Accounting for Tariffs in Construction Contracts
President Donald Trump has implemented his “America First” trade policy throughout 2025 by implementing a sweeping set of tariffs aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on foreign goods. The tariffs, which have fluctuated since January, have included threats of a 145% tariff on goods imported from China, a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, and a 10% universal import tariff on all goods entering the U.S. With the proposed tariffs constantly fluctuating, the impact has quickly rippled through the construction
Conditional Logic - What Contractors Should Be Aware Of
Conditional Logic - Contractors should be aware that notice of default can be an express condition precedent to a surety's performance bond obligation. The importance of timely and effective communication on construction projects cannot be overstated. This is particularly important in the context of a contractor seeking to preserve its rights as obligee on a performance bond when the underlying principal has failed to perform. Although contractors and sureties are key partners on bonded projects, they
10th Annual Marin IJ Readers' Choice Awards
Voting is currently open for the 10th Annual Marin IJ Readers' Choice Awards and will conclude on November 30, 2025. This year's winners will be announced in the Readers' Choice Special Section, which publishes on February 22, 2026. All winners and honors recipients who place an advertisement in the Special Section will receive an invitation to this year's Celebration event on March 19, 2026. From best sandwich to best chamber of commerce, now is your chance to vote for your favorite local Marin
County of Marin Licensed Contractors List 2026
The County of Marin is inviting all licensed contractors to submit their firm’s information to the County of Marin Department of Public Works for inclusion on the list of qualified bidders for the upcoming year. The County of Marin will refresh our contractors list starting January 1, 2026. The list will include, at a minimum, all contractors who have properly provided the County of Marin with the information required as stated in the form, either during the calendar year in which the list is valid or
California’s October State Law Updates: What Employers Need to Know
Throughout October 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed multiple employment-related Bills into law. These new measures address a wide range of workplace-related matters, including regulations aimed at the use of artificial intelligence, updates on paid leave, and amendments to mediation procedures. While some of these Bills will be subject to legal challenges that delay or block their application, many took effect immediately or will become effective on January 1, 2026. Accordingly, California
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
2026 Employee Wellness Benefits Trends
Before we know it, the holiday season will be over, and we'll be starting 2026. As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead. The landscape of employee wellness benefits is rapidly evolving, driven by the need for more comprehensive, personalized support. Understanding these trends now will ensure your organization is prepared for 2026.Trend 1: Holistic, Individualized Care The future of benefits is holistic, with a renewed and necessary focus on financial and mental health.Addressing the Financial
The Rise of Towery Electric
Congratulations to Alex Towery, Owner and CEO of Towery Electric in Novato for being featured in Bay Area Business Magazine! After pivoting from photography during the 2008 recession, Alex built Towery Electric from the ground up, growing it into a thriving 13-person firm known for craftsmanship, innovation, and integrity. Under his leadership, the company has become a trusted name across Marin, San Francisco, and Sonoma counties, handling everything from residential wiring to advanced lighting control and
Corte Madera DMV Seeking Bids for Parking Lot Seal and Stripe Services
You are invited to review and respond to this Small Business Bid Solicitation (SB Bid) entitled 25-245 – Parking Lot Seal and Stripe Services at the Corte Madera DMV Field Office. In submitting your bid, you must comply with the instructions found herein. Your bid must be submitted via email (the DMV will not accept a mailed or hand-delivered bid). Important Dates and TimesSB Bid available to prospective bidders: 10/23/2025Mandatory pre-bid conference: (Note: See additional info in Section 5.) 11/5/2025
Another Fun Marin Remodelers Forum Event at Lamperti Contracting & Design
We had another very successful Marin Remodelers Forum event at Lamperti Contracting & Design's beautiful showroom in San Rafael. We welcomed over 60 members and collectively enjoyed great food, drinks, and meaningful connections. This event was full of amazing architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, and more. A very special thanks to Sean and Jennifer Kelly from Lamperti Contracting & Design for hosting such a fun event! "I can't believe how many great connections I made in just two hours –
Safety & Training Short: Cybersecurity for Small Businesses
Objective: To inform organizations of measures they can take to increase the security of their data, computer, and network systems. The advancement of information technology has made it easier than ever to run a small business, but your organization as well as your customers and their data may be at risk unless proper cybersecurity measures are in place.Click here to download the training short in EnglishClick here to download the training short in Spanish Safety & Training Shorts provided by George
Wright ESD 2025-26 Contractor Registration Notice
California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act The Wright Elementary School District (District) has elected to become subject to participate in the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA). The District is inviting all licensed contractors to submit information for inclusion on the District’s list of qualified bidders for the 2026 calendar year.What is CUPCCAA? The California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Commission is under the umbrella of the
Build Your Team Faster with HammerLoop!
HammerLoop update! Hello fellow MBA members! HammerLoop was recently just displayed to the roughly 500 members of the Northern California chapter of ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors), through a large press email! This is something we are proud of. In the next 2 weeks, we will be at the San Rafael chamber of commerce's 'Level Up' event, we will be guiding construction workers through profile sign-ups through the Canal Alliance, and we have multiple events through ABC geared toward onboarding
Introducing the Marin Builders Association Logo Re-Design
We are proud to unveil the redesigned logo of Marin Builders Association: a fresh new look that reflects our continued growth, evolution, and commitment to excellence. Over the past year, we’ve been thoughtfully working on a new logo to better represent who we are today and where we’re headed in the future. This rebranding initiative was launched under the leadership of our 2024 Board President, Brad Hubbell, of Hubbell Daily Architecture + Design. Among his many contributions, Brad established a clear
Workers Comp Insurance Fraud: It costs more than you think
For more information, download this printable brochure here or contact: Marin County District Attorney's Office Attn: Insurance Fraud Unit 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 130 San Rafael, CA 94903 415.473.6450co.marin.ca.us/da
Support the Legacy of the Marin Builders Association Scholarship Program
Since 1978 the Marin Builders Association Scholarship & Workforce Training Fund has provided nearly $1 million in scholarship awards to deserving high school seniors. Scholarship winners have gone into nearly every profession, including the building trades, construction management, engineering, architecture, and more. Our Scholarship Program offers an opportunity for all students pursuing a college, university, or trade school education to apply for a financial award. We emphasize the need for trained
New Law Changes in 2025 Affecting Licensees, Applicants and Stakeholders
Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is advising licensees, applicants, and other stakeholders of key legislative updates following the implementation ofSenate Bill 1455 (Ashby, 2024). This bill, effective January 1, 2025, extends the Board’s “sunset” date from 2025 to 2029 and makes other changes to the law, which are described below. Key Provisions of SB 1455 1. Public Works Project LicensingWhat’s New? Awarding authorities must now ensure that public works project bidders