March 2024
To Close Skills Gap, We Must Step Up Industry Training
By Chip Way, PMI Board of Directors President, Lavelle Industries
The future of plumbing will be marked by a synergy of technological innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to continuous learning. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? It does sound great to those of us working in the plumbing industry, but it’s vital for us to convey this excitement to the generation that can close the skilled-labor gap.
Pursuing a career in plumbing has many benefits when compared to the four-year cost of college and the uncertain value of a bachelor’s degree. Apprentice plumbers can earn while they learn and avoid acquiring student loan debt. And with starting salaries for those completing apprenticeships topping $70,000, plumbers have even more opportunities as they progress through their careers. They can become master plumbers and business owners while contributing to the environmental goals of sustainability and water savings.
Engaging with youth builds lasting relationships
By contributing to plumber training at the earliest stages, manufacturers can build relationships that will continue through all stages of plumbers’ careers. Already, PMI members provide training support through technical documents and installation manuals, project planning tools, digital libraries of training videos, online and in-person training, product donations, access to labs and interactive training centers, special programs, and more. Providing these resources to secondary, post-secondary, and apprenticeship programs will help young plumbers to develop competency and assure safety and adherence to industry standards while contributing to a more efficient and sustainable plumbing industry.
As they continue their careers, plumbers will look to you when they want to earn continuing education units, solve an installation issue, or learn about innovative plumbing products and solutions. Tapping into your resources will help plumbers to stay competitive, or to expand services that cater to the growing number of customers looking for sustainable or smart plumbing products or for lower water and energy bills.
Promoting the value of the skilled trades, sustainability and harmonization
PMI’s government and advocacy efforts are focused on closing the skills gap, too. Right now, we are lobbying for the passage of the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. This bipartisan bill would expand the use of 529 tax-advantaged education savings account funds to pay for workforce training programs, opening up the 529 program to aspiring plumbers and others who’d like to learn a skilled trade. This legislation would allow these funds to cover tuition, books, certification, testing costs, and other expenses required to obtain and maintain a post-secondary credential, license or certification. The bill also applies to apprenticeships and would help to alleviate many of the STEM (science, technical, engineering and math) shortages we have in our industry.
Our industry is becoming more active in promoting the value of the skilled trades. There’s an important connection between the skilled trades and the plumbing manufacturing industry – as plumbers and contractors install PMI members’ products in homes and businesses across the country. PMI members have offered scholarships, supported apprenticeship programs, and funded educational assistance to address the shortage of skilled labor in the industry, but there’s always opportunities to do more.
As sustainability becomes a focal point in the industry, training programs can incorporate eco-friendly practices. Manufacturers can take the lead in developing and promoting sustainable plumbing solutions, such as reuse and recycling and carbon-neutral manufacturing.
By bringing a global perspective to training, we demonstrate the need for harmonized global standards to facilitate the mobility of professionals across borders and to promote consistency in skill levels. We also show how different regions have unique challenges and how training programs can be tailored to address specific needs, considering factors like climate, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.
Extending our training into new demographics, geographies and industry issues provides a larger footprint for skilled labor – which will benefit our communities, our companies and our industry. By sharing our knowledge and resources, we can create exciting opportunities for ourselves and everyone associated with the plumbing industry.
Where Has All the Groundwater Gone?
By Kerry Stackpole, FASAE, CAE, PMI CEO/Executive Director
Is America using up its groundwater? In the series “Uncharted Waters,” reporters at the New York Times explored the current state of underground aquifers that supply 90% of America’s water systems and about one-third of its drinking water. The news is not good. That’s why Rethink Water, the PMI initiative to assure clean, safe water for current and future generations, is working to illuminate the challenge, influence policymakers, and share solutions.
Water aquifers play a vital role in sustaining life and supporting various ecosystems across the United States. They serve as natural reservoirs, providing freshwater for drinking, irrigation, industrial processes, and ecosystem health. However, these critical underground water sources face mounting threats due to a combination of human activities and environmental changes. Understanding and addressing these emerging risks is essential to safeguarding water security for current and future generations.
What are the risks America’s water aquifers face?
