A Word From AGCVA Chair, Don Sproul

The lazy days of summer may be a reality for some, but the opposite is true at AGCVA. There is tremendous work taking place on your behalf throughout the year, and July has been no exception.

Workforce development remains a nearly universal top concern among AGCVA members. With an already strong need for qualified workers, this tight labor market has heightened the urgency in Virginia and around the nation. AGCVA understands this and has a dedicated focus to finding solutions to help you build and strengthen your talent pipeline.

Next week’s Summer Conference is a major opportunity to create new solutions to this significant issue. I hope that those who hire for your organization will be in attendance and part of these conversations to challenge the status quo and collaborate to learn from one another.

We’re fortunate to be joined by Virginia Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater, who will provide an overview of the consolidation and transformation of Virginia’s fragmented workforce development system. A result of recently passed legislation, this will bring a dozen workforce development programs and data systems together to form one agency, the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (DWDA). The primary function of this agency will be to oversee and direct all government workforce programs across Virginia, optimizing workforce readiness for current and future jobs. 

A second workshop will give members an opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions. Those present will take part in honest conversations to share perspectives, ideas, and challenges around the construction workforce. We’re excited to see new solutions and strategies that we can all take back to our teams and put to work.

And finally, we’ll focus on the topic of mental health. While the phrase has become a buzzword of sorts, it is of critical concern to construction, which is the number one industry in terms of suicide rates. We’ll go beyond recognizing the issue and gain the tools to assess the wellness of our team members, and ultimately create a culture where mental health is a core priority.

In addition to the Summer Conference, resources to grow and strengthen your workforce are available all year long. AGCVA partners with nine different organizations that have a dedicated focus on connecting those seeking meaningful work with organizations that are looking to grow, build a talent pipeline, or fill open positions. Each of these unique organizations has a specialized focus (veterans, CTE students, and so on) and targeted resources to help your company fill open positions, grow your talent pipeline, and put your workforce worries to rest once and for all.

Further, AGCVA will continue advocating for increased access to education to strengthen construction’s talent pipeline, making it easier for you to find the qualified workers you need. Along with AGC of America, we are pushing for extended Pell Grant eligibility to short-term training courses and programs that focus on key skills.  Currently, Pell Grants are available only to undergraduate students. Additionally, AGCVA continues to advocate for legislation to allow students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses to qualify for an Advanced Studies Diploma. Given the tremendous workforce shortage (estimated that more than 250,000 craft professionals will be needed in Virginia by 2026), we continue to work for this change, as well as for additional funding to CTE programs. And, AGCVA has joined the coalition to support Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. The bipartisan legislation would expand eligible uses of tax-favorable 529 savings plans to cover costs associated with workforce training and credentialing programs, such as professional certifications. Championed in the House by Virginia’s own Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R), this bill would provide valuable tax-advantaged resources for workers who pursue career growth, mid-career changes, or alternative career pathways. 

AGCVA is committed to helping you move your business forward and one of the keys to doing that is a qualified and growing team. As these efforts grow and expand, AGCVA will continue to keep you aware of them with ways to best put them to work. The first step is engaging with these resources to learn more about how they can be of benefit to your company. I encourage you to fully leverage these resources to grow your team, establish a robust talent pipeline, and put your workforce worries behind you for good.