Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 that represents more than 22,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 68 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work.

ABC’s membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors.

ABC’s mission is the advancement of the merit shop philosophy in construction, which encourages fair and open competition and the awarding of contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation. ABC is the merit shop construction industry’s voice to the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government and with state and local governments, as well as with the news media.

ABC’s core purpose is to advance and defend the principles of the merit shop in the construction industry and to provide members and their employees with an opportunity to succeed. The vision of ABC is to create and flourish an environment in which people and companies succeed based on free enterprise principles within the free market system.