A primary risk is over-extraction and depletion. With growing population demands and increased agricultural and industrial needs, the rate of withdrawal from aquifers often surpasses the rate of natural recharge. This imbalance leads to aquifer depletion, causing water levels to decline and aquifer storage capacity to diminish. Regions heavily reliant on groundwater, such as the Great Plains’ Ogallala Aquifer, face particularly acute risks due to excessive pumping for agricultural irrigation.
Look to Phoenix, Arizona, to understand the effects on home builders, homeowners and consumers. There, the state stopped granting permission to build homes that rely on groundwater because they don’t believe there will be enough for the homes already approved.
In our complex environment, water aquifers are also susceptible to contamination. Contaminants such as pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds can infiltrate aquifers, compromising water quality and posing serious health risks to both humans and ecosystems.
When coastal aquifers run low, they are at risk for saltwater intrusion, which is an especially acute risk. As sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, saline water can infiltrate coastal aquifers, rendering freshwater resources unusable. This poses significant challenges for coastal communities that rely on aquifers for drinking water and agriculture.
Climate change is exacerbating risks to water aquifers
As temperatures rise, plants need more water, not less. Changes in precipitation patterns, rising temperatures, and altered hydrological cycles can impact aquifer recharge rates and water availability. Droughts, increasingly frequent and severe in many regions, intensify pressure on groundwater resources as surface water supplies diminish. In addition, shifting weather patterns may lead to more frequent and intense flooding events, which can disturb aquifer structures and facilitate contamination.
When the rate of groundwater extraction exceeds the natural rate of recharge over an extended period, irreversible damage to aquifer ecosystems is the result. The ground above can settle, shrinking the previous size of the aquifer. Agriculturally productive regions in the U.S. face significant challenges associated with groundwater overdraft, resulting in lower crop yields and jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of food and water resources.
Regulatory oversight of groundwater varies significantly across states, with some lacking comprehensive management strategies or sufficient monitoring infrastructure. In many cases, conflicting interests among stakeholders, limited enforcement mechanisms, and political barriers impede efforts to implement sustainable water management practices. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and promoting collaborative approaches to groundwater management are essential for mitigating risks and ensuring equitable access to water resources.
The looming threats to U.S. water aquifers demand urgent attention and concerted action at local, regional and national levels. Sustainable groundwater management practices, enhanced monitoring and surveillance systems, and investments in water infrastructure are critical for safeguarding aquifer health and resilience. In addition, promoting water conservation, reducing reliance on groundwater for irrigation, and fostering interdisciplinary research and innovation can help address the underlying drivers of aquifer depletion and contamination. By prioritizing the protection and sustainable use of water aquifers, we can secure a reliable water supply for current and future generations while preserving the integrity of vital ecosystems. Let’s Rethink Water together.
Housing Bounceback to Temper Effects of Mild Recession
By Ray Valek, PMI Communications Team, Valek and Co.
PMI member companies should ready themselves for a mild recession later this year and a rebound in 2025 and beyond, stated ITR Economics’ Connor Lokar during Plumbing Manufacturers International’s Market Outlook LIVE presentation, “2024-2025: Anticipating Business Cycle Changes.”
While a recession turns the 2024 economy into a lemon, Lokar encouraged members to “make economic lemonade, try to optimize outcomes, and be ready to hit the ground running when organic market growth returns to us in 2025 en masse, and even earlier than that on the housing side.”
Single-family housing starts are up
Housing is where the good news is, Lokar emphasized. “Housing is bouncing back. This is where we get excited about 2024. We want to leverage the economic lull happening elsewhere in 2024 to our benefit, because our markets are starting to come back,” noting that single-family housing starts were up 21.9% in the fourth quarter 2023 compared to fourth quarter 2022.
“That’s a good number,” Lokar said. “Builders are liking what they’re seeing. Yes, mortgage rates, they’re not at 3%, they’re still very high, but they have come down from where they topped out at late last summer and early in the fall. We forecast that the single-family market grows over the next three years and that we’re going to get better volume. . . There’s an accelerating growth demand there on a quarterly basis.”
This recovery serves as an encouraging reminder that the economic decline will be temporary. ITR advises members to look for opportunities in countercyclical and nondiscretionary markets; those which have received federal funding, such as semiconductors and renewables; and younger industries, such as e-commerce.
