What to Expect from ABC SEMI in 2026
Building on What We Have
Local, State and National leaders help open SEMCA’s Sterling Heights Campus.
ABC Southeastern Michigan enters 2026 with a clear purpose: to strengthen and elevate what we’ve already built. This year isn’t about reinventing the chapter, it’s about accelerating the momentum created by our members, our programs, our work force partnerships and our growing political influence. The foundation is solid, now we build higher.
Our Sterling Heights campus is at the center of that growth. In 2026, it will become an even more active hub for Michigan’s merit shop community, hosting expanded training opportunities, workforce recruitment initiatives, industry roundtables, leadership development programs and member- focused events.
What began as a bold investment has evolved into a fully activated resource. Membership value this year will be more tangible than ever. Advocacy will continue protecting contractors’ ability to compete, while business resources and visibility opportunities will help members strengthen operations and expand partnerships.
ABC Members recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to an event.
SEMCA’s continued growth means more students entering the trades, more employer connections and more graduates prepared to contribute on day one. Safety initiatives, including STEP, will evolve to help contractors demonstrate excellence in a marketplace where safety performance is increasingly a deciding factor.
Leadership development remains a defining advantage for ABC. Through ABC National’s Project Management Institute and our chapter’s Construction Leadership Institute, emerging leaders will gain skills that translate directly to job site performance and business success. These programs are not theoretical —they are practical pathways to building the talent our industry urgently needs.
Our workforce strategy will continue expanding as SEMCA transitions from a training provider to a true workforce engine. With increased enrollment, new satellite offerings and closer alignment with employer needs, SEMCA is shaping the future of Michigan’s skilled trades.
Another area where ABC SEMI will continue to grow is advocacy. With statewide elections approaching, policymakers increasingly recognize the influence and economic footprint of merit shop contractors. In 2026, ABC won’t simply be part of political conversations, candidates will actively seek our endorsement.
Our chapter’s voice in Lansing will remain firm: defending open competition, promoting free enterprise and ensuring contractors have the freedom to build.
The SEMCA Class of 2025: actively moving up in the workforce pipeline.
Finally, 2026 provides an opportunity to embrace something deeper—the values that unite us as builders, entrepreneurs and Americans. In June, ABC SEMI will proudly host America’s 250th gala in Freedom Hall at the Sterling Heights campus. This celebration will bring together members, industry partners, elected officials and thought leaders to honor the greatness of our country and the people who literally build it. It will be a defining moment not just of patriotism, but of purpose.
We are not beginning a new chapter. We are reinforcing one that’s already strong. The tools are in place, the momentum is real and the opportunities ahead are ours to seize. In 2026, we are not just planning the future—we’re building on what we have and what we have has never been stronger.
