Author: agcnews

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case later this year on whether Clean Water Act (CWA) NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits can include generic prohibitions that threaten the certainty that construction companies need to comply with environmental requirements. AGC recently submitted a friend of the court brief advocating for clarity to protect contractors from enforcement and costly fines due to vague NPDES permit language. AGC seeks to ensure that the Supreme Court’s decision preserves the successful permitting approaches used in construction general stormwater permits (CGP) issued by the U.S. EPA and states. In its brief, AGC and its partners explain why…

Twice a year the federal regulatory agencies release an updated “Unified Agenda” that describes and provides a timeline for their ongoing and future regulatory actions. The most recent agenda provides a glimpse of what the Biden Administration may focus on in the final months of that Administration, including finalizing greenhouse gas disclosures for federal contractors and reissuing nationwide permits for specific activities in/near waters of the United States. Read more for the highlights. Securities and Exchange Commission DOD/GSA/NASA (FAR) Corps of Engineers Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Protection Agency For more information, contact Melinda Tomaino at melinda.tomaino@agc.org.

Construction employment rose in 215, or 60 percent, of 358 metro areas between June 2023 and June 2024, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that while demand for certain types of construction is soft, overall construction activity remains robust and firms are still having a hard time finding workers to hire. “High interest rates and rising vacancies have depressed construction of developer-financed projects such as apartments, offices, and warehouses in some markets,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Nevertheless, strong demand for data centers, manufacturing and power projects, and…

Join us as we celebrate the incredible achievement of the Central 70 project team, winners of the 2024 Build America Awards Grand Award! 🏆 This recognition honors the hard work, dedication, and excellence demonstrated by what is deemed the greatest project in America for 2024. Hear from key figures involved in the project as they reflect on the meaningful impact of Central 70 and what makes this award so special. Their insights reveal the essence of what it means to be part of a project of this magnitude. Congratulations once again to our outstanding member’s project team for their exceptional…

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on July 19, 2024, granted the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB” or “Board”) motion to voluntarily dismiss its appeal of a district court’s order to vacate the Board’s 2023 “joint employer rule.” The vacatur was a major victory for AGC and its co-plaintiffs that initiated the lawsuit challenging the Board’s regulatory effort to broaden the standard for determining when an employer may be deemed a joint employer of another company’s employees. The dismissal renders the district court’s ruling final and leaves the prior Board’s more reasonable 2020 rule in effect. The 2020 rule allows a finding of…

Join us in celebrating excellence in construction with the launch of The Bowen Prize for Great Builders! This prestigious award, presented by the AGC Education and Research Foundation, honors field-based project executives who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and fortitude in creating impactful and technically excellent construction projects across America.For over 50 years, the AGC Foundation has been dedicated to advancing technological, educational, and vocational expertise in the construction industry. Partnering with Bob Bowen, this unique Prize aims to recognize the individuals whose efforts have led to the most important construction projects, significantly impacting society and showcasing unparalleled construction techniques. The…

The AGC Education and Research Foundation is excited to announce that applications for their annual undergraduate and graduate scholarships are now open for the 2025-2026 academic year! These scholarships are available to students enrolled in ABET or ACCE-accredited construction management or construction-related engineering programs. Application Period:Open: July 1, 2024Close: November 1, 2024 Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $11 million in scholarships to more than 4,500 students nationwide. These scholarships are made possible through the generous endowments of AGC members, supporters, and AGC Chapters. Each year, over 175 scholarships are awarded to students who are passionate about building a career…

Two bid protests filed by member firms are part of AGC of America’s ongoing efforts to prevent the Biden administration from mandating project labor agreements, or PLAs, on virtually all federal construction projects. The bid protests, which were filed this week with the Court of Federal Claims, argue that the PLA mandate in the federal solicitations unlawfully amounts to a socio-economic set aside that Congress never authorized. In other words, the president does not have the authority to create a set-aside program that disqualifies contractors that have not negotiated or have been unable to negotiate a project labor agreement. The…

AGC of America is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 AGC Awards competitions! The Baldwin Group Build America Awards (including the Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence category) and AGC in the Community competitions recognize the nation’s most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions; those contractors excelling in their partnering and collaborative endeavors; and the charitable contractors and chapters giving back to their communities. The AGC Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Awards recognize contractors that are champions in advancing diversity and inclusion within their workforce, subcontractor-partners, supply chain, the association, and in the communities they serve. The AGC…

Attendees of AGC’s Construction Project Manager Course (PMC) have found the program to be an invaluable experience for enhancing their project management skills. Promoted to a project manager role recently, one participant noted the course as an excellent opportunity to both reinforce existing knowledge and address gaps. Another attendee, returning to the construction industry after a hiatus, saw the course as a vital step to re-enter project management. For those new to construction management, the course offers practical insights into daily job challenges and effective communication techniques. Participants appreciated learning from AGC colleagues across the country, gaining a broad perspective…