Members' Edge - March 22, 2018

AGC News

AGC of America Urges President's Infrastructure Plan Should Serve As Impetus For Legislation

Construction Official Urges Congress to Act Quickly to Pass New Infrastructure Legislation Now that the President Has Outlined an Ambitious Plan to Invest $200 Billion in New Federal Funds

Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of AGC of America, released a press release on February 12, 2018 in reaction to the release of President Trump’s proposal to improve and rebuild the country’s aging public works, including roads, bridges, airports, waterways and clean water systems.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/POTUS.pdf to view the full article online.

AGC Says Proposal Would Limit New Mitigation Banks, Drive Up Project Costs

AGC spoke out against proposed guidelines that would make establishing new mitigation banks more onerous. The draft guidelines would make investment in mitigation less attractive and increase the cost of projects that rely on robust mitigation banks to comply with legal requirements and stay on budget.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/03/01/construction-spending-january-matches-december-rises-year-ago-harmful-actions to view the full article online.

Events

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494565&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494566&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494567&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

Support Our Vets In Construction! Purchase Your Official BBQ Cook-Off T-Shirt

AGC Houston Barbecue Cook-Off To Raise Funds For NextOp

During the Barbecue Cook-Off March 23 and 24, AGC Houston and cook teams will be selling commemorative t-shirts and raising funds for NextOp, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects military leaders to construction industry careers.

Shirts Available For Purchase Now! One of a kind, these shirts are 50/50 (cotton/polyester) and come in adult sizes small through XXX-Large. Just $25.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/T-Shirt-Order-Form.pdf to view the full article online.

AGC 2018 APEX Awards Call For Entries Now Open!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494792&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

Member News

Peckar & Abramson Welcomes Christopher Ruhman

Peckar
& Abramson, P.C. is
pleased to announce that Construction Litigation and Transactional lawyer Christopher
A. Ruhman has joined the firm's Houston office as Senior Counsel. Ruhman has represented general contractors, corporate and individual owners, developers, subcontractors, vendors/suppliers and material manufacturers on projects including the new construction, renovation and build-out of large commercial properties and complexes, multi-purpose/multi-use projects, offices and warehouse spaces, multi-family projects including high-rise and low-rise condominiums and apartments throughout Texas.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/CRuhman_Peckar.pdf to view the full article online.

Vaughn Construction Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494784&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494798&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

Linbeck Group, LLC’s David Stueckler Named Chair of AGC OF America Building Division; Celebrates 80th Anniversary

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494797&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

Construction Sector Surges To Best Employment Growth In 11 Years

The construction sector led the nation with 61,000 additional jobs
in February, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and the country
added a total of 313,000 jobs. The construction industry saw the largest
employment expansion in 11 years.

Visit https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-adds-313000-jobs-in-february-in-biggest-gain-in-a-year-and-a-half-2018-03-09 to view the full article online.

Bill Increases Federal Infrastructure Spending By $21.2B

Republicans and Democrats have agreed on a fiscal 2018 spending bill that increases federal infrastructure spending by $21.2 billion. Highways will get a $3.5 billion boost under the bill's terms, and spending on the country's airports will increase by $1 billion.

Visit https://www.enr.com/articles/44208-omnibus-fy-18-measure-boosts-infrastructure-by-21b to view the full article online.

Architecture Billings Index Increases In February

The Architecture Billings Index increased in February, and American Institute of Architects chief economist Kermit Baker said the organization remains "optimistic about the trends we're seeing at architecture firms this year." Multifamily housing and institutional specialization are especially strong sectors.

Visit https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/press-release/20997488/american-institute-of-architects-positive-february-architecture-billings-index-encouraging-for-2018-outlook to view the full article online.

Fed Proceeds With Expected Interest Rate Hike

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its key interest rate to a
range between 1.5% and 1.75%, an increase of a quarter of a percentage point,
in its first meeting under Chairman Jerome Powell. The rate-setting committee
responded to a stronger economic outlook by signaling a brisker rate of
increases in 2019 and 2020 than it has suggested in the past.

Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-21/fed-raises-rates-steepens-path-of-hikes-as-outlook-strengthens to view the full article online.

AGC Houston Supports OSHA Construction Safety & Health Conference Houston September 13-14, 2018

The OSHA Construction Safety and Health Conference will provide an ideal forum to learn about new and ever changing safety products, processes, procedures and technology in the construction industry.

This conference is expected to draw between 600-800 attendees from both construction and industrial sectors, twice the size of the previous conference held in Dallas. Plenty of sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities!

Visit http://www.oshacon.org/ to view the full article online.

Membership Benefits

AGC Members Save More Than $10 M Annually; Are You Participating?

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494576&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.

AGC of America now offers exclusive savings with G&K Services Inc. to enhance your company's image and safety with the highest quality work apparel and facility products.

Additional benefits include:

Free Site Assessment, Cost Comparison, and Set Up of New Customers

20% Discount Off Standard Pricing

24/7 Customer Support

Safety, Flame Resistant and High Visibility Options Available

Visit https://www.agc.org/member-benefits/gk-services-discount-program to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=494575&issueID=57407 to view the full article online.