Other favorable trends to expect in 2024 are reduced inflation and diminished supply chain stress, Lokar said. He also expects the labor market to be less competitive and volatile, with a lower quit rate. The latest PMI Market Outlook advises to retain and cross-train key, high-performing employees to keep the business running, and to look for ways to minimize your dependency on labor through efficiency gains.
Invest in your business to prepare for future growth
Lokar said 2024 may be a good time to invest in your business to prepare for a stronger economy beginning in 2025. “If I’m thinking about plant needs that I haven’t had the opportunity to address, 2024 becomes an opportunity to do that, if we need to invest in our business to prepare for rising volume this year and the years after,” Lokar stated. 2024 may be a good time to consider investments in robotics, automation and artificial intelligence, he added.
ITR advises members to have contingency plans for both the upside and downside. Think back to previous economic booms – what do you wish you had done during the downturn to set your business up for success? Time those actions so you can capitalize on the general rise during 2025 and much of the second half of this decade. Lean into your competitive advantages and take the time to address any competitive disadvantages you may have. Extra time may afford an opportunity for system upgrades or efficiency improvements.
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Lokar said ITR expects a volatile stock market in 2024. While stating that he is not a financial advisor, he said diversifying and reducing risk may be good strategies, especially for those nearing retirement. He warned members of an impending global economic depression in 2030 primarily caused by debt in the United States, China, Japan and western Europe. “Make sure households and businesses are in order, make sure that we are in a position to endure, out of debt, and out of danger,” he stated.
He urged members to tune out the political noise. “Policy matters. Politics doesn’t. You’re going to have a lot more to do with what happens to your business in 2024 than what happens in November. Once we get through November and we can evaluate if there is going to be any sort of policy change forthcoming, maybe in 2025, based on what happens in November, we evaluate that. Focus on what you can do, not what the election is going to be doing to us, because it’s going to be a noisy year,” Lokar stated.
Top 10 management objectives
Ten management objectives from the PMI Market Outlook for the Phase D recessionary phase are: 1) Implement aggressive cost-cutting measures, 2) Offer alternative products with a lower cost basis, 3) Perform due diligence on acquisitions while valuations are falling, 4) Reduce advertising as consumers become more price conscious, 5) Enter or renegotiate long-term leases, 6) Negotiate labor contracts, 7) Consider capital equipment needs for the next cycle, 8) Tighten credit policies, 9) Develop programs for advertising, training, and marketing to implement during recovery, and 10) Lead with optimism, remembering that Phase D is temporary.
PMI members can access the PMI Market Outlook LIVE video, presentation slides and transcript under Market Outlook/Economic Reports at safeplumbing.org/members/webinars-videos.
Merill Morse Joins PMI as New Programs and Events Coordinator
By Judy Wohlt, PMI Communications Team, Valek and Co.
When starting a new job or project, Merill Morse says she first asks, “How can I best set up my team or client for success?”
As the new programs and events coordinator for Plumbing Manufacturers International, Morse is working on answering that question by learning everything she can about PMI’s members, she said. She describes her role as Jodi Stuhrberg’s “right-hand woman” to help with planning and developing PMI’s education programs. Morse will report to Stuhrberg, PMI’s director of programs and administration.
“I’m looking forward to developing relationships with PMI members to understand what they do and then help provide resources that will make a difference for them and the industry,” Morse said.
Her responsibilities involve managing PMI’s virtual education programs and webinars and helping with program development. Morse will identify topics, recruit presenters, and assist with planning the annual PMI Manufacturing Success Conference.
“We’re looking forward to tapping Merill’s strong client services background and experience in planning large and virtual events to grow PMI’s education program. Her tech skills will be helpful as she takes on the technical lead for running our webinars, e-learning and virtual events,” Stuhrberg said.
Details matter
Whether she’s lining up speakers, creating content, or researching new course ideas, Morse said paying attention to details makes a big difference when presenting meaningful programs.
“The North Star guidance for any program or event that I am tasked with is focusing on what we want attendees to walk away with,” she said. “What do we want them to experience leading up to, during and after an event? What’s the highest value I can deliver for our members?”
Being organized helps, too. “You need to be thorough with this kind of work. I enjoy organization, following processes, and checking everything off the list,” Morse said. She was happy to discover that she and Stuhrberg have similar organizational styles that will help them accomplish things more quickly, she added.
