News
Aecon Buildings Receives Award from L&I
by Sarah Teague
On April 8 2009 Aecon Buildings Inc. was presented with an award of commendation from the Department of Labor and Industries. The framed certificate was signed by Director Judy Schurke and presented by Consultation Manager John Geppert in recognition of a full calendar year (2008...
Posted on 04/28/2009
Governor Gregoire Signs Prompt Payment for Extra Work Legislation
By John Ahlers
In midst of the budget gloom-and-doom coming from Olympia last week a single ray of sunshine for contractors emanated brightly. Governor Gregoire signed House Bill 1195 which now requires that public works owners pay contractors the undisputed amount of any extra work within 30 d...
Posted on 04/28/2009
AGC: THANK YOU Members for Your Legislative Support!
Seven thousand one hundred and thirty five. Thats how many email messages went to legislators from AGC members a record by all accounts! AGC sent action alerts to members about 11 different bills in 2009 and AGCs position prevailed eight times - a 72 percent success rate and a testament to the ...
Posted on 04/28/2009
Shared Work Program Provides Alternative to Layoffs
If you face a temporary decline in business the States Shared-Work Program offers an alternative to layoffs. The program allows you to reduce the hours of full-time employees while workers collect partial unemployment benefits to replace a portion of lost wages. It helps retain skilled workers r...
Posted on 04/28/2009
Celebrate Your Industry at Build Washington Awards May 20
Celebrate the innovation and craftsmanship of AGC members at the annual Build Washington Awards May 20 at University of Washingtons Kane Hall. Hear the details of the teamwork and skill that built the top construction projects of the year and honor the achievements in safety of AGC general and s...
Posted on 04/28/2009
WSDOT Hosting Bored Tunnel Contracting Forum
Forum is to discuss preliminary contracting plans for the tunnel replacement of viaduct including project timeline and potential contract packages. May 5 1-3 pm Seattle Central Library 1000 4th Ave. Due to space limitations WSDOT requests no more than three reps per company. RSVP: 1-888-AWV-LI...
Posted on 04/28/2009
Congress Should Eliminate Restrictions on Green Jobs Training
Congress should eliminate restrictions on new green jobs training grants that disqualify construction training programs that arent affiliated with a union the AGC of America said. Saying the future economy should be as inclusive as possible it urged members of Congress to support newly introduce...
Posted on 04/28/2009
What is a Green Job? A Construction Job!
In a letter sent to Congressional leaders AGC of America CEO Steve Sandherr made the point that construction jobs meet all the criteria of the loosely defined green job including:
• Improving the environment; • Offering good-paying jobs; • Offering opportunities for advancement; • Are jobs that ...
Posted on 04/28/2009
AGC Welcomes New Members!
The AGC Board of Trustees approved the following firms for membership (click names to visit their websites): Ideate Inc. an AutoCAD and Autodesk reseller offering product training and implementation services and Qualstar Credit Union.
Posted on 04/28/2009
Member News: GLY Creates Concrete Division
GLY Construction Inc. is extending its structural concrete subcontracting for developers construction managers and general contractors with a specialized concrete division. GLY Structures provides turnkey concrete structures including foundations walls tilt-ups elevated decks slabs and decorative...
Posted on 04/28/2009
Cadman Presents Awards for Concrete Pump Truck Safety
At the April Concrete Pump Truck Safety Roundtable meeting Cadman Inc. presented awards as special thanks for the contribution to the construction industry and to concrete pump truck safety. Awards were presented to Elizabeth McKay AGC of Washington; Bob Maus Ferguson Construction; Al Hockaday Co...
Posted on 04/28/2009
AGC Members Honored for Corporate Citizenship
Puget Sound Business Journals Corporate Citizenship Program recognizes companies in the greater Puget Sound area for their staunch support of philanthropic causes and organizations. Congratulations to AGC members among the honorees: Bank of America BNBuilders Inc. Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Fergus...
