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 Top News
New technologies help construction firms curb spread of COVID-19
With the coronavirus pandemic worsening drastically this summer, executives at Suffolk Construction, an AGC of New York State LLC and Rhode Island Chapter-AGC member, figure it’s only a matter of time before a worker shows up sick to one of its many jobsites across the country. But for COVID-19 to spread at one of those sites, it will have to jump through more hoops than a circus tiger.
BY NICK FORTUNA
An unprecedented global pandemic, civil unrest, record-level partisanship and the most polarizing president in American history will all factor big when Americans head to the polls in November.
BY A.D. THOMPSON
COVID-19 amplified stress, anxiety and uncertainty, which has created major disruptions at work and home. As stress levels intensified, alcohol and substance use are reportedly rising significantly. Prior to the pandemic, approximately 10 percent of the United States adult population reported being in recovery for alcohol or substance use disorders according to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
BY CAL BEYER AND KARYN SALERNO, CSDZ
National association will use results to push for additional relief measures
AGC of America is conducting a new coronavirus survey to better measure the impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on the construction industry. The association will use the survey results to educate officials about the current state of the construction industry and advocate for additional relief measures designed to boost demand for construction.
Please take the survey by the close of business on Friday, October 16th. The association will then analyze the survey answers and release the results by the end of October to chapters, members, the media and elected and appointed officials. For further information, please contact Brian Turmail at brian.turmail@agc.org.
AdvocacyOfficials say nationwide plan should set clear distribution priorities, warn that delegating responsibility for distributing coronavirus vaccine to state & local officials will lead to confusion, delays & hardship
President Trump and candidate Biden should establish and implement a nationwide plan for the distribution of approved coronavirus vaccines, the AGC of America advised today in a letter to the two presidential candidates (Trump and Biden). Establishing such a nationwide plan will help avoid the confusion, delays and potential economic hardships that would result from delegating all responsibility to state and local officials.
On October 15, AGC — along with the American Council of Engineering Companies, American Institute of Architects, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others — called on President Trump to rescind his Executive Order 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping. The EO will generate further confusion and uncertainty, lead to non-meritorious investigations, and hinder the ability of employers to implement critical programs to promote diversity and combat discrimination in the workplace. Earlier this year, AGC launched its own diversity and inclusion initiative — Culture of CARE — to advance the construction industry as the industry of choice for diverse and talented workers by building inclusive work environments in firms nationwide. AGC remains committed to the Culture of Care and its underlying principles.
No resolution in sight
As of October 15, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continue talks on finding a compromise on additional COVID-relief legislation but appear to be at yet another impasse. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Republicans will take up their own relief legislation the week of Oct. 19, which will be similar, if not identical, to legislation voted on in the Senate on September 10 that failed along party lines. If this package fails again, then the Senate is expected to take up legislation similar to S. 4773, the “Continuing the Paycheck Protection Program Act" introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), which would allow for second draw PPP loans, and create a simplified loan forgiveness process for PPP loans under $150,000. It appears unlikely that either forms of slimmed-down legislation will receive bipartisan support necessary for passage. However, AGC remains committed to securing additional COVID-relief to help provide certainty for the construction industry and its markets. For further information, please contact Matthew Turkstra at matthew.turkstra@agc.org.
IN CASE YOU MISSED ITApply by Wednesday, October 21, 2020
AGC of America is proud to announce the launch of the 2021 AGC Awards competitions! The Construction Risk Partners 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 2021 competition is now open for one of the country’s most rigorous business safety competitions – AGC’s Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA), sponsored by Willis Towers Watson. This episode highlights AGC-member Faith Technologies – the 2020 Grand Award Winner. Faith’s CEO Mike Jansen and their VP of Safety Rocky Rowlett talk about their safety program, their video series called Charged! and share some of their very own best safety practices. Also hear WTW’s Construction Safety and Risk Control Leader Mike Fredebeil discuss an incredible additional benefit of the safety excellence awards: the annual publication of a free document that includes hundreds of “Safety Management Best Practices” gathered from the competing companies’ submissions. AGC’s safety lead Kevin Cannon fills in all the details so you know how to get involved and benefit from the sharing of ideas and strategies.
Member News
Construction Manager at Risk approach helped maximize taxpayer investment
When the COVID-19 pandemic sent students and staff home last spring before the scheduled end of the school year, McCarthy Building Companies, a member of multiple AGC chapters, identified innovative ways to streamline project schedules and save costs for clients such as the Parkway School District in St. Louis County.
In this photo: Helicopter lifting rooftop heating/cooling unit
Ruby+Associates, a structural engineering firm dedicated to serving the construction industry and an AGC of Michigan member, is proud to announce national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
The Boldt Company’s prefabricated ICU rooms created to treat COVID-19 patients
The STAAT Mod™ critical care units, which are fabricated by The Boldt Company, a member of multiple AGC chapters, and designed by HGA, have been recognized in Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards for 2020 in the Health and Spaces & Places categories.
Chapter News
In his work as vice president of Associated General Contractors of Missouri, Stephen Lewis plays a key role in diversity and inclusion in the St. Louis construction industry.
Alabama Associated General Contractors offers more than just a construction community and membership program. Jointly with CompTrustAGC, Alabama AGC is one of the unique chapters across the nation that hosts RiskCon -- an event designed to benefit anyone responsible for the administrative risk and risks experienced on construction job sites across the state. As shared by Alabama AGC’s leadership, it’s simply one of the organization's “best kept secrets.”
Industry EventsJoin us for AGC’s Virtual Advanced Management Program (AMP). This virtual course will allow for attendees and speakers to interact via video conference. With this virtual course, you can still expect the same superior educational content and peer-to-peer engagement that you have come to experience at an AGC program.
October 20, 2020
October 22, 2020
October 28, 2020
November 2-5, 2020
November 5 and November 9-18, 2020
November 4-5, 2020
November 10-12, 2020 For details on any event, please visit the Hiring Our Heroes Calendar.
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