CHARLOTTE, NC  North Carolina is an excellent place for contractors to do business according to a scorecard launched by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). "Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard" reviews and grades state-specific information significant to the success of the commercial and industrial construction industry. The scorecard website identifies states, such as North Carolina, that have created an environment where merit-shop contractors are well positioned to succeed and states where strategic improvements need to be made in order to achieve a merit-shop friendly business climate.

The Merit Shop Scorecard grades states on their policies on project labor agreement (PLA) and prevailing wage mandates, right-to-work status, as well as their construction job growth rate, commitment to developing a well-trained workforce, level of flexibility in career and technical education curricula, and use of public-private partnerships.

The Merit Shop Scorecard was developed with input from ABC chapters and industry stakeholders across the country. States were evaluated based on their policies and records on seven key issues:

Project Labor Agreements
Prevailing Wage
Right to Work
Public-Private Partnerships
Workforce Development
Career and Technical Education
Job Growth Rate

"ABC applauds North Carolina policymakers for their commitment to free enterprise and helping craft an environment where contractors can thrive," said Doug Carlson, ABC of the Carolinas President and CEO. "By banning anti-competitive and restrictive project labor agreement and prevailing wage mandates, and supporting right-to-work and workforce development programs, North Carolina policymakers have helped reduce the cost of public construction to taxpayers and made it easier for contractors to expand their operations and create more jobs in North Carolina."

The merit shop philosophy is the belief that people and companies succeed based on free enterprise principles within the free market system, which is characterized by open and fair competition and diverse participants. Those who adhere to the philosophy believe employees and employers have the right to determine wages and working conditions through either individual or collective bargaining, as they choose, within the boundaries of the law. They oppose violence, coercion, intimidation, and the denial of the rights of employees and employers. Furthermore, they believe it is incumbent upon all branches of government to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and that government should award contracts based solely on merit to the lowest responsible bidder, regardless of labor affiliation.