ABOUT ABC
THE VOICE OF THE MERIT SHOP ¨
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association representingÊ25,000 merit shop construction and construction related firms in 79 chapters across the United States. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry.
ABC is the construction industry's voice with the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government and with state and local governments, as well as with the news media.
ABC's mission is the advancement of the merit shop construction philosophy, which encourages open competition and a free enterprise approach that awards contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation.
Through its national office and chapters, ABC's objective is to provide its members with an organization to deal with issues on an industry wide basis.
ABC's activities include government representation, legal advocacy, education, workforce development, communications, technology, recognition through national and chapter awards programs, employee benefits, information on best practices and business development through an online contractor search directory.
ABC was founded in 1950 when seven contractors gathered in Baltimore, Maryland to create an association based on the shared belief that construction projects should be awarded on merit to the most qualified and responsible low bidders. Their courage and dedication to the merit shop philosophy spread rapidly, and within time, ABC became the fastest growing association in the United States. Today, ABC is recognized as one of the leading organizations representing America's business community and the U.S. construction industry.
Mission
Associated Builders and Contractors will provide the best training, government and legal representation, and programs to ensure members a competitive advantage, add value to the industry's clients, promote a safe work place and enhance the lives of the industry's employees.
Vision
Associated Builders and Contractors will lead the construction industry, promoting and defending the guiding principles of the merit shop and free enterprise whereby anyone can succeed solely on merit.
ABC HISTORY
The dramatic rise of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) began in 1950 when seven contractors gathered in Baltimore, Md. to create an association based on the shared belief that construction projects should be awarded on merit to the most qualified and responsible low bidders.
The courage and dedication of those seven contractors: Charles Mullan, C.K. Wells, Jr., Philip Cloyes, Ernest Shultz, Edward Colwill, Charles Knott, and Edward Dickinson helped to quickly spread the merit shop philosophy, within time making ABC the fastest growing association in the United States.
Throughout its history, ABC has fought for free enterprise and open competition in the U.S. construction industry. Today, ABC is the voice of the U.S. construction industry with the White House, Congress, federal agencies, state and local governments, the courts as well as with the news media. Fortune magazine ranks ABC as one of the 50 most influential organizations in the nation today.
Over the years, the vision of the seven ABC founders has been realized in the creation and development of a major national association. ABC now represents 25,000 merit shop contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and related firms in 79 chapters across the United States. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of companies that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry.
