Each year, AGC Houston recognizes companies that have participated in the Safety Stand-Down and the AGC Safety Excellence Award. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 15, 7:30 - 9 a.m. at the Junior League of Houston. This year's meeting will feature keynote speaker Derek Daly, international racing champion, best-selling author and TV's face of motor sports.

This webinar is the first of a two-part series produced by AGC of America. Please join us to learn the key differences between the construction standard and the general industry standard, which many in the construction industry have implemented to some degree.

Resort at Squaw Creek in Lake Tahoe, featuring the CompGroup AGC Safety Awards Luncheon and the TBB Outstanding Construction Awards Dinner.

Unit 1: Variation in Production Systems is a half-day course that introduces you to the foundational concepts of Lean Construction.

Unit 2: Pull in Production is a half-day course that introduces the concept of pull as a means to reliable workflow. 

This construction 10-hour safety course is designed for entry-level construction workers. It provides information about worker rights and employer responsibilities, and it provides basic awareness training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of workplace hazards.

This course is designed to help students build essential lifesaving skills.

This 10-hour construction-safety course covers the safety requirements as contained in 29 CFR 1926.

AGC of America now offers a new, dynamic and cost-effective way for AGC member firms to offer quality health insurance and other employee benefits. The AGC Alternative is a private insurance exchange built exclusively for AGC members.

AGC members receive valuable discounts of up to 29% on select FedEx Express® and FedEx Ground® shipping services, up to 70% on FedEx Freight® shipping services. There are no costs and no minimum shipping, copy or print requirements to take advantage of this great member benefit.

For FedEx shipping services, AGC members can save up to:

• 29% on select FedEx Express® U.S. services
• 25% on select FedEx Express® International services
• 70% on select FedEx Freight® services
• 20% on select FedEx Ground® services

Sign up today! For more information on how FedEx can help your business save, click here.

Did you know one of the many benefits of being an AGC Member is access to our résumé service? As a service to our members, we compile résumés of job-seeking professionals in the construction industry. To access this service, simply log in to the Members' Only section at agchouston.org to view the most current list.

A new survey measuring economic sentiment shows that Houston small-business owners are feeling pretty optimistic in spite of a slow Texas economy. Houston small-business owners are optimistic, as they ranked their economic expectations 20 to 25 points higher than how they perceive their current financial situation, according to a survey. In terms of small-business growth, the nation’s startup activity just experienced its biggest year-over-year increase in two decades.

Construction firms added 17,000 jobs in May and 273,000 over 12 months, as the sector's unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent, the lowest May rate since 2006, according to an analysis by AGC. Association officials noted that the job gains come as the private and public sectors are increasing investments in construction services.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides public access to industry regulatory compliance and enforcement data online. The Enforcement and Compliance History Online website integrates data from EPA information systems for public use.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on May 27 completed and released a new and final rule on the water features over which they will claim jurisdiction. The new rule is the culmination of their long and controversial effort to align federal regulations with the latest U.S. Supreme Court decisions and simultaneously make permitting decisions easier.

Plan to join your peers at AGC's 2015 Contractors Environmental Conference on September 2-3, in Arlington, Virginia to explore ways to turn environmental responsibilities into successes for you and your firm.

The $10 million renovation of Francis Hall at Texas A&M University puts the school in a one-of-a-kind position among institutions of higher education in the state. It is the only building anywhere in Texas dedicated solely to the education of construction sciences, according to Joe Horlen, who heads up the Department of Construction Science in College Station.