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BUSINESS NEWS BOWMAN AWARDED CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT CONTRACT BY CITY OF WENATCHEE Bowman Consulting Group Ltd., a national engineering services firm, has been awarded a $1.5 million supplemental contract for construction oversight of bike and pedestrian bridges by City of Wenatchee, Washington. The contract supplement follows Bowman’s successful completion of earlier stage environmental permitting and design work. As part of the construction oversight assignment, Bowman will serve as the engineer of record, providing public outreach and full-service construction management, including inspection and documentation for bike and pedestrian
access bridges along sections of the Apple Capital Loop in Wenatchee, Washington. “This contract highlights the contribution of our total integration approach to acquisitions,” said Gary Bowman, chairman and CEO of Bowman. “By integrating talented teams and leveraging client relationships, we expand our market reach while creating new avenues for long-term organic growth and value creation. Our recent Exeltech acquisition enhanced our ability to deliver high-quality bridge-related transportation solutions nationally and our national construction management practice enables us to extend those relationships. Leveraging our collective
expertise and reputation for quality, we continue to earn the trust of transportation system operators seeking reliable and innovative solutions.” The Apple Capital Loop is an 11-mile multimodal corridor in the Wenatchee Valley. The South End Bike/Ped Access Bridges project, funded in part by an INFRA grant, aims to improve safety and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists by providing grade-separated crossings over Washington SR 28 and the BNSF railway. The project builds on Bowman’s portfolio in the region while showcasing the firm’s blend of national expertise and local engagement, ensuring long-term value for clients and communities.
another critical area that could significantly impact the AEC industry. Congress has officially launched the process to draft a major new tax package. The House and Senate have approved a budget resolution, authorizing the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees to begin writing the bill. But they’re not working alone – other committees are shaping areas like defense, border security, and proposed cuts to mandatory spending. Those cuts are expected to be a key point of contention, with more support in the House than in the Senate. The Ways and Means Committee is currently aiming to mark up the bill in early May. What comes out of that process could significantly affect AEC firms – especially those structured as pass-through entities or planning capital investments. Meanwhile, the debt ceiling remains a wild card. The Treasury is assessing incoming tax revenues to determine when borrowing authority will run out. A standoff on this front could stall the tax bill or lead to significant compromises. NEXT STEPS: YOUR REACTION IS KEY. Stay informed and stay nimble. Policy shifts – on tariffs, taxes, and spending – aren’t just background noise; they’re levers that can affect profitability, hiring, and the pace of project delivery. Keep a pulse on Washington. Talk to your advisors. And when possible, make your voice heard – through professional associations, local chambers, and industry coalitions. Uncertainty isn’t going away – but with informed planning and strategic flexibility, AEC firms can continue to thrive and deliver, even in turbulent times. Stambaugh Ness will continue to track these developments and what they mean for the AEC industry. Reach out to our team anytime – we’re here to help. Jennifer Nelson, CPA, MBA is managing director of Tax at Stambaugh Ness. Contact her at jnelson@stambaughness.com.
JENNIFER NELSON, from page 3
about launching new office buildings, multi-family complexes, or mixed-use developments. In this environment, firms may need to diversify their service offerings, focus on renovation and adaptive reuse projects, or shift attention to more resilient market sectors to maintain steady work. For the industry, this means adapting designs to accommodate rising costs, managing client expectations, and navigating pricing volatility with suppliers and contractors. Projects already on tight margins may face delays or cancellations, and firms could see increased pressure to value-engineer or redesign around fluctuating material availability. BUILDING RESILIENCE: HOW TO RESPOND TO VOLATILITY. So how can you combat this uncertainty? The answer lies in agility and informed collaboration. You can: ■ Stay informed. Develop a system for monitoring tariff- related news and supply chain disruptions. ■ Diversify suppliers. Wherever possible, avoid overreliance on a single country or supplier. A broader network creates flexibility if tariffs change suddenly or lead times spike. ■ Revisit contracts. Escalation clauses can help manage costs tied to sudden material price hikes. ■ Scenario planning. Model potential material cost increases with your finance team. Prepare for how a 10 percent, 20 percent, or 30 percent change could affect your pipeline. Whether these proposed tariffs materialize or not, the conversation highlights how deeply global trade policy is woven into the business of building. For architects, engineers, and contractors, it’s another reminder that projects don’t happen in a vacuum – they are shaped by the economic, political, and material realities of the moment. THE TAX DEBATE AND WHAT COMES NEXT. Tariffs aren’t the only moving target. The upcoming tax debate in Congress is
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THE ZWEIG LETTER APRIL 21, 2025, ISSUE 1582
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