Author: agcnews

Numerous impediments to completing construction projects led to declines in most categories of private construction spending in March, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials warn that the Treasury Department’s threats to audit or prosecute some Paycheck Protection Program loan recipients and deny loan recipients tax deductions are making it harder for construction firms already coping with declining private-sector demand to retain staff. “Unfortunately, these numbers are only the beginning of what seems sure to be a steep decline in construction spending as current projects finish and new work…

On April 28, AGC helped facilitate a meeting with President Trump for AGC member Ali Mills from Plum Contracting, a member through the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania Chapter. During that visit, Ali got to tell her story about how the Paycheck Protection Program loans helped her put people back to work in her part of the country. You can listen to or watch her on the latest edition of AGC’s ConstructorCast Coronavirus Special Report.

Texas Add the Most Jobs; Association Survey Indicates Losses will Spread Construction employment declined in 99 out of 358 metro areas from March 2019 to last month as the coronavirus pandemic triggered the first shutdown orders and project cancellations, according to an analysis released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials urged federal and state officials to boost investments in infrastructure to help put more people to work amid rising unemployment levels. “These new figures foreshadow even larger declines in construction employment throughout the country as the pandemic’s economic damage grows more severe,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief…

COVID-19 has led to a surge of project cancellations and shut down construction almost entirely in some states, as per AGC’s coronavirus survey results. In this episode, Ali Mills from Plum Contracting Inc., talks about how the new federal Paycheck Protection Program has made a meaningful difference for her company, allowing her to rehire and retain employees and endure the construction stop order in Pennsylvania. As construction is given the green light in PA on May 1, Ali anticipates all her employees will be back to full salary, a story that she will also share at a press conference at…

On April 23, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued new and troubling guidance on the Paycheck Program. This guidance recasts one of the several vague certifications that borrowers have to make, suggesting that it requires borrowers to prepare themselves “to demonstrate” that, at the time they applied for the loan, that they did not have access to enough other “sources of liquidity” to support their ongoing operations. In this episode, two partners in one of Washington’s most prominent law firms, Crowell & Morning, put the new guidance into context and explain how borrowers should respond to it, including the…

A large share of construction firms promptly received loan funds under the new Paycheck Protection Program, enabling many of them to hire or retain employees despite a surge in project cancellations, according to a survey released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the job-saving measure appeared to be working but cautioned that longer term recovery measures, like new infrastructure funding and establishing a recovery fund, are needed. “Most contractors report they have applied for the new federal loans, which are intended to enable small businesses to keep employees on their payrolls,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief…

In an April 15 ruling on Northern Plains Resource Council, et al. v. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana vacated (voided) the Army Corps of Engineers’ Nationwide Permit (NWP) 12 (in use on the Keystone XL pipeline project) on an Endangered Species Act procedural concern. The court stated, in part: “The Corps should have initiated ESA Section 7(a)(2) consultation before it reissued NWP 12 in 2017.” The court’s order prohibits the Corps from authorizing “any dredge or fill activities under NWP 12 pending completion of the [ESA Section 7] consultation process.” At this point, there is…

On April 20, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the public comment period for the 2020 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity, also referred to as the “2020 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP).” The comment period was extended for 30 days, setting a new deadline of June 1, 2020. Construction companies that perform activities associated with cement or concrete manufacturing, asphalt paving, minerals mining, or landfill operations will all likely be impacted by the changes. AGC has several concerns with the proposed permit and is working with a coalition to submit comments. AGC’s top concerns…

On April 21, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers’ Navigable Waters Protection Rule: Definition of “Waters of the United States” was published in the Federal Register. This final rule establishes the scope of federal regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act. After a multi-year process, AGC applauded the rule when the agencies signed the final version in January 2020. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule includes four simple categories of jurisdictional waters and provides specific exclusions for many water features that traditionally have not been regulated. The final rule will become effective on June 22, 2020. AGC provided a brief summary of…

On April 22, AGC, along with four other organizations, was invited by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to submit a written statement on two water-related discussion drafts released. America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 would invest the nation’s water resources infrastructure and clean water infrastructure and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 would invest in the nation’s drinking water infrastructure. As part of its legislative process, EPW is soliciting feedback from stakeholders on the discussion drafts through May 1, 2020. Information on how to submit feedback can be found here. AGC is continuing to review the discussion drafts and encourages chapters and members to share…