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Episode #172
In this episode, Marty Grunder is joined by National Association of Landscape Professional's SVP of Government Relations and Membership Andrew Bray to talk about the H-2B program and how it impacts landscaping companies' ability to field a full, skilled team each year. They talk about the history of the program, why it works the way that it does, and what fixes are on the table to allow for a more stable program.
H-2B Resources and Advocacy:
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Key Learnings
H-2B Is Capped at 66,000 Visas Per Year, but Demand Is Double That: This year alone, around 130,000 petitions were filed for the April 1 tranche of 33,000 visas. The lottery system runs through letters A through H, and if you land in D or later, you are likely not getting workers.
The Landscape Industry Is the Largest User of H-2B by Far: Landscape pros make up about 40% of all H-2B users. The next closest is hospitality at 12 to 13%. The program is built for seasonal work and the landscape industry is its biggest beneficiary.
Each H-2B Worker Supports Roughly Four US Jobs: A GAO study found that communities with more H-2B workers had higher median wages than communities without. This program does not take US jobs. It expands them.
The Prevailing Wage Is Set by the Department of Labor, Not the Employer: Grunder's H-2B prevailing wage is $18.75. That means they cannot hire anyone, including their own kids, for less than that. It is a fallacy that this is a capitalistic move to pay workers less.
Do Not Try to File H-2B Yourself: This is not the same as immigration law. Use a reputable firm. NALP has a list of strategic providers on its website. One wrong move and you are cooked.
H-2B Should Never Be More Than 40% of Your Workforce: If you are over that, you have hit the critical danger zone. Build relationships with veteran groups, community colleges, federal prisons, and other recruiting channels. The program is one piece of the workforce puzzle, not the entire solution.
The Trump Administration Released All 64,716 Supplemental Visas This Year: This was a major win for the industry. NALP went to Mar-a-Lago to advocate in person. The lesson: in-person conversations change outcomes in ways email and social media never will.
The Certified Seasonal Employer Program Could Be a Game Changer: If passed in FY27, employers with five consecutive years of clean H-2B use would be guaranteed their highest historical visa count without going through the lottery. The language is already in the House appropriations bill.
Get Informed, Then Take Action: Sign up for The Advocate newsletter. When you see an action alert, click the link and submit the pre-drafted letter to your congressman. It takes under 60 seconds.
Recruit Non-Traditional Allies: Your business clients, your homeowners, your local officials. Help them understand what is at stake. The more people aware of how H-2B works, the more the political conversation shifts.
Talk to Your Senators and Representatives in Person: They will listen, even to small business owners. You do not need to run a $50 million company to get a meeting. Marty got Senator Husted's staff on a call. You can too.
Additional Resources:
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