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In this issue...
Begin The New Year With AGC Houston's Annual Business Meeting! Patrick J. Kiley Excellence In Leadership Scholarship Applications Now Open Reserve Your Seat At The APEX Awards Gala Vote For Your Favorite AGC Houston Elves' Treats AGC Safety Awards Applications Now Open Cornerstone Digital Version Now Available
Education/Training
To all of our members who volunteered their time in 2020 to teach classes and lead workshops (as well as adapting to a virtual world), a heartfelt THANK YOU! AGC Houston is privileged to have such dedicated members whose efforts to lead and elevate our Chapter makes it one of the strongest in the nation! Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge, we're so grateful for your help!
Do you know someone who needs the money for higher education? AGC Houston is pleased to announce that applications for the Patrick J. Kiley Excellence In Leadership Scholarship are now being accepted through March 1, 2021. For qualifications criteria and other information, click here. Safety
AGC Houston is proud to partner with the The Region VI OSHA Education Center at The University of Texas at Arlington. The OSHA Education Center at The University of Texas at Arlington is the top-ranked OSHA Training Institute Education Center in the country. Additional classes scheduled for January. View the full list of OSHA courses here. JANUARY 4-7: OSHA 510: Standards for Construction Industry 11-14: OSHA 511: Standards for General Industry 18-21: OSHA 500: Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for Construction Industry 25-28: OSHA 501: Trainer In OSHA Standards General Industry
FEBRUARY 1-3: OSHA 502: Update for Construction Industry Outreach Trainers 3-5: OSHA 503: Update for General Industry Outreach Trainers 8-11: ATP 191: Safety and Health Authorized Trainer 9-11: OSHA 3115: Fall Protection Recognizing AGC Contractor Members for Safety Excellence since 1991, the National AGC Safety Awards (NASA) program has been an ongoing effort to offer AGC members an opportunity to evaluate their safety record.
Safety awards are given to members who have an incident rate 25% below each division's average and members who have a zero incident rate in the following divisions: Building, Highway, Heavy/Industrial, Municipal/Utilities and Associate/Specialty.
AGC News
Tell President Trump and Congress to enact legislation this year to protect construction jobs by blocking a surprise federal tax increase of up to 37 percent on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness.
If Congress fails to act by the end of the year, thousands of construction jobs funded through PPP loans could be in jeopardy because, rather than 100 percent of PPP funds going to payroll, rent, utility payments, and mortgage interest, up to 37 percent will go to the IRS instead.
Click the "Take Action" button below and simply submit the pre-written message as is to President Trump and your members of Congress or customize it with personal information on how this issue impacts you and your employer.
AGC is pleased to report that its legal action against the Small Business Administration has quickly yielded results. On December 9, the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department issued new guidance on the questionnaire.
The guidance confirms that "the statutorily required certification" of economic uncertainty and necessity did not have to meet any objective standard. Companies merely had to make that certification "in good faith at the time of the loan application."
On December 10, after weeks, if not months, of insisting that it had to keep the questionnaire secret, the SBA officially released the form, posting a copy on the agency's website
AGC Houston members are encouraged to take part in this important survey, which will be conducted by Sage. The survey results will be compiled through early December, and Chief Economist Ken Simonson and other AGC staff will prepare any analysis of the findings.
Click here to complete the survey.
 The 2021 AGC Construction Safety & Health Conference is going virtual Jan. 13-15. Join us, from wherever you are, for the same superior educational content and peer-to-peer engagement that you have come to expect from AGC.
AGC of America has reduced the registration fees to reflect the virtual delivery format. And, if you are unable to join us on those dates or for a specific online session, your registration gives you access to recordings of the education sessions.
The AGC Business Development Forum's mission is to advise AGC members of new market opportunities, to follow and report on trends in the construction market, and to advise members on the techniques and tools of BD. By joining the Forum, you'll have access to other BD professionals from across the country in various construction sectors as well as publications, webinars and other BD resources to help increase the profit and visibility of your firm.
Get the details here.