Posted on 04/28/2009
Sales Tax Collection System for Construction Re-Written by SB 6173
SB 6173 would eliminate the use of Resale Certificates that exempt contractors from paying sales tax on purchases for most construction projects and require contractors to pay sales tax up front and then make a claim later for a credit from the State.
AGC members are encouraged to IMMEDIATELY co...
Posted on 04/16/2009
SB 6169 Expands Personal Liability for Wider Array of Taxes
Legislation was introduced legislation that would expand personal liability for a wider array of taxes paid by businesses. The bill was introduced yesterday (April 15 ironically tax day) with a hearing held at 8 a.m. the next day.
Under current law certain corporate officials and employees can ...
Posted on 04/16/2009
Unfunded Family Leave Insurance Kept Alive by Bill
The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed SB 6158 which delays the implementation of the family leave program. The Legislature has not been able to find a funding source to support the family leave program since the original legislation was passed in 2007.
AGC maintains that the program should...
Posted on 04/16/2009
L&I Suspends Certified Payroll Requirements After Contractors Raise Concerns
Thanks to quick action by AGC members and Government Affairs staff the Department of Labor and Industries has agreed to suspend a requirement that private project wage information be reported in Certified Payroll Reports.
On March 31 L&I emailed an announcement to contractors requiring that ...
Posted on 04/15/2009
Bill Requiring Prompt Payment of Undisputed Claims Passed by Legislature
The Legislature has passed and the Governor is expected to sign an AGC-supported bill requiring the prompt payment of undisputed claims on public construction projects.
HB 1195 is a bill that was requested by the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) after the matter was originally brou...
Posted on 04/15/2009
AGC's JOBsite a Great Resource for Recruiting
If you are an employer looking to hire skilled workers or if you someone looking to find quality job offers check out AGCs JOBsite. Job postings are placed by only AGC members looking for people with different skill sets. Anyone can view the job postings and are able to reply directly to the comp...
Posted on 04/15/2009
Action Alert: Help Defeat Higher Unemployment Taxes
AGC asks members to continue to urge Legislators to oppose SSB 5963 which would increase unemployment insurance taxes. The original version of the bill would have lowered UI taxes and AGC supported it. However the House amended the bill to increase UI benefits (in addition to the increase added...
Posted on 04/15/2009
Pierce County Ends Unfair HUB Program
The Pierce County Council voted to repeal the ill-advised Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Program. AGC members met with councilmembers and testified before the Council in support of the move.
The HUB Program gave preferential treatment to contractors bidding on Pierce County public ...
Posted on 04/15/2009
Momentum Seems to Shift Away from \Card Check\ Bill
AGC of America reports that recently there have been a few twists in the card check debate. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) announced her opposition to the Card Check bill and said she would vote against even considering the bill in the Senate. This coupled with Sen. Arlen Specters (R-PA) announcem...
Posted on 04/15/2009
Tax Legislation Update: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The implications of recent tax legislation on the construction industry are significant.Several provisions create growth and help the industry flourish while others have a negative impact. During a free May 5 webinar Carleen J. Snyder CPA and Tax Partner for Moss Adams LLP will explore what you a...
Posted on 04/15/2009
New Name, Signatory Status for Local Granite Branch
On April 1 the Northwest Washington Branch of Granite Northwest Inc. in Everett became the Puget Sound Branch of Granite Construction Company. In another major change the Puget Sound Branch becomes signatory to the Laborers Operating Engineers and Carpenters Union contracts.
According to Steve ...
Posted on 04/15/2009
Dexter + Cheney on Puget Sound Business Journal List
AGC member Dexter + Chaney continued its march up the Journals annual ranking of Puget Sound software developers based on gross revenues. The maker of Spectrum® Construction Software placed 10th in the recently-announced 2009 listing.
Posted on 04/15/2009
Building Green - Market Driven or Regulatory Mandates?
Thats the topic of the Apr. 21 Seattle District Membership Breakfast. Seattle and King County have proposed mandatory green building requirements and some incentives for their respective Councils to act on later this spring. Do these proposals reinforce or detract from what is happening in the ...