I hope this finds you well as we have entered into the holiday season! We appreciate your membership and thank all those that take the time to serve and volunteer with AGCVA. It was nice to host a District Officers Council (DOC) meeting in Richmond this month to educate new district officers on the responsibilities of serving and provide a reminder for those that continue to serve.

I would like to thank everyone that participated in the 2021 District Officers Council (DOC). The purpose of the annual District Officers Council orientation is to bring the incoming presidents and vice presidents from each district together, providing a great foundation of what the AGCVA goals are for 2022 and beyond. We take this opportunity to develop an understanding of expectations for each district, provide assistance with establishing goals in respective districts, and offer the tools and resources to achieve those goals. This annual fall meeting acts as a conduit for leaders to get to know their peers, to network, and to exchange information and ideas from across the state. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. This bill provided for a second round of PPP loans as well as other provisions. This new legislation also retroactively changed the restriction on use of the ERC by a business that received a PPP loan. Instead of prohibiting simultaneous use of the ERC, the criteria changed so that a business that qualified for the credit could apply for it, as long as an eligible wage dollar was not also used in support for PPP loan forgiveness or another credit program. 

An influx of civil spending will bring skyrocketing demand for a shrinking labor pool, industry experts told Construction Dive.

The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, even though the dollars going towards tangible projects will be slightly less than half that amount (approximately $500 billion), and the spending will be spread out over five years, is no small matter.

Times of increased demand like this present a rare opportunity to identify gaps in business planning and identify areas for improvement. By focusing on how to more efficiently run the business and what offers the most value to customers, owners will find ways to save time and/or money that can then be reinvested in either recruiting and hiring or retention and training. 

Circular economy solutions aim at establishing a sustainable model of production and consumption by optimizing resources and reducing and recovering waste (giving it a second life as a new product). Thus, by adopting these solutions, businesses can extend product lifecycles, reuse waste, and ensure a more sustainable production model.

Are you thinking you’ll be busier in 2022 than in 2021? If that’s the case—it may be a great time to add new construction software or new or used equipment and deduct all of it on this year’s taxes. Here are 10 things you should know when claiming your Section 179 tax deduction: 

The largely underutilized 179D tax deduction rewards building designs and enhancements that will be widespread in environmentally-sound infrastructure projects.

For workforce management to be properly put into practice, it’s important to have the correct business management model in place. What’s the foundation? The People, Process, Technology Framework (also known as PPT).

With the American workforce in dire need of productive workers, veterans can bring new and unique skill sets to the table. Employers need to not only hire veterans, but actively seek them out and prioritize the recruitment and involvement of these individuals. Several commonalities can be found in the physical workforce and military, including discipline, adaptation and loyalty. Contemplate the following transferable skills veterans acquire when considering them for contracting jobs.

As of November 2021, the ETS is on hold, at least temporarily. That could change any day and the ETS could be back in effect, in whole or in part, or permanently halted. The legal challenges to the ETS are unlikely to end, or diminish, until the Supreme Court has weighed in, making for a few uncertain months ahead. 

Heat is the leading cause of death among all weather-related workplace hazards, according to OSHA. In 2019, 43 workers died from heat illness, and at least 2,410 others suffered serious injuries and illnesses.