Members' Edge

CRISP

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1839 to view the full article online.

Visit http://meetings.agc.org/austinbcc to view the full article online.

Dallas, Texas

Visit http://meetings.bimforum.org/2014/ to view the full article online.

Sheraton Downtown Phoenix

Visit http://www.agc.org/cs/events/conferences/training_education_conference to view the full article online.

San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk

San Antonio, Texas



Registration for the CLC Leadership Development Conference, formerly known as Fall Working Weekend, is now open. This year’s event is co-hosted with the San Antonio Chapter of AGC and will take place October 23-25, 2014, at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk. Highlights of the program include keynote speaker George "The Iceman" Gervin, former San Antonio Spurs player; Chuck Greco, Linbeck Group, LLC, and Senior Vice President of AGC of America; and a roundtable session that will allow attendees to learn best practices from CLC groups from across the country.

Visit http://meetings.agc.org/ldc14/ to view the full article online.

The ACE Mentor Program of Houston invites you to join in The Third Annual Build It Forward Event. This event brings together students involved in the ACE Mentor Program and industry-wide professionals. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, please click here.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1838 to view the full article online.

Don't miss this opportunity to take your career to the next level! This class develops professional estimating skills, including: an understanding of the different types of estimates; the importance of documentation and formatting; and the link between design, estimating and project costs. Registration deadline is August 2.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1426 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/?aid=277431&issueID=40123 to view the full article online.

This trainer course is designed for individuals interested in teaching the OSHA 10- or 30-hour General Industry safety and health Outreach training program to their employees and other interested groups. Using the OSHA General Industry Standards as a guide, special emphasis is placed on those topics required in the 10-and 30-hour programs as well as those which are most hazardous.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1837 to view the full article online.

This course covers the various types of common machinery, machine safeguards, and related OSHA regulations and procedures. Guidance is provided on the hazards associated with various types of machinery and the determination of proper machine safeguards.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1748 to view the full article online.

By popular demand, AGC Houston is offering the OSHA 30-hour construction safety course for Spanish-speaking construction supervisors or for workers with some safety responsibility. This course provides a greater depth and variety of training on an expanded list of
topics associated with workplace hazards than the 10-hour course.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1842 to view the full article online.

New! This course covers the evaluation and reduction of noise hazards in the
construction industry. Topics include OSHA Construction Noise Standards,
properties of sound, noise-induced hearing loss, selection and use of hearing protection, among other topics.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1840 to view the full article online.

This free training class focuses on preventing frequently cited construction hazards. The Focus Four Hazards in Construction are conducted as four-hour awareness training focusing on the greatest dangers of working on a construction site.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1778 to view the full article online.

This course covers the OSHA Standards, policies and procedures in the construction industry. Topics include scope and application of the OSHA Construction Standards, construction safety and health principles, and special emphasis on those areas in construction which are most hazardous.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1749 to view the full article online.

The management system course provides the participant the opportunity to design the core elements of a management system for environmental, risk, safety and health programs. Note: Participants must attend all three sessions.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1725 to view the full article online.

Este seminario es GRATIS y se centra en la prevencin de riesgos que con mas frecuencia se citan en la construccin.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1781 to view the full article online.

This course covers the OSHA Excavation Standards and safety and health aspects of excavation and trenching with topics including practical soil mechanics and its relationship to the stability of shored and unshored slopes and walls of excavations, introduction of various types of shoring (wood timbers and hydraulic), soil classification, and use of protective systems.

Visit http://agchouston.org/calendar.asp?pageid=901&calid=1750 to view the full article online.

On Tuesday, July 22, 2014, the president signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act into law. The
bill easily passed both the House and Senate in recent weeks. The legislation
will reform the workforce development system, giving states greater flexibility
and strengthening employer engagement.

Visit http://news.agc.org/2014/07/25/president-signs-agc-supported-legislation-reforming-workforce-development-system-into-law/ to view the full article online.

Construction firms added jobs in 38 states and the District of Columbia over the past 12 months, but they reduced headcount in 27 states between May and June, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by AGC of America. Association officials said the employment gains help, but that construction employment remains below peak.

Visit http://news.agc.org/2014/07/18/construction-employment-increased-in-38-states-and-d-c-from-a-year-ago-recovery-remains-choppy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=construction-employment-increased-in-38-states-and-d-c-from-a-year-ago-recovery-remai to view the full article online.

A recent report by TRIP, a national transportation research group, recently found that the rural road fatality rate is three times higher than all other roads, while 15 percent of rural roads are in poor shape and 22 percent of rural bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, stated " ...the U.S. Department of Transportation is warning states it will begin cutting back federal funding for highway projects in August as the balance in the federal Highway Trust Fund approaches dangerously low levels."

Visit http://www.agc.org/cs/news_media/press_room/press_release?pressrelease.id=1603 to view the full article online.

