AGC Constructor

Celebrate 100 years of construction with AGC of America in New Orleans, Feb. 22-24, 2018. Register by Oct. 31, 2017 and save $300. For the list of featured speakers, click here. The host hotel, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, offers easy access to the area’s most popular attractions. Hop on the Loyola Avenue Streetcar, or take a walk to the historic French Quarter, Arts District, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the scenic Mississippi Riverfront.

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

 

As we continue to learn more about the devastation throughout Puerto Rico, Texas and other states/territories caused by Hurricane Harvey and Maria, we wanted to let you know that the charitable arm of AGC of America, AGC Charities Inc., will be supporting members of the AGC family and their communities affected by these storms. You can support this effort by making a contribution to AGC Charities.

AGC of America worked closely with our chapters in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to provide significant assistance for member firms’ employees, their families and their communities affected by that storm and the subsequent flooding. We plan to work closely with AGC chapters in the affected areas to do the same in response to Hurricane Harvey.

Please consider supporting AGC Charities as we help members of our AGC family whose lives have been disrupted by this historic storm. Thank you in advance for your help and support.

Visit http://agccharities.org/assistance-programs/ to view the full article online.

 

Construction employment increased by 8,000 jobs in September 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 said construction employment gains would have been higher if more high school students were exposed to construction as a possible career option.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2017/10/06/construction-industry-adds-8000-jobs-september-and-184000-over-year-hourly-earnings to view the full article online.

 

Most major construction spending categories increased from July to August but activity was mixed compared to spending levels a year earlier, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Association officials noted that big drops in public investments mean infrastructure will continue to deteriorate and impede economic growth.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2017/10/02/construction-spending-increases-most-categories-july-august-year-over-year-changes to view the full article online.

 

Stephen Sandherr, the chief executive officer of AGC of America, released the following statement in reaction to the Unified Framework released by congressional leaders and the Trump administration: "The tax reform framework is a step in the right direction. At 30.3 percent, the construction industry faces the highest effective tax rate of any industry in America," said Sandherr. "The overwhelming majority of construction firms are pass-through businesses, meaning the owners pay taxes at the individual rates, not the corporate rate. Tax reform that lowers the rates for businesses of all forms and sizes is long overdue, and will provide shot in the arm to the industry, lower the cost of construction projects, and allow construction firms to focus more on their business, and less time with the IRS."

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2017/09/29/unified-tax-reform-framework-will-lower-cost-construction-projects-and-allow-firms to view the full article online.

 

AGC recently participated in a series of deregulatory events at the White House and federal agencies—including the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Transportation—as the administration continues outreach to AGC for guidance on regulatory reforms to undertake. To date, AGC has provided several hundred pages worth of obsolete, over burdensome or duplicative regulations and detailed recommendations for federal agencies to consider in their quest to cut red tape.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2017/10/12/agc-participates-trump-admin-deregulatory-week to view the full article online.

 

BY SHERYL S. JACKSON
CONSTRUCTOR MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
An increasing amount of construction materials is being shipped via rail, and contractors are using the financial, eco-friendly and safety benefits.

Visit http://www.nxtbook.com/naylor/NGCS/NGCS0517/index.php#/20 to view the full article online.

 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICES SERIES
It’s time that professional services firms faced a couple of hard truths: First, no one wants to subscribe to an e-newsletter, and second, a single email is not going to make the phones ring. Companies spend significant resources on online marketing only to be left wondering why it’s not working. It’s not surprising. Gaining traction through content alone is not easy—especially if you want to do more than build awareness. The problem, however, is not that online marketing doesn’t work. It's that most A/E/C firms stop short of what it takes to see results. Specifically, their online marketing lacks strategy and disciplined follow-up.

Visit https://www.agc.org/sites/default/files/2017-10%20First%20Contact%20Using%20Incentives%20%20Automation%20to%20Spur%20Action.pdf to view the full article online.

 

Therrien Waddell, Inc., a Maryland AGC member and general contracting and construction management firm based in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore-Northern Virginia metropolitan region, recently launched its dynamic new corporate website.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/ngc-constructor/articles/index.asp?aid=466916&issueID=55097 to view the full article online.

 

National, innovative contractor unveils first of several Smart Labs for identifying, testing and scaling technologies; mission to revolutionize and disrupt construction industry .

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/ngc-constructor/articles/index.asp?aid=466917&issueID=55097 to view the full article online.

 

Apply by December 15, 2017
The purpose of the CSEA is to recognize those construction companies who excel at safety performance. CSEA will closely examine each candidate's commitment to safety and occupational health management and risk control. Unlike other safety award program that limits the criteria to frequency rates, the CSEA selection process is considerably more comprehensive.

Visit https://www.agc.org/about-us/awards-recognition-programs/willis-towers-watson-construction-safety-excellence-awards to view the full article online.

 

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.

Visit http://app.smarterselect.com/programs/41160-Associated-General-Contractors-Of-America to view the full article online.