In 2018, AGC of America will celebrate 100 years of serving the construction industry. While we celebrate the past and the present, we are also looking forward, hoping to address the issues currently affecting the industry, in order to ensure a bright future for construction. In this spirit, AGC is introducing the Innovation Award to provide incentive to encourage free-thinkers within the field to provide pioneering solutions to a challenge faced daily by its members. Examples of issues needing innovative solutions include, but are not limited to:

• Workforce shortage and lack of diversity
• Technology advancements
• Jobsite safety
• Sustainability
• Project complexity

The deadline to apply is Oct. 30, 2017. Learn More...

 

 

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reversed (link is external) its June 2017 decision to delay by one year the final designation of counties that are not attaining the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) (link is external). EPA will now make those determinations by the October 1, 2017, deadline. The reversal came after news that 15 states and the District of Columbia were filing suit against EPA to enforce the original deadline. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has been critical of lawsuits (and settlement agreements) resulting from missed statutory deadlines. Learn More...

 

Construction employment increased by 6,000 jobs in July to the highest level since October 2008, amid a tight labor market that may be keeping contractors from hiring as many workers as they need, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Association officials urged local, state and federal leaders to enact measures designed to expose more high school students to high-paying careers in construction to offset growing labor shortages. Learn More...

 

President Trump recently announced his support for a major shift in national immigration policy. Trump teamed with Senators David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in support of legislation – the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act – that would impose a merit-based immigration system and would curtail the family- and humanitarian-based options for entry into the country. The goal of the proposal would be to limit legal immigration, which hovers around 1 million entrants every year by half, and it would also rescind the diversity lottery as well as cap annual refugee admittances. Learn More...

 

Contact your Representatives and Senators
As Congress begins their annual August recess, the AGC-co-chaired Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) is asking you to reach out to your representative and senators and tell them to fix the Highway Trust Fund as part of tax reform and invest in transportation infrastructure. Congress does not return to Washington until Sept. 5 and we encourage all our members to use this time to meet with and email your members of Congress and tell them to include a permanent Highway Trust Fund fix as part of any tax reform or new infrastructure initiative. Learn More...

 

Brasfield & Gorrie, a member of multiple AGC chapters, develops fantastic results for their clients. Proven by three years of extensive client feedback, the 2,600-person firm benchmarks as one of the top five performers among 250 AEC firms measured. Clients love working with the firm. Architects celebrate how Brasfield & Gorrie is "unlike a typical GC." Employees are fiercely loyal. By just about every measure, Brasfield & Gorrie is winning. Learn More...

 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICES SERIES
For many construction companies, marketing supports the Business Development department in winning new work. This includes responding to project opportunities through the creation of statements of qualifications, proposals and presentations. Learn More...

 

Edward DeSoignie Announces Retirement
Bridgette Williams, a well-known and respected force in the region’s construction industry, has been selected to become the new executive director of the Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City (HCAGKC). The announcement coincides with the retirement of Edward DeSoignie, who notified the HCA board of his decision earlier this year in order to provide a smooth and orderly leadership transition. DeSoignie has led the influential contractors group for the last 20 years. Learn More...

 

Project marks builder’s fourth San Diego region library project since 2011
C.W. Driver Companies, an AGC of California and San Diego Chapter member, broke ground on the $17.9 million construction of the new Mission Hills-Hillcrest Harley & Bessie Knox Public Library, the company announced today. The 14,000-sq-ft, one-story structure will be nearly four times the size of the current library, and will be constructed on the site of the old International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) building located at 925 West Washington Street. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2018. Learn More...

 

Akin to Pokemon Go, the new mobile app is helping the University of Washington community "experience" a new computer science building 18 months before its doors open to students
After pioneering the use of virtual design in construction, Mortenson Construction, a member of multiple AGC chapters, has developed a first-of-its-kind augmented reality (AR) mobile app to help the University of Washington community "see" the future CSE2 computer science building – well before its doors open to students in January of 2019. Similar to the popular Pokémon Go, users can either point their smartphones at the construction site on campus – or at a printed handout if off campus – to experience a life-like digital representation of the future CSE2 building. Learn More...

 

Parsons, a member of multiple AGC chapters, announced recently that it has joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT’s) Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), a program dedicated to creating and strengthening mutually beneficial relationships between MIT and corporations worldwide. Parsons and MIT held an ILP kickoff meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on June 26, 2017. Learn More...

 

Skanska, a member of multiple AGC chapters, is beginning construction on upgrades to the Arizona Center located at 455 N. Third Street in Phoenix. This $11.6-million project will provide Arizona Center customers and tenants with an updated and upgraded shopping and dining experience. Learn More...

 

TDIndustries (TD), a member of three chapters in Texas, has announced the hiring of Amy Messersmith as chief people officer. Messersmith, who most recently led transformation efforts at Pizza Hut, comes to TD with more than 20 years of experience in identifying and developing strategic talent, employee engagement, HR strategies and processes, and leading teams to reach and exceed financial and talent goals. Learn More...