Members' Edge - March 8, 2018

Education/Training

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=490845&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

Nominations due March 31, 2018.

Presented annually, this prestigious award gives special recognition to a construction industry employee who most exemplifies the highest standards of excellence.All construction industry employees are eligible including employees of general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, service companies, architects and engineers.

Visit https://agchouston.org/AGCH/About/Chapter-Awards/Standard-of-Excellence-Award/AGCH/About/Awards/Standard_of_Excellence_Award.aspx?hkey=58acf562-f89a-49e5-a798-a0e8bb172722 to view the full article online.

AGC News

AGC of America Urges President's Infrastructure Plan Should Serve As Impetus For Legislation

Construction Official Urges Congress to Act Quickly to Pass New Infrastructure Legislation Now that the President Has Outlined an Ambitious Plan to Invest $200 Billion in New Federal Funds

Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of AGC of America, released a press release on February 12, 2018 in reaction to the release of President Trump’s proposal to improve and rebuild the country’s aging public works, including roads, bridges, airports, waterways and clean water systems.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/POTUS.pdf to view the full article online.

Construction Spending In January Matches December

Construction spending in January was unchanged from December and was moderately higher than in January 2017, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. However, further gains, especially in desperately needed infrastructure investment, would be in jeopardy if the administration adopts tariffs on key construction materials.

"Construction spending in January showed a mixed pattern, with noteworthy increases in public outlays and single-family homebuilding balancing out declines in private nonresidential and multifamily investments," said Ken Simonson, AGC's chief economist. "Unfortunately, all categories are threatened by the harmful actions under consideration regarding steel and aluminum."

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/03/01/construction-spending-january-matches-december-rises-year-ago-harmful-actions to view the full article online.

Events

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=490841&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=490842&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=490843&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

Support Our Veterans In Construction! Purchase Your Official BBQ Cook-Off T-Shirt

AGC Houston Barbecue Cook-Off To Raise Funds For NextOp

During the Barbecue Cook-Off March 23 and 24, AGC Houston and cook teams will be selling commemorative t-shirts and raising funds for NextOp, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects military leaders to construction industry careers.

NextOp recruits, trains, and places high-performing middle-enlisted military leaders into industry careers such as construction. According to NextOp Executive Director John Boerstler, the organization's veteran candidates are placed into a new industry career within 25 days of program enrollment.

Shirts Available For Purchase Now! One of a kind, these shirts are 50/50 (cotton/polyester) and come in adult sizes small through XXX-Large. Just $25.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/T-Shirt-Order-Form.pdf to view the full article online.

Member News

Gilbane Building Co. Celebrates Topping Off At Memorial City

In early February, Gilbane Building Company celebrated a major milestone at the site of the Barryknoll Lane multi-family apartment development. The topping off ceremony was attended by representatives from MetroNational, Slate Real Estate Partners, and by Gilbane employees and several key contractors. The festivities included lunch and entertainment by a Mariachi band.

Gilbane is providing construction management at-risk services for the construction of MetroNational’s new eight story, 670,000 square-foot multi-family luxury complex. This facility will offer 333 luxury apartment units in one- to three-bedroom layouts, 570 parking spaces, an eighth-floor amenity deck with a pool, bar facilities, cabanas, catering kitchen, sitting areas and a dog park.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=491274&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

Austin Passes Paid Sick and Safe Leave Law

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=490861&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

Fed: Tight Labor Market Pushing Wages Higher

Moderate inflation is showing up in most of the US as a strong job
market forces employers to raise wages, according to the Federal Reserve's
Beige Book. Prices have increased in all of the central bank's districts.

Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-07/fed-sees-moderate-inflation-as-tight-job-market-boosts-wages to view the full article online.

Rising Transportation Costs Could Force U.S. Price Hikes

Some of the biggest US makers of consumer products are considering price increases to pass on rising transportation costs to consumers. The costs companies pay to ship goods are rising almost twice as fast as inflation

Visit https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-freight-transportation-insight/corporate-americas-new-dilemma-raising-prices-to-cover-higher-transport-costs-idUSKCN1GA0DS to view the full article online.

EEO-1 Survey Now Open For Qualifying Employers

On January 24, 2018, the EEOC announced it had completed its mailing of the 2017 EEO-1 survey Notification Letters and all employers that qualify must file EEO-1 Reports by March 31, 2018. You may remember that the EEOC recently revised the EEO-1 report, but following advice from AGC the Trump administration reversed the changes and no pay data is required to be reported. The current EEO-1 report is simply the "old" format that employers used to file the last round of reports in September 2016.

Visit http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/agchr/issues/2018-02-09/1.html to view the full article online.

Federal Government Releases New Policies That Will Affect Environmental Enforcement

In the first few weeks of 2018, the federal government released a series of memoranda officially announcing a host of significant changes in how it will enforce violations of environmental laws – ranging from restricting payouts to "settle" lawsuits outside of court, to deferring to states on enforcement matters, to limiting the practice of regulating through guidance.

EPA will adjust its civil penalties annually, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act).

Visit http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/agcenv/issues/2018-02-21/6.html to view the full article online.

AGC Houston Supports OSHA Construction Safety & Health Conference Houston September 13-14, 2018

The OSHA Construction Safety and Health Conference will provide an ideal forum to learn about new and ever changing safety products, processes, procedures and technology in the construction industry.

This conference is expected to draw between 600-800 attendees from both construction and industrial sectors, twice the size of the previous conference held in Dallas. Plenty of sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities!

Visit http://www.oshacon.org/ to view the full article online.

Membership Benefits

Your AGC Membership Pays

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=490848&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

NEW BENEFIT! A Special Discount From G&K Uniforms & Facility Services

AGC of America now offers exclusive savings with G&K Services Inc. to enhance your company's image and safety with the highest quality work apparel and facility products.

Additional benefits include:

Free Site Assessment, Cost Comparison, and Set Up of New Customers

20% Discount Off Standard Pricing

Single Point of Contact

24/7 Customer Support

Safety, Flame Resistant and High Visibility Options Available

Visit https://www.agc.org/member-benefits/gk-services-discount-program to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=490850&issueID=57406 to view the full article online.

AGC Southwest Chapters 401(k) Plan Offers Free Wealth Mgmt. Webinars For Participants

AGC Houston is pleased to announce that 401 (k) group plan participants can choose from a series of webinars designed to review the plan's highlights and personal retirement outlook. The first Webinar took place January 25 and more are planned throughout the year.

All webinars will be live at 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. CST. Sign up for the next series of webinars, featuring the following topics:

Saving & Budgeting; Plan Highlights & Your Retirement Outlook; Balancing Retirement & College; Investing 101; Your Retirement Outlook & Joining The Plan; Social Security; Planning For Families With Special Needs; Healthcare In Retirement

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/AGCSWC401k.pdf to view the full article online.