News
Schedule set for 2014 Experience Modification Rate workshops
Dates and locations have now been set for upcoming AGC of Washington Experience Modification Rate (EMR) workshops. No matter your level of understanding on the topic there is always more to learn. Please join us as provide you with your prospective rate notice for 2015 and allow ample time for qu...
Posted on 08/27/2014
Worker safety and health conference set for Spokane in September
One of the largest safety and health conferences in the nation is planned for Spokane next month and registration is now open for the event.The 63rd annual Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference takes place on Sept. 24 and 25 at the Spokane Convention Center. The event is geared towar...
Posted on 08/27/2014
AGC of America partners with Hiring Our Heroes program
The Associated General Contractors of America recently joined the national Hiring Our Heroes program as part of the construction industry’s effort to add 100000 veterans over the next five years. The new partnership will make it easier for construction contractors to find recruit and hire veteran...
Posted on 08/27/2014
Many firms joining AGC Health Plan as others shut down due to ACA rules
Many Washington State construction-industry firms need to find a new health-insurance carrier because many association health plans are shutting down under new Affordable Care Act rules. Fortunately for these contractors the AGC Health Plan offers them an attractive solution. In fact 20 firms hav...
Posted on 08/27/2014
Lease Crutcher Lewis goes all-out for Obliteride
Matt Hays Lease Crutcher Lewis
After 2013s inaugural Obliteride a bicycling fundraiser for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute Lease Crutcher Lewis had a choice. In 2013 Lewis and its partners were the #1 fundraising and rider/volunteer team which resulted in the 2014 AGC of Washington...
Posted on 08/14/2014
AGC members support boatshop revamp
In the fall of 2012 AGCs Seattle District began a partnership with the Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) to improve and repair CWB facilities. The most difficult project to come out of the relationship was the installation of a hoist system to mechanically raise historic small craft out of the water ...
Posted on 08/04/2014
Construction-Adventure campers explore the possibilities
Teaching construction skills to a bunch of tweens? The AGC Education Foundation successfully undertook that challenge through its new Construction Adventure Camp held July 14-18.Eleven 4th-7th graders participated in the camp that included hands-on building jobsite tours safety presentations and ...
Posted on 08/04/2014
No PLA for JBLM hangar project after AGC protests
The Army Corps will not be pursuing a project labor agreement (PLA) for a large hangar project at JBLM after AGC expressed its opposition. AGC applauds this decision particularly in light of the recent uptick in the use of PLAs on federal projects.
The U.S. Army Corps of Seattle District (USACE...
Posted on 07/22/2014
WSDOT prepares for federal funding shortfall
Although Congress has failed to pass a long-term federal highway bill the U.S. House recently took another shot at it as last week it approved by a vote of 367 to 55 H.R. 5021 a $10.8 billion Highway Trust Fund patch which provides sufficient revenue to maintain current funding levels through May...
Posted on 07/18/2014
Report highlights need for rural road improvement
In 2012 22 percent of Washington’s major rural roads were rated in poor condition -- the 12th-highest rate nationally.This is one of the findings of a recently released report Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America’s Heartland by national transportation research group TRIP. Th...
Posted on 07/18/2014
Members sought for State building-code council
The State Building Code Council is seeking members for all of the technical advisory groups (TAGs) in preparation for the 2015 code-adoption cycle. TAGs conduct research into code-related matters review proposed amendments to codes and identify and define issues related to the codes as requested ...
Posted on 07/09/2014
2014 Safety Team Golf Tourney recap
Even with a classic northwest mixture of sun clouds wind drizzle and -- believe it or not -- occasional rain nothing could ruin this year’s 16th annual AGC Safety Team Golf Tournament at High Cedars golf course in Orting (more photos here)!
With a full field of 144 golfers we congratulate the ...
Posted on 07/07/2014
Court strengthens insurer-paid defense component of contractors' liability policies
By John Riper Ashbaugh BealJust one day before departing for last week’s Fourth of July holiday the Washington Supreme Court unanimously decided a case that brings good news to Washington contractors and others who purchase liability insurance. The case is particularly welcome to AGC of Washingto...
