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In this issue...
Education/Training
Don't Pass Up These Professional Development Classes Designed for Contractors! AGC offers legal, financial, regulatory and national management programs designed for these times. Special Discounts For MEMBERS! Presented by industry professionals in a virtual format via Zoom, take the class in wherever you are! Enjoy Member Discount Rates All our courses are presented in a virtual format via Zoom!
For a full list of classes, visit the AGC Houston Calendar
JUNE
JULY
June 5, 2020 REGISTER NOW! Safety
FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CONSTRUCTION. In 2018, there were 320 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,008 construction fatalities (BLS data). These deaths are preventable. Check out OSHA's Fall Prevention Resource Page - Dedicated to raise awareness among workers and employers about common fall hazards in construction, and how falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented. View the full list of OSHA courses here. June 8-11: OSHA 510: Standards For Construction June 15-18: OSHA 2225: Respiratory Protection June 15-18: OSHA 511: OSHA Standards for General Industry June 22-25: OSHA 500: Trainer Course In OSHA Standards For Construction June 23-25: OSHA 3085: Principles Of Scaffolding June 29-July 2: OSHA 3095: Electrical Standards June 29-July 2: OSHA 501: Trainer Course In OSHA Standards For General Industry AGC News
Among other fixes, the bill would extend the current eight-week period during which businesses must use funds to have loans forgiven to 24 weeks or Dec. 31, whichever comes sooner.
House passed the bill May 28; it now goes to President Trump who is expected to sign it into law.
Since the program was created in the CARES Act, many construction firms have taken advantage of it. However, AGC has identified a number of problems with the program, and H.R. 7010 addresses several of those concerns.
Construction spending fell 2.9% from March to April at a seasonally adjusted annual rate to a five-month low of $1.346 trillion, the Census Bureau reported today. Spending declined from March in 10 of the 12 public construction categories and 10 of the 11 private nonresidential categories in Census’s press release. Overall, public construction spending slid 2.5% from March to April, private nonresidential spending slipped 1.3%, and private residential spending tumbled 4.5%. Among the three largest public segments, highway and street construction fell 5.2%; educational, -2.3%; and transportation (transit, rail, airports and ports), -1.4%.
AGC of America launched a nationwide program on May 13, 2020, designed to help expand the diversity of the industry by making job sites more inclusive. Called Culture of CARE (commit, attract, retain and empower), it is designed to help firms create more welcoming workplace environments for staff, particularly those from diverse demographic backgrounds.
In addition to the new program, the association has already released its Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion in the Construction Industry, which provides the economic, safety and productivity rationale for expanding construction diversity.
Visit BuildCulture.org
Events
June: Safety Stand-Down On Fall Protection July 30: Mid-Year Safety Meeting - Details Coming Soon! Aug. 7: CLC Golf Tournament - Details Coming Soon! Sept. 3: Member Mixer - Save the Date! Sept. 19: APEX Gala - Save the Date! Oct. 5: AGC Champions Golf Tournament
Shine a Light on Fall Protection in June! Keep Safety Viral! While OSHA postponed the National Safety Stand-Down due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, AGC Houston is teaming up with the American Subcontractors Association - Houston Chapter to promote Fall Protection during June. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees. We encourage all of our General Contractors and Specialty contractors to take part in this important initiative! Click here for participation forms and resources.
CALLING ALL FOURSOMES! Monday, Oct. 5, 2020 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Swing into golf season on a Fazio-designed course and enjoy Champions Golf Club's famous mouth-watering dinner buffet! Check Out Team registration and sponsorship details here
Message from the President/CEO
As we close the second week of reopening our Chapter offices, we have been making sure to do our part to keeping everyone safe with a continued focus on best practices for safety.
To that end, the Chapter has launched the "Keeping Safety Viral" campaign to underscore the need for the industry to remain vigilant. With the onset of rising temperatures, the start of hurricane season and a potential uptick in COVID-19 cases as businesses continue to reopen, we must remain vigilant in our safety best practices. In order to help us spread the word, we will be mailing hard hat stickers to General Contractors and Specialty Contractors to share them with member of your team. Each of us need to do our part to KEEP SAFETY VIRAL.
