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News
Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce Will Back Public Safety Building Levy
T Shown is an M&G Architect’s rendering of the $20 million public safety building Wheeling officials hope to construct with proceeds from a levy that will go before voters Nov. 6.
The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce has said it supports a nearly $22 million tax levy to build a new public safety building, buy a fire truck and make repairs to five of the city’s fire stations.

“We surveyed our membership, the positive results of that survey helped guide our executive committee,”  he said.  “It is important for the safety and well-being of the citizens of Wheeling that we provide our first responders with the proper facilities and tools so they can continue to protect all of us.”
Chamber Chairman Andy McKenzie
“We hosted a meeting with city leaders including both the police chief and fire chief,” said chamber Chairman Andy McKenzie in the statement. “The chiefs made a very persuasive presentation for the need of the project. Read More...
West Virginia Department of Transportation Considers Scope of I-70 Work in Ohio County
Legislators received several reports on major transportation issues facing the state during the start of legislative interim meetings, including updates on work along Interstate 70 in Ohio County.
The Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability met Sunday evening with DOT Secretary Tom Smith and other department officials.
Smith updated the committee on highway projects funded by Roads to Prosperity bonds, Parkways Authority bonds and Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds. Smith said DOT has $500 million of road construction work in progress or finished, with plans to have another half-a-billion dollars of projects in progress or completed within the next six months. Read More...
What you need to know about HR and recruiting in construction
The industry’s labor shortage is nothing new, but it remains top-of-mind for many contractors. In fact, 80% of firms surveyed recently indicated they are having a tough time filling hourly craft positions — a number that is only expected to grow. Read More...
Survey: Construction firms with union workers more likely to engage in safety best practices, training
Construction firms that employ at least some union workers are more likely to perform safety best practices and undergo OSHA training than those with no union employees, according to the results of a biennial survey commissioned by the Center for Construction Research and Training – also known as CPWR. Read More...
The Economic Impact of Construction in the United States and Ohio
This data report was put together by Ken Simonson, Chief Economist,  AGC of America .
AGC has compiled data on the role of the construction in the economy and employment in the United States." : The Economic Impact of Construction in the United States and Ohio
Wheeling Police Department Shows Public Its Cramped Headquarters
Ron Stewart peers through glass into a crowded evidence room at Wheeling Police Department headquarters during a public tour of the station Tuesday night. Photo by Joselyn King
The Secret Service needed to coordinate plans with the Wheeling Police Department prior to President Donald Trump’s visit last Saturday, but there was no place large enough in its headquarters for more than four people to meet at once. Read More...
Justice promises $100M to PEIA from revenue surplus, another 5 percent teacher raise
Gov. Jim Justice said Tuesday that he will commit $100 million from recent tax surpluses to fund looming cost increases to the Public Employees Insurance Agency “today.”
He also promised to offer teachers and other state employees an additional 5 percent pay raise on top of the  5 percent raise they received via legislation earlier this year , and he floated the idea of privatizing PEIA. Read More...
Legislative News
Norcross, McKinley Introduce Bill to Expand Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) and David McKinley (R-WV-01) – co-founders of the Congressional Building Trades Caucus – introduced the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act, H.R. 6820, which expands pre-apprenticeship programs for underrepresented populations. Read More...
AGCA Tariffs Updates - September 2018
On Sept. 17, the Trump administration announced the implementation of a  10 percent tariff on $200 billion  worth of Chinese imports to the U.S., including a wide range of construction materials and supplies (see attached   spreadsheet for construction-related items , as there are a lot of them).
Scheduled to take effect on Sept. 24, the  complete list  of Chinese goods falling under this latest round of tariffs numbers in the thousands. Starting Jan. 1., 2019, the level of tariffs on these Chinese goods will increase to 25 percent, unless progress is made on trade negotiations with the administration.
Given these events, we have updated three documents that you should feel free to share with your members in regards to tariffs impacting construction materials and supplies. Those include:
  1. AGC’s Primer on 2018 Trade Action Affecting the Construction Industry
  2. AGC Tariff Memo to Private Contractors
  3. AGC Tariff Memo to Direct Federal & Federally-Assisted Contractors
Safety and Education
Ways to Communicate With and Understand Generation Z
If you still believe millennials are the new kids on the job market, you’re not alone. It can be easy to feel as though the youngest members of the workforce are the millennials that are oft-discussed and seldom praised—but that’s no longer true. Millennials were born between 1981 and 1995, making the youngest millennials 23 years old. Read More...
The What, Where and When of Legal Forms
What are legal forms, where are they located and when should they be used? 
WHAT ARE LEGAL FORMS?
 Legal forms are usually predrafted legal documents that are essentially designed to be a one-size-fits-all, fill in the blank alternative to engaging a lawyer for more routine legal matters. Examples of legal forms within the construction industry usually include: requests for proposals, change orders, waivers and releases, release of liens, subcontract agreements and prime agreements.  Read More...
OSHA increases excavation and trenching enforcement after wave of fatalities
Effective Oct. 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration moved forward with an  updated excavation and trenching National Emphasis Program . The safety enhancements represent a renewed effort on the part of the agency to prevent excavation and trenching collapses in the wake of an uptick in trenching fatalities. Read More...
Membership Networking Opportunity
Member Appreciation
After Hours

Oglebay Garden Bistro: Oct 10th
Open Bar 5:30 - 7:30 ow


Please join us for our first quarterly Member Appreciation After Hours! 

The OVCEC represents the best of Ohio Valley business, and our mission is to connect as many members and businesses as possible! This is why we will be hosting quarterly member appreciation after hours, and will be encouraging all members to bring a guest that would benefit from the OVCEC. We will also be inviting special guests for our members to spend time with, such as political officials, project managers, and gas/oil leaders.

This events theme is "Political", and we will be inviting over 30 locally elected officials to join us. Be sure you take time to voice your needs and thoughts to them directly!

What to expect and why you CAN'T MISS:

·           Open Bar ft. Wine, Beer, and Cocktails with heavy Hor d'Ouevres
·           2+ hours of networking with OVCEC members - we have over 200!
·           Face to face time with sitting, locally elected officials from across the OV
·           A business casual environment that allows you to get more involved
·           No cost to members and their guests
 
This is open to ALL OUR MEMBERS and their employees!

OVCEC After Hours

LOCATION  
Oglebay Garden Bistro 
DATE AND TIME  
10/10/18 5:30pm - 10/10/18 7:30pm 
Open Bar Networking!
Call 304-242-0520 to RSVP
or email us at ovcec@ovcec.com

We would like to thank our partners at Oglebay for making the Bistro available to us. Drink responsibly, plan ahead !
Safety Tool Box Talk
Plan Room News
What Is the OVCEC Plan Room?
  • It is a conveniently located source of construction plans for the Ohio Valley area
  • It publishes a weekly Construction Report listing projects out for bid, due dates, apparent low bidders and contracts awarded
  • It provides updates on projects throughout the week by email
  • It provides online access to plans and specifications for your review and downloading
  • It provides bidders lists
  • It has staff that will get the plans you need whenever possible
Submit Plans & Specs
As an Owner or Architect of a project, placing your project plans in the OVCEC Plan Room will help to insure the success of your project.
The Plan Room will:
  • Help you publicize your project
  • Increase the quantity and quality of bids you receive for your project
  • Help you get addenda out to bidders
  • Reduce your cost of blueprint duplication by allowing electronic submission to Plan Room Online