News
Health Care Reform Becomes Law – What Does it Mean for Your Company?
On March 23 2010 President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and shortly thereafter the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872) which changes health care as we know it. In the coming years there are many adjustments ...
Posted on 03/30/2010
New Location, New Phone Number for Southern District Office
AGC’s Southern District Office has officially moved from downtown Tacoma to its new space in Fife in a building now owned by AGC. Please update your contact information and in particular note the NEW PHONE NUMBER: AGC Southern District Office 3601 - 20th Street East Fife WA 98424. Phone: 253-...
Posted on 03/30/2010
Operation Orange
With the highway construction season comes the need to remind motorists to drive safely in work zones. And this year WSDOT is building on its Give ‘em a Brake program to encourage more organizations to show their support for work zone safety. We hope you will join WSDOT to Go Orange for Work Zo...
Posted on 03/30/2010
Participate in Moss Adams Salary Survey, Get Free Copy
What does it take to acquire and keep talent? The right compensation plan is a good place to start. But how do you know whats right? For the eighth year Moss Adams LLP is conducting the Construction Industry Salary Survey in conjunction with several Northwest AGC chapters. We encourage you to pa...
Posted on 03/30/2010
Legislature Goes Into Extra Innings
With big league ballplayers loosening up for the fast-approaching baseball season the Washington State Legislature has gone into extra innings as they wrestle with the mountainous problems facing them in balancing the state budgets. Upon adjournment last Thursday evening Governor Gregoire called...
Posted on 03/16/2010
Share Your Views Regarding Potential Workers' Comp Ballot Initiative
AGC members are strongly encouraged to participate in upcoming meetings to discuss a possible ballot initiative creating a “three way” workers’ compensation system (state plan private options and self-insurance). The AGC Board is looking for your input on the broad questions of 1) should the curr...
Posted on 03/16/2010
Deadline Looms: Get your Build WA Award Apps in by March 22!
We know you’re out there because we’ve been getting your calls with questions about the application. But now it’s time to finalize the copy and send in those submittals for the AGC Build Washington Awards sponsored by Moss Adams. Don’t forget all the main categories: Construction Safety Servic...
Posted on 03/16/2010
Industry Starts Year on an Upswing
Washington State experienced one of the most precipitous drops in construction employment among the states during 2009 – a 19.1% decline 45th worst in the country. However this state had one of the biggest one-month increases in construction employment between Dec. 2009 and Jan. 2010 – a 2.7% in...
Posted on 03/16/2010
Blue Book Showcase April 13, 3-7 p.m., Qwest Field
The Blue Book GC Showcase is a free networking event designed to bring together subcontractors and suppliers with the companies that need their services. In addition to bridging the gap between buyers and sellers the showcase will feature educational sessions on topics such as: Free tools you may...
Posted on 03/16/2010
Streamlined Permitting Bill Makes Headway
Legislation that might be headed for passage would shorten turnaround times for permits and expedite the approval process for major developments. Although passed from committee after the normal legislative cutoff date SB 6578 might have been positioned to be included in the Senate budget because...
Posted on 03/09/2010
AGC Welcomes New Members!
General Contractor: Pacific Pile & Marine LP (marine construction upland construction and pile driving). Associates: Coastal Industrial Services (industrial and environmental maintenance); Safety Matters (safety consultation and services); Sound Environmental Strategies (environmental cons...
Posted on 03/09/2010
Off-Site Prefab Bill Passes Legislature; AGC Seeks Veto
AGC-opposed legislation requires general and subcontractors on non-transportation related public works projects over $1 million to submit to the state information regarding any off-site prefabricated nonstandard project-specific items produced outside Washington.
The bill SB 2805 passed both the...
Posted on 03/09/2010
Alaska's Construction Spending 2010 Forecast
Oil and gas construction will be steady while military utility and hospital construction will see big increases this year according to this report from the University of Alaska at Anchorage and commissioned by AGC of Alaska. Click Alaska Forecast for the complete report.
