To support this work, Fire Safe Marin has created a series of 90-second videos that highlight practical, high-impact home-hardening strategies using clear visuals and real-world examples
Safety & Training Short - Lead Safety Basics
Objective: To communicate requirements for working safely with lead. Where is Lead Found? Lead is a chemical element that can be found as a toxic heavy metal or combined with other substances to form lead alloys. It’s often used to make batteries, ammunition, and other metal products. In the past, lead was regularly used in fuel, paint, ceramics, caulk, and pipe solder. Residual lead may still be present in older versions of these products as they age and deteriorate.Click here to download the training
County of Marin Announces the 2026–27 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
The County of Marin will open the 2026–27 funding cycle for federal and state housing and community development programs on January 19, 2026. The application period will close on February 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Estimated funding available this cycle includes: $1,500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, including approximately $430,000 for Community Infrastructure$700,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds$900,000 in Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds matched
Marin ROP Construction Seeking Volunteers & Afterschool Instructors
The Marin County Office of Education is seeking skilled tradespeople and educators interested in volunteering or teaching in our high school afterschool Construction ROP Program in San Rafael/Novato. We are seeking professionals to guest speak, conduct demos, assist, or teach. Help students gain hands-on experience as they prepare for a rewarding teaching opportunity in the building trades. If you have experience in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or general construction, we’d love to
Contractors License Guru Launches Insurance Lifeline for Contractors
ATTENTION ALL CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS: As many of you know, the insurance landscape has been changing over the last few years, and it has become increasingly difficult to navigate for those of us in the trades. Over the past six months, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in questions and concerns coming into our office from contractors we’ve helped get established and licensed, as frustration in the market continues to grow. I’ve had the same conversation over and over with licensed contractors. They pass the
New Reduce the Risk Video by Fire Safe Marin
We’re excited to share a new video featuring MBA member Kazoo Shearman (Shearman Builders), walking through the installation of noncombustible fiber cement siding as part of a targeted wildfire retrofit. In this project, the homeowner focused on the lower portion of the wall—where ember exposure is highest— installing Hardie® siding within their budget. The video breaks down how flashing, fiber cement siding, and weather detailing work together to improve ember resistance and all-weather
Marin Builders Association Launches Early Renewal Rewards Program
We are excited to announce a refreshed and improved membership billing experience. As part of our commitment to enhancing member value and streamlining the renewal process, we are introducing a brand-new incentive program designed to reward members who renew their membership by the invoice due date. Effective January 2026, every member will receive an Exclusive Renewal Offer with their invoice. The offer can only be redeemed by renewing your membership by the invoice due date.What Early Renewers Will
Sonoma Clean Power Seeking Contractors Interested in Future Public Works Projects
Sonoma Clean Power Authority (“Authority”) is creating lists of contractors interested in performing public works projects for the Authority beginning January 1, 2026 and continuing until December 31, 2026.Submittals and/or questions may be directed to Beau Anderson, Building Operations & IT Manager, at operations@sonomacleanpower.org To be included on the Sonoma Clean Power Authority’s (“Authority”) list of contractors for informal repairs, maintenance, and construction contracts, all contractors must
Thank You to our 2025-26 Marin Home Resource Guide Ad Partners!
We want to express our deep gratitude to our wonderful 2025-26 Marin Home Resource Guide Ad Partners! Their generous support of our signature publication made this edition possible - and our best yet! Your partnership is instrumental in supporting our local building community and connecting with Marin County homeowners preparing to undergo their next home improvement project.Celebrating in alpha order:A and P Moving, Inc.Aaero Heating & Sheetmetalbuilding LabCanty Real Estate Group, IncCentral Valley
Liens & Completions 2024-2026
Click the links below to view a current list of Liens & Completions published and provided by the County of Marin. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Paula Krause