She aims to exceed expectations whenever possible. Morse described a recent project she shepherded in her last role as director of corporate events at the Global Strategic Management Institute. She managed the launch of an electric vehicle (EV) charging summit and expo, which became the highest-earning launch event in company history – a proud moment for her.
“It was our first EV industry conference, so we expected to see about 200 to 250 attendees, which is a respectable number. We got over 2,000 attendees. I also managed 130 speakers and 60 exhibitors, so that was a big accomplishment for me,” Morse said.
Galloping into event production
Morse describes her path to a career in conference and event production as somewhat unconventional.
After graduating from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in international and global studies, she created Merill Morse Equicoaching to teach personal and organizational leadership development using horses. “It was a fun way of using nonverbal communication skills to help leaders develop team dynamics, recognize pitfalls, and understand international language barriers,” she said.
Morse was invited to speak about her work with horses at several conferences, which piqued her interest in producing events, she said. Inspired by what she saw and learned “behind the scenes” at conferences, Morse moved on to a role as leadership development and event manager for a consulting company. She spent several years there planning client events and training workshops along with related marketing communications, promotional branding and content design.
She’s ready to apply all her experience in her new role with PMI. “I want to serve PMI members, learn more about their program needs, and do best by them,” she said.
Todd Talbot Revisits Defining Moments in PMI’s History
By Judy Wohlt, PMI Communications Team, Valek and Co.
Plumbing Manufacturers International’s transformation to a thriving self-managed association in the early 2000s was an exciting time for Todd Talbot.
Talbot, an advisor to Globe Union’s Board of Directors, who served as PMI board president in 2002, recalled his first days working with PMI Executive Director Barbara Higgens to bring more value to members. “We focused on codes and standards first and foremost and then all the legislative work being done in Washington and Sacramento, California. We were still transitioning PMI from using an outside management group to being self-managed,” he said.
He explained how the transition “was a significant turning point for us. It started with past board presidents like Fred Luedke of Neoperl and Bill O’Keefe from Symmons who grabbed the ball and ran with it. They and other board members decided to hire Barbara as PMI’s first executive director, which took us from fighting fires to solving problems.”
Always aspiring to add value
During his term as board president, he focused on PMI’s “value equation,” adding new member benefits in five areas chosen via the board’s strategic planning, said Talbot, who recently retired as global CEO of Globe Union, Gerber Plumbing Fixtures’ parent company. The new benefits included an information library, new training forums, meeting efficiencies, a dues abatement program, and sharing details on emerging industry issues.
The information library enhanced PMI’s website with new live market data. PMI developed two new training forums – one covering information technology and the other on codes, standards and conformity assessment. Talbot, Higgens and other PMI leaders proposed options for a dues program to help grow PMI membership while keeping PMI’s long-term financial stability. The association helped members better understand emerging industry issues, such as mold and hexavalent chrome use, by inviting experts to provide conference presentations, Talbot said.
The PMI board also began work on trade show consolidation. “Manufacturers voiced their concerns about attending four to six trade shows a year, which was impractical. We created a great deal of awareness that eventually got solved, making trade show attendance more manageable today,” Talbot said.
Water-efficiency laws reached a critical point that needed to be addressed. “We ended up becoming a partner with the government – instead of battling every aspect of legislation that proposed to continue lowering flow and flush rates,” he said.
Sharing gratitude for the chance to learn and collaborate
Talbot shared his gratitude for the learning opportunities and collaborative experiences he collected during his four years serving on PMI’s board – and for the benefits he has enjoyed as a PMI member.
One of the biggest values PMI brings to members is that it “allows all of us in the industry to easily eliminate one headcount – or possibly two – because of what PMI manages from a legislative and codes and standards perspective,” Talbot said. “That’s the value proposition we recognized back in the early 2000s and it still stands today.”
PMI’s transformation to a thriving self-managed association took several years and a lot of hard work by PMI leaders, staff and members, he said. Active membership participation with engaged people serving on PMI’s committees created the collaboration necessary to succeed, Talbot added.
Looking back, he credits a handful of larger plumbing manufacturing companies, such as Kohler, Delta Faucet and Moen, with helping build the in-house capabilities that have served PMI so well. “The leadership of those companies gave their people authority to work amongst their competitors to create the business and competencies that we still have in PMI,” he said.
