By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013
     SCHAUMBURG — Coalition building and forming strong partnerships have been, and will be, key factors in growing the construction industry, allowing it to have an economic impact in the Chicagoland region.
     At its recent 2013 annual meeting, Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) Executive Director John Brining explained his organization is growing the construction industry by leveraging its collective political power and labor management role to use capital dollars in the best way.
     Brining cited the recent appointment of Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council President Tom Villanova to the Chicago Infrastructure Trust as a perfect example of coalition building. “This is great news because the union construction industry has a place at the table. When dollars are being spent, our contractors are going to be there,” he said.
     Coalition building translates into public/private partnership, as with the construction rebuild that will be done on Wrigley Field, which is expected to bring 1,000 union construction jobs over five years. “The build will be done during the off season, so the economic engine that Wrigley Field and the Cubs is to the surrounding neighborhoods, the city and the state, won’t be interrupted,” Brining explained.
     Coalition building means pension money is being put to work, as with the development of Chicago’s three-tower Wolf Point project. The Chicago Plan Commission voted unanimously to approve the project.
     “The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust has got some seed money in that project and that’s good. That’s pension money being put to work,” Brining said.
     CISCO put its support behind the approval of three medical facilities — Centegra Hospital in McHenry County, Healthcare Center at Monarch Landing in Naperville and Edwards Hospital in Naperville. Brining testified before the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board encouraging construction by bringing the construction industry’s perspective to the table.
     “[The board] is used to seeing doctors and other hospitals testify, but when I walked in there, I brought a different message, one about economic development, jobs and the impact to the community. We were successful because they listened to our message. It’s all about working together,” he explained.
     On the legislative end, Brining announced HB 3636 sits on Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk awaiting his signature. The bill restores the Mechanics Lien Act to its original purpose, providing preference to contractors and suppliers for the improvements they provided on construction property that have gone into foreclosure. In February 2011, after 170 years of precedent, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed that decision, giving banks priority over contractors.
     “When it comes to relief, banks don’t belong in front of us. We worked hard to overturn this decision and we need Quinn’s signature,” Brining said.
     CISCO is determined to continue to work with the building trades, chambers of commerce and various other entities to move forward on coalition building. Brining said it’s the best time to get ahead on a project by going to the end users and telling them CISCO can help get projects though a plan commission, or through a city council. “Reinforce that we can be a partner. We can get this done. It certainly beats putting up a picket,” he added.

Jennifer Rice’s e-mail address is Jen@foxvalleylabornews.com.