NJBIZ Conversations: Samantha DeAlmeida

Listen to this article

The real estate market in New Jersey has turned in a remarkable run over the past couple of years, despite the pandemic-related slowdown. New construction, along with repositioning and rehabilitation projects, is rapidly changing the built landscape around New Jersey. And someone has to do all that work.

Builders and contractors have faced many of the same challenges as businesses in other industries. Supply chain disruptions and rising costs of raw materials have been the main sources of distress. NJBIZ recently spoke with Samantha DeAlmeida, the president of Associated Builders and Contractors of New Jersey, a trade group representing some 1,200 merit shop contractors around the state, about the state of the industry and the organization’s priorities.

“We’ve been playing a lot of defense in the last legislative session — there was quite a bit of unfair legislation proposed that favors Union contractors heavily,” she said. “We’re not an anti-union organization, but we’re the advocate for fair footing and being able to bid projects fairly. It’s in the best interest of the taxpayer, it’s in the best interest of the folks that live in the communities, and it’s in the interest of minorities. … A large large majority of minority contractors are merit shop contractors so when you take away their ability to bid projects, specifically on public workshops and you’re taking away food off their tables and the ability for them to earn a living.”

To watch the full interview, click on the image below.