Posted on 03/09/2010
Construction Cost Index Flat but Wallboard Prices Jumping
The RSMeans Construction Cost Index had a negligible -0.5% year-over-year change Reed Construction Datas materials price tracking service reported. Meanwhile wallboard prices are about to shoot up. For more economic news click this week’s Data Digest by AGC of America Economist Ken Simonson.
Posted on 03/09/2010
Get Recognition for Your Company's Community Service Efforts!
For the second year AGC and Build Washington Awards sponsor Moss Adams LLP present the Service to the Community Award. This award recognizes the generous giving nature of AGC members who go above and beyond to support the communities in which they live and work. Apply today! Click Build Washin...
Posted on 03/09/2010
Media Reports of Crane Compliance Don't Tell the Whole Story
Since new certification rules took effect at the beginning of the year the media has covered the topic of crane safety sometimes painting a picture that is not totally accurate particularly for AGC members.
One angle picked up by the local news is the fact that relatively few cranes have been ce...
Posted on 03/09/2010
Members Receiving Unsolicited Fax Invoices May File FCC Complaints
AGC members have again reported receiving unwanted solicitation faxes from the “National Association of General Contractors and Subcontractors Inc.” (NAGC). This time with a newly designed fax solicitation under the guise of an “Annual Dues Application” NAGC faxes have been reported by members ac...
Posted on 03/09/2010
Comparing AIA & ConsensusDOCS in a Real World Setting
Using real-world examples two leading construction attorneys will discuss many of the differences between ConsensusDocs and AIA standard form construction contract documents. For more information on the key issues that will be addressed and to register for this live webinar please visit Comparing...
Posted on 03/09/2010
Korsmo Construction Among Top Places to Work
The Business Examiner’s Top Places to Work program recognizes outstanding company cultures in the South Sound. John Korsmo Construction has been named as a finalist with honorees announced at a March 31 event at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center.
Posted on 03/09/2010
Dexter + Cheney Offers Free \Winning in a Tight Economy\ Webinar
Winning in a Tight Economic Market: Learning Your Way to Success explores ways a construction business can become a learning organization that redefines the concept of customer service as part of a long-term plan for success. This webinar will be presented by FMI experts and is offered to AGC mem...
Posted on 03/09/2010
Get to Know Your AGC Staff: Megan Orthmeyer
As the Development Coordinator for over three years Megan Orthmeyer secures resources for the AGC Education Foundation’s popular continuing education and school outreach programs. She helps to grow and maintain relationships for the Foundation and works on the endowments the annual fund planne...
Posted on 03/02/2010
Federal Highway Trust Fund Shuts Down; WSDOT Projects Could be Delayed
(Take action! See AGC of America request at end of article!)
As of press time Tuesday morning the US Congress had not yet passed legislation to extend the Federal Highway Trust Fund authorization. SAFETEA-LU the federal transportation funding act expired Sunday Feb. 28 at midnight.
As a result...
Posted on 03/02/2010
General Liability Policies Cover Subcontractor Defects, Says MS Supreme Court
In a decision that could have implications for Washington State in the future the Mississippi Supreme Court recently ruled that contractors are covered under their commercial general liability policies for subcontractor work later found to be defective. According to an article in Engineering New...
Posted on 03/02/2010
New Alliance Means Affordable Way to Manage Projects, Documents, Databases
Forward this info to your Estimating and IT Departments!
AGC of Washington has teamed up with GradeBeam.com the only fully managed online communication network built by and for the construction industry to establish an exclusive strategic alliance that will dramatically improve AGC members’ prod...
Posted on 03/02/2010
PLAs, Trust Fund Raids as Part of Budget Battles?
It seems that the budget battles in every legislative session are used to provide cover for under-the-radar policy changes and trust fund raids. This year is no different. Here are some of the issues AGC is working on right now in Olympia:
• “Labor Peace Agreement” – The Supplemental Capital B...