Author: agcnews
House Democrat Infrastructure Framework: Overview: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of the House Democrat leadership today released a framework for addressing the Nation’s infrastructure needs, calling for an investment of $760 billion over five years. The framework breaks out this investment into specific infrastructure categories but leaves the question of how to pay for the investment unanswered for now. The specific categories are: The framework must now be crafted into legislation before consideration by the House. Surface Transportation: The surface transportation section is Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio’s principles for developing the FAST Act reauthorization bill. While today’s release…
AGC of America and AGC of San Antonio successfully delivered the brand new second edition of AGC’s Project Manager Development Program courses January 20th through the 24th to a sold-out class held at the AGC of San Antonio. Delivery of this course highlights the AGC of San Antonio’s commitment to educating and engaging their members. The updated curriculum directly addresses the core business of General Contractors, Specialty Contractors, and all trade partners. The class consisted of a mix of all three contractor types and everyone benefitted from instruction from AGC chapter instructors from AGC of Wisconsin, AGC of Houston and The Arizona…
On December 18, 2019, the Master Builders’ Association Young Constructors (MBAYC) presented the Mario Lemieux Foundation with their annual donation. The MBAYC also delivered toys to the Austin’s Playroom at AHN West Penn Hospital’s NICU. Over the past few years, MBAYC has begun fundraising throughout the year for the Mario Lemieux Foundation, culminating with their holiday event. The Young Constructors’ Friendsgiving celebration was held on November 21, 2019, at Buckhead Saloon in Station Square. Thanks to the generosity of the sponsors and attendees, the MBAYC was able to present the Mario Lemieux Foundation with a check for $10,500. The Friendsgiving…
In 2011, Joe Tiernan was 22 and starting his career as a producer with Holmes Murphy, an independent risk management and insurance brokerage firm, at their headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. He and his wife Victoria were newly engaged, and the thought of enhancing the presence of one of their satellite offices within the construction community appealed to his adventurous side. He took a leap of faith and moved to their growing office in Kansas City. “I didn’t know a single person in town, but the CLC proved to be a great way to make friends, business contacts, and learn…
The General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) Construction Leadership Council (CLC) made a huge effort to give back to Philadelphians in need during the 2019 holiday season. On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, the CLC Steering Committee and the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EAS Carpenters) visited the Campout for Hunger, a local radio station’s week-long event that collects food for Philabundance, a hunger relief charity serving the Philadelphia Region. Philabundance serves over 90,000 low-income Philadelphians. In addition to helping unload canned good donations in the GBCA-sponsored “GBCA Demolish Hunger Donation Tent,” the CLC and EAS Carpenters were interviewed live…
The Leadership Development Council wrapped up 2019 with a donation of $1,200 and several toys (pictured below) to the Violence Prevention Center Southwestern Illinois. The Violence Prevention Center’s mission is empowering over 1,600 individuals each year to recover from the trauma of domestic abuse and find their way to a life free of violence. Their programs offer the promise of safety and anonymity and they pledge to protect and support all those seeking refuge from abuse the highest quality services. This donation was made possible through the generosity of those that attended the SIBA Fall Industry Reception and Annual Meeting,…
Texas and Maine Have Biggest Number and Percent of Annual Job Gains, Ohio and Wyoming Have Largest Annual Losses; Texas and Iowa Have Largest Monthly Gains While Nevada and West Virginia Have Largest Monthly Declines Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between December 2018 and December 2019, while construction employment increased in 29 states from November to December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials added that most contractors expect to continue adding to their payrolls in 2020, according to the results of the…
Texas and Maine Have Biggest Number and Percent of Annual Job Gains, Ohio and Wyoming Have Largest Annual Losses; Texas and Iowa Have Largest Monthly Gains While Nevada and West Virginia Have Largest Monthly Declines Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between December 2018 and December 2019, while construction employment increased in 29 states from November to December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials added that most contractors expect to continue adding to their payrolls in 2020, according to the results of the…
Major General Scott A. Spellmon has been nominated to be the next Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). If confirmed by the Senate, Maj. Gen. Spellmon will replace the current commander, Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, whose term expires on May 19, 2020. In his current role as Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, he has been pivotal in overseeing the implementation of billions of dollars in natural disaster related construction recovery efforts. Confirmation hearings on this nomination are expected in the coming month. If confirmed, AGC looks forward to continuing to work closely with…
On Jan. 16, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan, AGC-backed legislation to prohibit federal agencies from using reverse auctions on federal construction contracts. On Dec. 19, the Senate unanimously passed a companion bill to this measure. Reverse auctions in federal contracts typically require contractors to bid against each other in real time with ever increasing lower prices in order to win a particular contract. Several federal agencies have advised against this practice due to the administrative burden it requires, as well as acknowledging that the guaranteed low price at time of bidding often does not mean the project will be…