AGC of America is once again one helping to support and promote Infrastructure Week – a national week of education and advocacy that brings together American businesses, workers, elected leaders, and everyday citizens around the message #TimeToBuild. This week – May 15-19, 2017 – advocates around the country will highlight the state of our nation's infrastructure and encourage lawmakers to invest in and modernize our roads, bridges, highways, airports, waterways, ports, and water systems. Learn More...

 

It's no secret to those in the industry that construction is a meaningful and valuable career, but delivering that message to the next generation of workers -- a group who grew up on smartphones and the internet -- requires a different approach. Through messaging and storytelling, the I Build America initiative, featured in the latest edition of Constructor, is doing just that. Learn More...

 

Have you visited AGC’s enhanced Constructor Marketplace lately? This database of construction vendors is designed to save you time and money by hosting hundreds of listings for construction manufacturers and service providers in one searchable, easy-to-use online location. The infographic in the link below leads you through the features and tools hosted on Constructor Marketplace, including the mobile version for when you’re on site and need last-minute supplies, and the Request for Proposal (RFP) Automator for when you need to collect bids for an upcoming job. Want to upgrade your company image on Constructor Marketplace? Email media consultant Jamie Williams for Marketplace advertising rates and specs. Learn More...

 

Construction employment increased by 5,000 jobs in April to the highest level in more than nine years amid strong demand for new construction services, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that a shortage of available qualified workers likely limited the number of new jobs added last month. Learn More...

 

Construction spending is at record levels for the second straight month in March and is up 4.9 percent for the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2016, despite dipping slightly compared to February, according to an analysis by AGC of America. Association officials said many firms are eager to see details of the president’s pending infrastructure plan, which should boost construction demand. "Construction spending totals during the past two months are at the highest levels we have ever seen," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "If the winter weather hadn’t been so mild in much of the country, we would have seen less growth in February and a higher rate of growth in March, but overall demand remains quite robust." Learn More...

 

Tell your Rep. to sign bipartisan letter in support of long-term fix. Deadline is May 19.
As the push continues for Congress to fix the Highway Trust Fund, a bipartisan group of members of the House of Representatives are circulating a letter calling for a permanent Highway Trust Fund fix to be included in any tax reform package. If you recall, Representatives Graves and Holmes Norton circulated a similar letter last year (check here to see if your Rep. signed the 2016 letter) that was signed by 130 bipartisan members of the House. Help us to significantly increase that number by contacting your Representative and asking them to sign on to the letter. So far, 111 members of the House have signed onto this year's letter. See if your member has signed on and, if so, send an email thanking them for their support. Learn More...

 

Leah Pilconis, AGC’s head of environmental law and policy, testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works at a hearing entitled "Infrastructure Project Streamlining and Efficiency: Achieving Faster, Better, and Cheaper Results." AGC took the opportunity to discuss many of the ideas in its new document "Reforms for Improving Federal Environmental Review and Permitting," which were well received. Learn More...

 

There are numerous marketing and business development metrics out there, but which one should you focus on? In her article, "Win Rate Shouldn’t Be Your Key Metric, Kathy Nanowski, Fuss & O’Neill, argues that the strength of a company’s pipeline of projects is the most important metric of all and gives key advice on building your pipeline through focusing on the client, prioritizing projects by sales stage and building trust over time. Learn More...

 

For many, corrosion may seem like a minor problem. A little rust here and there, maybe some pipes weaken and need to be replaced down the road — nothing that can’t be handled. And on a case-by-case basis, this may be true, because sometimes all corrosion amounts to is a little rust. But even those who know better, who recognize how unchecked corrosion can lead to serious structural failure like a collapsed bridge, may not realize just how high the overall cost of decomposition is. On an annual basis, the global cost of corrosion is more than $2 trillion, with half of that coming from the U.S. alone. Learn More...

 

The South Carolina Legislature voted May 10 to override a veto by Gov. Henry McMaster of a transportation funding bill that is projected to generate more than $640 million a year in additional funding for road and bridge needs when fully implemented in 2023. The measure generates the revenue by increasing the state's motor fuels tax by 12 cents per gallon, in 2 cent per year increments starting July 1. Carolinas AGC was a leading member of the South Carolina Alliance to Fix Our Roads, a broad coalition effort of interested business groups in support of the measure. Learn More...

 

Atlantic Constructors, Inc. (ACI), an AGC of Virginia member, is currently undergoing a $3 million expansion to enlarge its fabrication facility in Richmond from 100,000 to 130,000 square feet. The project, which is scheduled for completion in July 2017, enables ACI to seize a competitive edge with its prefabrication and modular construction capabilities. Learn More...

 

Plastic recycler CarbonLITE has engaged C1S Group, a TEXO member, as the primary contractor for the construction of its new North Texas recycling facility. C1S Group, a full-service professional engineering and construction firm based in Dallas, has begun the process to convert the facility located on Mountain Creek Parkway in southwest Dallas into a leading-edge recycling center. Learn More...

 

Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville, an AGC of Kentucky and AGC of Tennessee member, donated a 494-linear foot 5-ft-high chain link fence installation to Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Cora Howe School on Good Friday, April 14. Cora Howe School is a special day school for those students whose learning differences are so significant that they cannot effectively learn within the context of a less restrictive environment. It serves Metro Nashville Public Schools students grades K-12 who are referred through the Individualized Education Plan Team. Learn More...

 

Skanska, a member of multiple AGC chapters, is finishing construction on phase one of Dexcom’s facility located at 232 S. Dobson Road in Mesa, Arizona. This 145,000-sq-ft project is a build-out of an existing shell building. The first phase includes the renovation of a 60,000-sq-ft industrial warehouse to medical device manufacturing space that will produce hardware and software compatible glucose monitors. Learn More...

 

Harold MacDowell, CEO of TDIndustries, a member of multiple AGC chapters, has been named #7 in an Inc. magazine feature that focuses on unique leadership throughout the world. The feature, "The World’s 10 Top CEOs," is written by Leadership from the Core founder Marcel Schwantes and provides insight into the principles and success of Servant Leadership across the globe. Learn More...