Pipe Manufacturers Focus on Growth and Water Efficiency
By Judy Wohlt, PMI Communications Team, Valek and Co.
Plumbing Manufacturers International’s pipe manufacturing members have been busy growing their businesses – while bringing their crucial “behind-the-wall” perspective to the water efficiency conversation.
Recently, Reliance Worldwide Corporation, Uponor and Viega LLC – PMI’s pipe manufacturing members – have made significant investments in their manufacturing and distribution facilities. For example, RWC recently built a new 66,000-square-foot PEX-a manufacturing facility, enabling the company to supply up to 10% of total current PEX pipe demand in the United States, reported a March 2023 RWC news release.
Meanwhile, the three pipe manufacturers have been contributing their expertise to PMI’s advocacy efforts to support a whole-system approach to water efficiency.
Variety in PMI’s membership expands the conversation about low-flow fixtures, said Kate Olinger, director of industry relations and regulatory affairs at Uponor. “Our message is, ‘We need to right-size the system behind those fixtures because we still need to empty the oversized pipes that remain,’” she said.
Encouraging a holistic approach
Plumbing pipe and fixture manufacturers share similar interests in collaborating with industry partners and policymakers on the various water efficiency regulations that continue to press for lower flow and flush rates.
Most regulations focus on the fixtures, noted Martin Knieps, government affairs director at Viega LLC. “When it comes to water efficiency, we need to take some of the burden off point-of-use devices,” he said.
Olinger noted the importance of PMI’s work on the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, which requires WaterSense plumbing products to be at least 20% more water efficient than products that meet federal water efficiency standards.
She sees other ways PMI can continue to encourage holistic water efficiency solutions. “There’s work afoot that PMI can continue to support, such as IAPMO’s Water-Demand Calculator that helps to right-size plumbing systems in residential buildings with the water-efficient fixtures being used today,” Olinger said.
Too many older plumbing systems contain larger pipes that were originally installed to support much higher flow rates to faucets, showerheads and toilets, she added. “Installing the right size pipe systems will help avoid unintended consequences – such as stagnant water issues that lead to bacterial growth,” Olinger stated.
She also highlighted work the International Code Council is doing to focus on the drain, waste and vent portion of a plumbing system – which further considers a whole-system approach.
“As PMI members, it’s good for all of us to be in on the discussion. We behind-the-wall manufacturers can make some informed suggestions on what we think is possible,” Knieps stated.
Enjoying a growth spurt
Over the past few years, PMI’s pipe manufacturers have been investing in growing their operations to meet higher product demand.
In July 2023, Viega announced plans to invest over $70 million in the next two years to expand U.S. manufacturing and support customer needs in North America, according to a Viega news release. The company is starting with $14 million toward expanding its production capacity in McPherson, Kansas, to increase U.S. production of Viega ProPress products. Viega is known for its innovation in press fitting technology, Knieps added.
The company also is investing about $200 million to build a new production facility in Shalersville, Ohio, to strengthen its presence in North America. As part of the company’s broader sustainability goals, both the new building and the production processes will be climate-neutral, Knieps added.
Uponor is enjoying a growth spurt, too. Over the past two years, the company has expanded its manufacturing capacity in Minnesota. A $5 million renovation at Uponor’s Hutchinson plant created an additional 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The added space will increase the company’s PEX-a pipe extrusion production capacity by more than 10% and allow Uponor to move forward with a major investment in next-generation extrusion technology, reported a company news release. Uponor invested another $5 million to add 57,000 square feet to its Lakeville Distribution Center.
EWTS Lineup Focuses on Water Sustainability and Safety
Water industry experts will focus on the theme “The Nexus Between Sustainability and Safety: Avoiding Unintended Consequences” at the eighth Emerging Water Technology Symposium on May 14-15 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, will deliver a keynote presentation on water sustainability on May 14. Will Sarni, founder and CEO of Water Foundry, will discuss “Water: Innovation in Decentralized and Extreme Decentralized Technologies” during his keynote presentation on May 15.
The EWTS is co-convened by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, IAPMO and Plumbing Manufacturers International, in cooperation with the World Plumbing Council.
“The co-convening organizations and the Technical Review Committee have worked extremely hard to develop an incredible program for this year’s EWTS,” said IAPMO Senior Vice President of Training and Credential Services Tony Marcello. “We are anticipating high interest in this exciting program and encourage people who want to attend to register early, as space is limited and the event may sell out.”
