Four major organizations have committed a combined $555 million to strengthen America’s skilled-trades workforce. The investments will support paid training, Registered Apprenticeships, and career development opportunities in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other skilled trades.

The new initiatives are designed to connect students and workers with training and career opportunities as demand for qualified tradespeople continues to grow. One program will provide coursework and paid on-the-job training for approximately 15,000 students across multiple regions.

With employers continuing to seek skilled workers, these investments highlight the growing focus on building the next generation of the trades workforce.
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We are pleased to introduce the SWFL PHCC Government & Industry Affairs Committee, a new committee established to strengthen communication between our members and the building officials, inspectors, local government representatives, and other industry stakeholders who impact our businesses and industry.

One of the Committee's primary responsibilities is to serve as a resource for members experiencing challenges related to permitting, inspections, code enforcement, conflicting requirements, or other industry-related matters. When concerns are brought to our attention, our goal is to gather the facts, open a constructive dialogue with the appropriate parties, and work collaboratively toward clarification and resolution.

We recently had an opportunity to put that mission into action.

Several of our contractors recently raised concerns about Manatee County's backflow requirements, particularly in flood-prone areas where devices may be located in swales or low spots. If you are a member we contacted you directly via email with the details on this item, actions that have taken place and steps that have been put in place to address this issue. 

A full overview of the issues has been added to the members only area of the website if you would like more info. Login is required to access.

The Florida Building Commission will meet concurrently with the Energy Technical Advisory Committee on September 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM via conference call/webinar.

The meeting will focus on reviewing energy compliance software for the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, 9th Edition (2026) and providing recommendations to the Commission regarding its approval.

Meeting: Florida Building Commission & Energy Technical Advisory Committee
Date: September 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Format: Conference Call/Webinar

The meeting agenda and additional information are available through the Florida Building Commission.

Meeting Agenda

More Information

The second 45-day comment period for proposed Glitch/Errata changes to the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code is now underway. The Florida Building Commission has released the actions and outcomes from the Commission’s Code Administration Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings held August 18–21, 2026, for review and comment.

Comments are due by midnight on October 8, 2026. Members are encouraged to review the TAC actions and submit any comments or concerns directly to Florida Building Commission staff.

Review the TAC meeting reports, minutes, and proposed code changes:
Florida Building Code 2026 Code Development Process

Submit comments to:
Mo Madani, Technical Director
mo.madani@myfloridalicense.com
Deadline: October 8, 2026

As the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code continues to roll out, SWFL PHCC is providing members with helpful resources to better understand key changes and how they may affect plumbing, mechanical, and energy-related work.

The four Analysis of Changes documents above cover:

• Residential Energy Conservation
• Plumbing
• ⚙️ Mechanical
• Commercial Energy Conservation

These resources were created and provided by Manatee County, and we appreciate their efforts to make them available to industry professionals.

The documents will also be available on the SWFL PHCC Members Only page for future reference and easy access when questions arise.

We encourage members to take a look and keep these resources handy as you work with the updated Florida Building Code.

SWFL PHCC members are invited to participate in the 2026 PHCC Member Survey. This is a members-only survey designed to gather valuable feedback from PHCC members about their experiences, needs and priorities.

The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and will help inform PHCC's efforts moving forward.

As a thank you for participating, members will receive a complimentary report of the survey findings and will be entered into a drawing to win an Amazon gift card.

Survey Deadline: August 30, 2026

Please note: This survey is for SWFL PHCC members only.

Backflow prevention took center stage at SWFL PHCC’s recent Backflow Basics training!

Plumbing professionals gathered for an evening of practical education focused on understanding backflow, identifying cross connection hazards, and learning the fundamentals of protecting potable water systems.

Guest Speaker Jeff Ball, Master Plumber, TREEO Certified Instructor, and NCCER Certified Plumbing Instructor, led attendees through the essentials, including backpressure and backsiphonage, hydraulic conditions, applicable regulations, common cross connections, backflow prevention assemblies, and industry responsibilities.

A special thank you to Jeff Ball for sharing his expertise and helping attendees strengthen their knowledge of this critical topic.

We also want to recognize Hydrologic of South Sarasota, our event sponsor, for supporting SWFL PHCC’s commitment to providing valuable education and training opportunities for plumbing professionals.

Thank you to everyone who joined us! We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing you at our next SWFL PHCC event.

OpenAI is expanding its advertising plans beyond traditional brand awareness ads and toward performance-focused advertising designed to generate measurable actions such as purchases, appointment bookings and contact form submissions.

The shift could be particularly relevant for small and local service businesses. OpenAI is reportedly exploring ways for advertisers to pay based on conversions rather than simply impressions, while new tracking tools could help businesses measure what happens after someone interacts with an ad.

For contractors, the bigger takeaway is that AI platforms may become an increasingly important part of how customers find and hire local service providers. As consumers turn to AI tools for recommendations and answers, businesses may eventually have new opportunities to reach customers directly within those conversations.

What to Watch: ChatGPT's advertising capabilities are still developing, but the move toward conversion-focused advertising could create another potential channel for contractors looking to generate leads and bookings online.
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A plumbing and HVAC contractor has grown its YouTube channel to more than 1.3 million subscribers, highlighting just how powerful video has become for the skilled trades.

The company uses video for much more than traditional advertising. Its content includes helpful service information, technician training, behind-the-scenes footage, employee spotlights, community events, recruiting content, and short-form videos designed to reach a broader audience.

The bigger takeaway for contractors? You don't need a massive production studio or a huge marketing budget to get started. Consistent, useful, authentic content can help potential customers learn about your services while also giving prospective employees a look at your company and its people.

As more consumers turn to online platforms and AI tools when researching local services, video is becoming another way for contractors to build visibility and trust. Click here to read more.

Smart water technology is gaining attention as property owners look for ways to detect leaks earlier, prevent water damage, and better understand water usage.

A recent industry white paper highlights the growing use of leak detection devices, humidity sensors, water monitoring systems, and automatic shut-off technology. These systems can monitor normal water usage and identify unusual activity that may indicate a leak or malfunction.

The report also points to the importance of proper installation. Connected water systems, particularly automatic shut-off devices, can be difficult for homeowners to install correctly. Proper setup and connectivity are essential for the technology to work as intended.

While adoption remains relatively low, continued advances in smart water technology could create new opportunities for plumbing contractors to incorporate leak detection, water monitoring, and preventative solutions into their services. Click here to read more.