The Construction State Law Matrix is the most comprehensive, definitive and concise publication available, covering all aspects of state laws that may affect your public or private construction project. This essential resource, for use before completing any construction contract in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, ensures compliance and enforceability under state law.

Visit http://www.agc.org/cs/industry_topics/contracts_construction_law/construction_contracts/state_law_matrix to view the full article online.

Members receive exclusive weekly offers - Must sign up by August 15

Visit https://advantagemember.visionary.com/6689/application.php?cmp=BAC-1002062-15-4-952-1110000-US-US-EN-FXFRIDAYPARTNER2261 to view the full article online.

Whether it's a new smart phone or calling plan, AGC Houston members can take advantage from Verizon Wireless and National Purchasing Partnership Construction. 

• NPP our members receive 22% off corporate calling plans,


• Employees receive up to an 18% discount (15% plus an additional 3% discount
  if enrolled in online billing) on their plans. 

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/?aid=277756&issueID=40123 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/?aid=277448&issueID=40123 to view the full article online.

AGC Houston members gathered at the Junior League of Houston on Tuesday, July 22, to hear keynote speaker Matt Eversmann give a heroic recount of combat in Mogadishu, Somalia, and to recognize commercial contractor and subcontractor companies that won safety awards and took part in the Safety Stand Down event during June 2-6, 2014.

Visit http://agchouston.org/gallery.asp?galid=1841&pageid=6 to view the full article online.

Visit http://reuse.uhmrc.com/ to view the full article online.

A Houston submarket that once was predominately industrial is attracting new Class A office construction thanks to its lower costs and accessible location. The West Belt office submarket, located on Beltway 8 north of I-10 and extending just east of Highway 249, is a cost-effective alternative for companies in west Houston that need larger spaces and higher parking ratios. According to Jon Lee, Senior Vice President of CBRE's Houston office, "There are many new projects being contemplated that require preleasing to move forward. We anticipate this to continue to be a hot area in the foreseeable future."

Visit http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/07/new-submarket-hot-for-office-construction.html to view the full article online.

Are you in the K-12 construction industry of Houston? Houston Independent School District (HISD) will be introducing an approved $1.89 billion bond, seven-year construction program to market consisting of 40 schools, three athletic facilities and numerous renovations. The objective of the Labor Compliance Program (LCP) is to build the highest quality schools safely, on time, within budget and with the best construction workers. HISD’s Labor Compliance Program (LCP) helps ensure a level playing field and protects workers by reviewing certified payrolls, monitoring job sites, interviewing workers, providing certified payroll training and sponsoring community job fairs.

Visit http://www.constructioncitizen.com/blog/hisd%E2%80%99s-labor-compliance-program-dedicated-quality/1407021 to view the full article online.

The Houston region is expected to have 296,000 job openings in the "middle-skills" occupations within the next three years, and a new effort is being launched to fill them. In conjunction with the Greater Houston Partnership and JPMorgan & Co., the UpSkill Houston program will create seven sector-specific councils to improve coordination among the stakeholders. The seven key sectors for the Houston region are advanced manufacturing, construction, health care, oil and gas, petrochemical, ports and maritime, and utilities. AGC Houston is playing a key leadership role with GHP with the appointment of AGC Chairman Steve Mechler and Laura Bellows who were asked to co-chair the council. 

Visit http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/06/23/new-effort-launches-to-fill-thousands-of-jobs-in-3.html?ana=e_hstn_bn_newsalert&u=iTmD3cLYNo3Gput9e1igxGernxx&t=1403616284 to view the full article online.

According to the Texas Comptroller's Office, the Houston area boasts the lowest school construction costs in Texas at just $135 a square foot, nearly $20 lower than the state average. The Houston region also includes three of the most prolific builders in the state—the Katy, Cypress Fairbanks and Fort Bend school districts, which have added a combined 6.7 million square feet of facilities since 2007. Efforts are being made to ensure that Houston's school construction costs continue to remain one of the lowest in the state.

Visit http://texas.construction.com/yb/tx/article.aspx?story_id=id:cY08h_ZcJpgxsjvkIzRJHsMMeBQmVjGVHCF1q73T0qJ2CXevca1lm93OghQKdQvP to view the full article online.

On July 16, 2014, the House approved  a $10.8 billion Highway Trust Fund patch, which provides sufficient revenue to maintain current funding levels through May 2015. The bill also extends MAP-21 authorization for the highway and transit programs for those eight months. Revenue needed to support the patch came from a general fund transfer, which was offset by a variety of tax code adjustments including extending customs fees on importers, taking money from the leaking underground storage tank fund (LUST) and changing rules on private pension contributions. Additional revenue for the Highway Trust Fund is necessary in order to avoid a slowdown in reimbursements to states for ongoing highway construction projects in the next few weeks.

Visit http://news.agc.org/2014/07/16/house-passes-highway-funding-patch-action-shifts-to-senate/ to view the full article online.