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title: "NECA This Week: March 23, 2026"
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Electric power and utilities projects drove construction starts in January, while other sectors saw declines, according to the Dodge Construction Network, Boston. Total construction starts expanded 0.7% in January from the prior month ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser INDUSTRY NEWS Office-to-housing conversion initiatives proliferate in California State policymakers have been pursuing policy changes that remove barriers to converting older commercial buildings into housing, with mixed success. Construction Dive   Nonbuilding Construction Starts Grew in January While Others Fell Electric power and utilities projects drove construction starts in January, while other sectors saw declines, according to the Dodge Construction Network, Boston. Total construction starts expanded 0.7% in January from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.24 trillion, per Dodge Construction Network data. The expansion was due to nonbuilding construction starts, which grew 24.3% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $522 billion. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine NECA NEWS Build Your Next Project Manager From Within The NECA/ELECTRI Project Management Apprenticeship helps you develop skilled PMs while they stay engaged on the job. This 52-week, DOL-registered program combines structured training with real-world application so your team gains the skills they need while contributing to active projects. Start building your leadership pipeline today!  Learn More The Opportunities You Don’t Want to Miss NECA EMERGE is where the future of the electrical industry comes to life. It’s high-energy, forward-thinking, and built to spark new ideas, fresh strategies, and real momentum for your business. If you’re ready to stay ahead of what’s next, make powerful connections, and walk away inspired, this is the place to be. Plus, the hotel deadline has been extended until this Wednesday. Join us April 13-15 in Atlanta, GA! Register Today NEIS Spotlight #15: NECA 500 NECA 500 establishes the industry benchmark for the proper installation and maintenance of indoor commercial lighting systems. Covering all major luminaire types — from recessed and surface-mounted fixtures to LED and Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems — this standard provides comprehensive guidance to ensure safety, reliability, and performance in lighting installations. Available in a hardcopy or digital version. Purchase Copy Stay Current. Stay Compliant. Stay Safe. Join us at the NECA Safety Professionals Conference, May 18–20 in Atlanta, GA where members will gain the up-to-date safety training and insights needed to protect their teams and stay compliant in an evolving regulatory landscape. With standards, technologies, and jobsite risks constantly changing, staying current is essential. This conference delivers practical education, expert guidance, and real-world strategies to help you strengthen your safety program and keep your workforce safe. More Information UPCOMING EVENTS In-Person Events NECA EMERGE 2026 Atlanta, GA \| April 13-15 Legislative Conference Washington, DC \| May 4-6 Safety Professionals Conference Atlanta, GA \| May 18-20 Advanced Executive Leadership Institute Durham, NC \| May 31-June 5 2026 Future Leaders Conference June 15-17 \| Pittsburgh, PA Significant Dates Women's History Month LEARNING CENTER Virtual Classrooms The Future is Now - BIM March 24 \| 9:00 a.m. ET How to Define and Manage AI Initiatives April 2 \| 3:00 p.m. ET Boring AI: Automating Repetitive Tasks May 7 \| 3:00 p.m. ET Building a Case to Win - Claims & Change Orders May 19 \| 9:30 a.m. ET Confidence: From Vibe to Value – Coding Faster Than Copy/Paste June 4 \| 3:00 p.m. ET Transform Your Organization for the Future June 9 \| 12:00 p.m. ET Basic Estimating of Electrical Construction June 15-26 \| 10:00 a.m. ET Advanced Estimating Strategies June 15-18 \| 12:30 p.m. ET Data Models Demystified: Beyond the LLM Hype August 6 \| 3:00 p.m. ET   PREMIER PARTNERS NECA, 1201 Penn. Ave. NW, Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20004 Unsubscribe Manage preferences |
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