News you can Use
On June 3, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott announced the reopening of all Texas businesses to 50% capacity. This is part of the state's Phase III reopening plan.
For more information, check out the "Governor's Strike Force To Open Texas " resource page.
Pandemic shutdowns have eliminated nearly 1 million jobs in construction, as an AGC survey reveals 40% of construction firms have reported canceled projects. That has turned a labor shortage into a surplus, and there are worries many who have lost jobs won't come back.
Chicago has shut down construction sites downtown, joining a number of cities where protests have led to work stoppage and damage. In other cities, contractors have voluntarily curtailed work in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Coronavirus lockdowns caused prices of softwood lumber to decline 21.1% in April compared with March, cutting an annual gain of 26.8% in March to 2% last month, according to IHS Markit. However, prices of ready-mixed concrete increased 3.4% year over year in April, while prices of concrete pipe increased 7.9%.
A bipartisan group of senators has proposed a bill that would allow tax deductions for certain costs covered by Paycheck Protection Program loans. Without the change, payroll costs and mortgage interest paid with forgiven loans will not be deductible for first- and second-quarter estimated taxes in July.
Cities in Harris County, Texas, must adhere to the county's flood plain standards to access $2.5 billion in flood-bond money. The goal is to have more consistent rules so a city doesn't build in a way that increases flooding danger in another city.
2020 response rate totaled 43.7% as of yesterday. Please do not forget to fill out the Census either by phone, online, or by mail. Check it out now. Let's continue to do our part to make sure #HoustonCounts. 
Membership Benefits
Data DIGest is your source for the latest economic news relevant to the construction industry with commentary and analysis from AGC's Chief Economist, Ken Simonson. It brings you actionable information to stay ahead of the curve on issues such as materials, prices, construction employment, and state-by-state construction trends.
Data DIGest is free to AGC Members - To activate your AGC Member subscription, simply create an AGC of America member profile. Members will be automatically added to Data DIGest.
Subscribe here.
Office Depot, OfficeMax and Staples Advantage offers cleaning and janitorial supplies to keep your workspace squeaky clean! Through NPP, AGC Houston members can order cleaning necessities and office supplies online. AND for a limited time you can get free delivery with no minimum order. You’ll find bath tissue, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, dryers, cleaning chemicals, dish soap, detergent, facial tissues, paper towels, trash bags, laundry care, cleaning equipment and more! View More and enjoy the deep discounts of NPP's group purchasing power! Resources
Employers should have an emergency plan in place that specifies what to do if a worker has signs of heat-related illness, and ensures that medical services are available if needed.
OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Heat page explains what employers can do to keep workers safe and what workers need to know - including factors for heat illness, adapting to working in indoor and outdoor heat, protecting workers, recognizing symptoms, and first aid training.
AGC Houston recently compiled a recommended practices document for jobsites in English and in Spanish. As we continue to monitor the situation, it will update it as needed. Be sure to check the AGC Houston COVID-19 Resources page frequently.
What best practices are working for you? Let us know! Please send your commentsand photos to catherine.b@agchouston.org.
OSHA 3394 - English: 10 Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus
OSHA 3395 - Spanish: 10 Medidas que Todos los Lugares de Trabajo Pueden Tomar para Prevenir la Exposición al Coronavirus
The Department of Labor video quick tips on social distancing, disinfecting workplaces and industry risk factors to keep workers safe from COVID-19.
Hurricanes and the effects of severe thunder storms pose high risks to construction sites, with their incomplete structures; expensive machinery and equipment; flood-prone excavations; and building materials that can quickly become projectiles in high winds. Click here to download the document and to view more safety-related resources from AGC Houston. Here's Looking at You
Driving around town, you might notice COVID-19 Job site "Be Smart: Stay 6-Feet Apart Banner" on construction jobsites. AGC Houston designed these banners to promote social distancing and COVID-19 sanitary measures. A special thank you to Chuck Winfree of Triangle Reproductions, Inc. for sponsoring banners the ones shown. If you are interested in ordering banners, contact Chuck Winfree at (832) 499-4349 - cell phone. New Members
Please consider doing business with these new AGC Houston member companies!
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