Posted on 07/07/2014
Seattle construction cranes a welcome sight
Have you noticed? A plethora of construction cranes is now visible across the Seattle skyline in this YouTube video. Although some are obscured or difficult to see there are 18 construction cranes -- mostly tower cranes -- in this video clip taken last week from the Seattle AGC Building.
Con...
Posted on 06/24/2014
Korsmo, Moen host legislators to launch LEARN program
Senators Christine Rolfes (D-23) and Jim Honeyford (R-15) got up-close looks at construction projects thanks to hosts John Korsmo owner of Korsmo Construction and Michael Moen co-owner of G.H. Moen.
Sen. Rolfes saw Korsmo’s Suquamish Tribal Clearwater Casino Resort expansion project outside of...
Posted on 06/24/2014
AGC Retro celebrates award winners and whopping refund
See AGC Retro Top Performers here! Congratulations to them all!
In events held around the state AGC Retro members recently celebrated top refund performance and lower experience modification rates (EMRs) achieved through their shared commitment to safety and to accommodating injured workers with...
Posted on 06/23/2014
Stillwell, Lange named to Foundation Board
The AGC Education Foundation Board of Trustees welcomes Mark Stillwell (L in photo) of Foushée & Associates Inc. and Ron Lange (R in photo) of Parker Smith & Feek Inc. as new members of the board. Additionally Kurt Boyd will continue his service through a renewed affiliation with Valley...
Posted on 06/20/2014
SBA increases small-business size standards for construction
From AGC of AmericaOn June 12 the U.S. Small Business Administration issued an interim final rule that increases a number of construction industry small-business size standards to account for inflation since 2008. The size standard for Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (NAICS cod...
Posted on 06/20/2014
Gas-tax increase proposed in U.S. Senate
From AGC of America
With the balance in the federal Highway Trust Fund quickly being depleted to the point that it is projected to have insufficient revenue to pay states for ongoing construction activities within the next few weeks Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn) introduc...
Posted on 06/20/2014
AGC Education Foundation announces 15 scholarship winners
The AGC Education Foundation of Seattle has announced its 2014-2015 scholarship recipients!University of Washington• Lee “Colton” Cox Duvall WA: Chester H. & Elizabeth N. Johnson Memorial Scholarship• Sergio Ortega Edmonds WA: William and Jean Scott Building Construction Scholarship• Nick San...
Posted on 06/20/2014
AGC Seattle offices complete move
AGC of Washingtons Seattle headquarters completed the move of its offices on June 10 vacating the previous space that it held for more than thirty years. It wasnt a long move however; staff are now located on the west side of the same third floor in the same Westlake Avenue (AGC) building instead...
Posted on 06/10/2014
Insurance coverage: Be careful what you ask for
By Tristan Swanson Ashbaugh Beal
Contractors and owners alike want additional insured coverage that fully covers them against damage caused by downstream contractors. However as demonstrated by the recent Washington Court of Appeals decision Lewark v. Davis Door Service Inc. careless contract la...
Posted on 06/10/2014
AGC's Mandi Kime honored for safety leadership
AGC Safety Director Mandi Kime was given an award for outstanding safety leadership during a recent meeting of L&I’s Construction Advisory Committee.“I am proud to say that Washington is a national leader in establishing the best of construction practices and that includes the construction-wo...
Posted on 06/10/2014
AGC protests exclusion of women-owned firms from WSDOT DBE program
WSDOT is moving forward with its proposal to exclude non-minority women-owned businesses from Washingtons DBE program goals for federally-funded contracts. WSDOT recently submitted its proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). If approved by FHWA th...
Posted on 06/10/2014
AGC of America joins Hiring Our Heroes program to add 100K vets to workforce
AGC of America announced that it is joining the national Hiring Our Heroes program as part of the construction industry’s effort to add 100000 veterans over five years. The new partnership will make it easier for construction contractors to find recruit and hire veterans association officials add...