Participants can meet experts from across the globe, discover ideas and approaches about emerging technologies, and learn about innovative sustainable plumbing and mechanical concepts. The sponsors, presenters and panelists represent a diverse group in the fields of water efficiency, plumbing, water quality, water distribution, sanitation and health, water reuse, water and embedded energy, HVAC, solar, geothermal and other renewable technologies, and fat, oil and grease discharge mitigation.
Learn about PFAS, pathogens, pressure losses, and more
The May 14 roster includes presentations by Bob Bowcock, Integrated Resource Management, who will discuss “Emerging Water Contaminants Impact on Premise Plumbing Systems”; Eric Yeggy, Water Quality Association, with a presentation on “Final Barrier Solutions to the PFAS in Drinking Water”; Abraham Collum, Ph.D., Special Pathogens Laboratory, who will present on “Premise Plumbing Materials and Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogen Growth”; and Natascha Milesi-Ferretti, National Institute of Standards and Technology, with a presentation on “Measuring Pressure Losses in Plumbing Fittings at the NIST Plumbing Hydraulics Laboratory.”
On May 15, Daithi Walsh, Swift Comply, will present on “Embracing the Future: The Journey Towards AI and Predictive Analytics,” and Dr. Tim Bartrand will cover “Comprehensive Building Water System Water Quality: Thermal and Mechanical Goals.” Gary Klein, Gary Klein and Associates, and Dan Cole, IAPMO, will discuss “Saving Water and Saving Energy in Growing Communities.” Also on May 15, a panel will discuss “The Safety Sustainability Nexus — Where Do We Go from Here?”
View the full symposium schedule on the EWTS website: ewts.org/2024-schedule.
Get noticed with a sponsorship
Does your organization have innovations and ideas that will change the face of the plumbing, mechanical, water efficiency or water distribution industries? Showcase your new products, systems and services with an EWTS sponsorship.
Sponsorship at the Supporter, Patron and Benefactor levels provides logo placement in the event program and on the EWTS website, one to three complimentary symposium registrations – depending on your sponsorship level, and table space for displays. Two lunch sponsorships are available that deliver Benefactor-level benefits, four complimentary EWTS registrations, and recognition of your organization by the moderator before the lunch break. One reception sponsorship allows your organization to deliver a 10-minute address to attendees at the reception along with several other benefits.
Learn more about sponsorships on the 2024 EWTS website: ewts.org/become-a-sponsor.
Early-bird rate ends on March 15
Early-bird registration is now open for the EWTS. The early-bird rate of $495 ends on March 15. To register, visit the ASPE events registration page: events.aspe.org/2024EWTS.
Register for March 12-13 D.C. Legislative Fly-In
Want to advocate for legislation that can positively impact the plumbing manufacturing industry? Be sure to register for the March 12-13 PMI Washington Legislative Forum and Fly-In.
Gain and share insights
On March 12, gain insights from industry experts. National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun will present on the state of the residential and commercial real estate markets and what it means for the plumbing manufacturing industry. Also presenting will be Cally Edgren, senior director of sustainability at Assent, on how her team partners with manufacturers and their supply chains to support global market access with responsible and compliant programs.
On May 13, U.S. Rep. Mike Carey from Ohio will present during breakfast at the Capitol Club. A member of the House Ways & Means Committee, the congressman will address tax reform, adaptive reuse, and trade – key issues handled by the committee – before PMI members visit congressional offices during the remainder of the day in scheduled meetings. Join us to be a voice for the plumbing manufacturing industry and to share your insights with federal policymakers.
Advance PMI’s legislative agenda
Help support PMI’s legislative agenda. Advocate for expanding the use of 529 tax-advantaged education savings account funds to pay for workforce training programs that would help alleviate the shortage of skilled-trade workers. Promote renewing favorable tax provisions for manufacturers that expired in 2017, including the research and development tax credit, bonus depreciation for equipment and machinery, and the interest deductibility standard. Support tax incentives for converting underutilized or vacant office properties and other non-residential commercial structures into multifamily housing.
Get event details
Learn more about meeting times, locations, and recommended hotels on the PMI event page.
Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference in the plumbing manufacturing industry. Your active participation can shape the future of our industry.