Each year, AGC Houston recognizes companies that have participated in the Safety Stand-Down and the AGC Safety Excellence Award. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 15, 7:30 - 9 a.m at the Junior League of Houston. This year's meeting will feature keynote speaker Derek Daly, international racing champion, best-selling author and TV's face of motor sports.

This webinar is the first of a two-part series produced by AGC of America. Please join us to learn the key differences between the construction standard and the general industry standard which many in the construction industry implemented to some degree.

Unit 1: Variation in Production Systems is a half-day course that introduces you to the foundational concepts of Lean Construction.

Unit 2: Pull in Production is a half-day course that introduces concept of pull as a means to reliable workflow. 

This construction 10-hour safety course is designed for entry-level construction workers. It provides information about worker rights, employer responsibilities, and it provides basic awareness training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of workplace hazards.

AGC of America now offers a new, dynamic and cost-effective way for AGC member firms to offer quality health insurance and other employee benefits. The AGC Alternative is a private insurance exchange built exclusively for AGC members. 

AGC members receive valuable discounts of up to 29% on select FedEx Express® and FedEx Ground® shipping services, up to 70% on FedEx Freight® shipping services. There are no costs and no minimum shipping, copy or print requirements to take advantage of this great member benefit.

For FedEx shipping services, AGC members can save up to:

• 29% on select FedEx Express® U.S. services
• 25% on select FedEx Express International services
• 70% on select FedEx Freight® services
• 20% on select FedEx Ground® services

Sign up today! For more information on how FedEx can help your business save, click here.

The AGC Southwest Chapters 401(k)  is now one of the largest super-regional association retirement plans, representing more than  60 companies and approximately 4,500 employees participating between Texas and Louisiana.

Benefits of the plan include:

• Additional reduction of fees for all employees in the plan
• No annual audit
• No individual Form 5500 reporting; minimal plan maintenance
• Flexible plan includes safe harbor, Roth and profit sharing
• Customizable 401(k) plan design options involving eligibility, matches, vesting schedules and more.

To learn more about the AGC Houston 401(k) plan, please contact R.W. Baird at 713-296-8066.

Did you know one of the many benefits of being an AGC Member is access to our résumé service? As a service to our members, we compile résumés of job-seeking professionals in the construction industry. To access this service, simply log in to the Members' Only section at agchouston.org to view the most current list.

Brookstone, LP was recently selected to construct the new St. Faustina Catholic Church, located in Fulshear. St. Faustina Catholic Church is the newest parish in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc. announced it has hired Justin Castro to serve as the Construction Materials Engineering and Testing Supervisor for the company’s new Freeport location. With his long-standing relationships and service to this area, Castro will enhance and expand Raba Kistner’s presence in the Gulf Coast region.

With a 2016-17 budget deal reached and additional money going toward the current budget, lawmakers have agreed to put nearly $800 million in funding toward maintenance and repairs of some of the state's deteriorating buildings.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides public access to industry regulatory compliance and enforcement data online. The Enforcement and Compliance History Online website integrates data from EPA information systems for public use.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on May 27 completed and released a new and final rule on the water features over which they will claim jurisdiction. The new rule is the culmination of their long and controversial effort to align federal regulations with the latest U.S. Supreme Court decisions and simultaneously make permitting decisions easier.

Plan to join your peers at AGC's 2015 Contractors Environmental Conference on September 2-3, in Arlington, Virginia to explore ways to turn environmental responsibilities into successes for you and your firm.

The bill that would create a fund to fix up to $1.5 billion in deferred maintenance on state infrastructure breezed through the Texas House on Thursday by a 146-0 vote. Having already passed the Senate, the bill now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration.

The $10 million renovation of Francis Hall at Texas A&M University puts the school in a one-of-a-kind position among institutions of higher education in the state. It is the only building anywhere in Texas dedicated solely to the education of construction sciences, according to Joe Horlen, who heads up the Department of Construction Science in College Station.