Author: agcnews
On Thursday, October 3, the Oklahoma Municipal Contractors Association and AGC of America led Representative Tom Cole (R-Okla.) on a tour of Lawton, Oklahoma’s Cache Road Waterline Replacement Project. The project is led by AGC member Cimarron Construction Company. When completed, it will replace and connect main water lines in downtown Lawton while adding safe pedestrian crossings. The construction site tour provided AGC with an opportunity to discuss the benefits of the federally funded State Revolving Funds, which are used to finance water projects such as this one, with Representative Cole. AGC staff also highlighted additional challenges facing the construction…
Construction employment rose in 245, or 68 percent, of 358 metro areas between August 2023 and August 2024, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that construction firms are boosting pay faster than in other sectors in an effort to attract even more workers into the industry. “More than two-thirds of metro areas have added construction workers in the past year,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Nevertheless, many contractors say they cannot find enough qualified workers to fill their open positions, even though industry wages are…
Construction spending inched down by 0.1 percent from July to August as a downturn in single- and multifamily residential building outweighed selective gains in nonresidential projects, according to an analysis of a new government report that the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials said the slight decline reflects the fact that many federally funded construction projects have yet to begin and investment on housing slows amid a glut in newly completed buildings. “Although the federal government has announced thousands of project awards in the past three years, most of the money has yet to turn into construction…
AGC was thrilled to attend the Warrior Canine Connection Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! It was an inspiring day celebrating the opening of the newly renovated barn, a space where service dogs will train to support our veterans. Huge thanks to everyone who donated and made this project possible.
The Biden-Harris Administration has been implementing the Waters of the United States conforming rule for one year. Implementation has been a challenge for regulators and industry alike. Meanwhile, AGC’s legal challenge to the 2023 rule continues, and the rule remains on hold in 27 states. The most recent legal filing applies recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on Chevron deference to the case. Implementation of the new rule has been confusing. Several members reporting that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers field staff are hesitant to provide approved jurisdictional determinations. Furthermore, some approvals have been elevated to Corps and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to…
AGC’s Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting Playbook and AGC Construction Carbon Emissions Calculator provides contractors with tools to communicate effectively with project teams and successfully navigate the complexities of carbon reporting for a project. It describes a process for identifying accountability, what to track and report, and how to do so. Written by contractors for contractors, AGC released the playbook in Spring 2024—more than 500 downloads! AGC made minor updates to the playbook and provided additional reporting spreadsheets in September 2024. Download Today! https://www.agc.org/climate-change-playbook
On Wednesday, September 25th, AGC of America welcomed AGC chapter government relations staff from across the country to AGC’s annual Government Relations Summit. The summit provides an opportunity for AGC chapters to discuss the top government relations issues they are facing back home. Over twenty chapters were represented at the summit, which was held at AGC of America’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Attendees discussed issues that were debated in their state legislatures and city councils including construction contracting laws, labor requirements, climate reporting requirements, workforce development and more. Attendees also highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure and best practices…
At AGC’s National and Chapter Leadership Conference, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) took time out of his busy schedule, even as he was negotiating a critical government funding bill, to address association leaders. Despite the high-stakes environment on Capitol Hill, Johnson made it a priority to be with the AGC attendees, recognizing the vital role the construction industry plays in job creation and economic growth. His presence and message were a clear sign of his commitment to advancing policies that support construction professionals and the broader economy. The Speaker focused on the need for permitting reform and eliminating…
Note: On Oct. 31, 2024, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove clarified that the court’s previous ruling applies to “all states in which the Plaintiffs operate or bid on DOT contracts impacted by DBE goals.” On September 23, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction partially halting certain aspects of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Specifically, DOT is temporarily blocked from mandating the use of race- and gender-based “rebuttable presumptions” for contracts impacted by DBE goals upon which the plaintiffs bid. Importantly, the court’s order…
This week, the House of Representatives and Senate easily passed a short-term spending bill averting a potential government shutdown just weeks before the November elections. The bipartisan agreement on a short-term fix will fund the government and create a new deadline of December 20, 2024. The agreement ultimately does not include a provision demanded by former President Trump, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in a federal election. You might recall, AGC previously reported on the government funding debate and potential for a shutdown. This all comes after attempts to fund the government through the regular appropriations process hit multiple…