Events
JANUARY 27: SMPSAGC Annual Economic Forecast FEBRUARY 9: Advocacy Sporting Clays Tournament 11: National AGC Safety Awards Deadline MARCH 1: AGC Houston Scholarship Deadline JUNE
AGC Houston's annual State of the Chapter meeting featuring guest speakers Bob Lanham and Steve Sandherr and the presentation of the 2021 Standard of Excellence Award Join us virtually for this special event featuring: Jerry Nevlud, CEO AGC Houston Special guests: 2020-2021 AGC of America Chairman Bob Lanham, Jr., President, Williams Brothers Construction Register now and don't miss out on an opportunity to hear about the state of the commercial construction industry and plans for the Chapter in the coming year. Details here
We're Planning A Starry Night! The APEX Awards Gala has moved to Saturday, May 22, 2021. Join us as we will be celebrating Excellence In Construction From The Group Up and honoring John Kirksey, Kirksey Architecture, 2020 Master Builder Award recipient. Click here for all the details. News you can Use
Nonresidential construction starts increased 19 percent last month, but that wasn't enough to prevent a two percent decrease in Dodge Data & Analytics' gauge of total construction starts. Nonbuilding starts fell 14 percent, while residential starts declined seven percent, as total starts dropped in three regions and climbed in two.
Construction technology focused on collaboration, scanning, safety and design have seen the widest uptake across the industry during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by JLL. Other solutions, such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence, remain in early stages of adoption.
Construction on the first phase of an expanded and redeveloped mixed-use office campus near Apple in Austin, Texas, could begin in late 2021 or early 2022. The redevelopment includes 800,000 square feet of office space, 1,800 apartments, a hotel and retail space.
Congress is expected to approve a $1.4 trillion appropriations bill after reaching agreement on a $900 billion pandemic relief package. The legislation includes funds for a new Water Resources Development Act, as well as loans for small businesses, funds for transportation workers and payments for individuals.
Membership Benefits
Check out the Fall edition of Cornerstone magazine now online.
The digital version offers quick access at your fingertips.
Read about our Safety Award recipients, the Midyear meeting and AGC Champions Golf Tournament highlights, Tony Mansoorian's final column as Chairman, and more!
AGC Houston Members Save 20 % Through NPP On The Following:
All AGC Houston member companies and their employees can save $ through NPP. Simply click here to join (free) and check out all of the products and services available.
Resources
The EEOC has released COVID-19 vaccination-related guidance, including critical information about legal concerns employers should know if they choose to mandate vaccinations for employees. The guidance can be found in the EEOC’s existing resource on COVID: What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.
AGC does not support government mandates for construction firms to require employee vaccinations. Rather, the association supports construction firms’ ability to freely choose the best approach for their individual businesses as well as their employees.
Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we all adhere to the safety protocols that have been put in place. It is equally important that each of us continue spreading that message up and down the supply chain. As has been stated many times, COVID-19 is global, but personal. Each of us need to do our part to KEEP SAFETY VIRAL. Check out AGC Houston's special COVID-19 Resources page. Get your AGC "Keeping Safety Viral" hardhat stickers! Free for AGC Houston members. Send you request to Catherine Bezman.  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration website features coronavirus-related guidance for construction employers and workers. The guidance includes recommended actions to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
See the information
 With the start of the holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued communications on limiting exposure that places individuals at risk of COVID-19. The latest newsletter addresses the wearing of face masks, households living in close quarters, attending events and other topics.
Here's Looking at You
The AGC Houston Staff Elves are busy in their kitchens at night making tasty treats during our 12 (Business) Days of Recipes! We need you to vote for your favorite holidy recipes. Check out our Facebook posts daily and like our culinary treats. You might just win an AGC Houston Swag Bag! Check Out And Like Our Tasty Treats (recipes included on Facebook)! Day 1: Tamara’s Nutty Cran-Oatmeal Cookies Day 2: William’s Lemon Cake Cookies Day 3: Charlene’s Pumpkin Mousse Pie Day 4: Amy’s Almond Biscotti Day 5: Ada’s Avocado Deviled Eggs Day 6: Brenda’s Whippersnapper Cookies Day 7: Tasha’s Buffalo Chicken Dip Day 8: Kyle’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day 9: Jerry’s Jack-ed Up Cheeseburger Meatballs Day 10: Anavell’s Bacon Cheese Balls Day 11: Catherine’s Frosted Gingerbread Stars Day 12: Kim's White Christmas Sangria
The AGC Staff has been busy spreading Christmas Cheer! As in 2019, donation boxes to Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM) were placed in the Chapter building and slowly filled up with new blankets and unwrapped toys. The toys were delivered to MAM at 1625 Blalock, where they will be wrapped by volunteers and handed to children during the organization's annual holiday feast. Children age 12 and under will receive a bag of three toys, while children age 13-17 will get a $50 gift card. All children will receive a blanket. Thank you to each one who helped to bring some Christmas cheer to our neighbors this holiday season!
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