The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges, opened opportunities, and will most certainly imprint seismic change on our culture. One year into the pandemic and we desperately crave “normalcy,” yet the ideal of normal seems somehow distant and fading. The core foundations of our lives have been disrupted in gripping, emotional, and profound ways. Tragically, the effects of managing and coping with pandemic-induced stress is leaving another less-visible but insidious wake of devastation and loss.

Suicide rates in the construction industry are some of the highest of any sector in the economy. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the construction industry has the second highest rate of suicide and the highest number of suicide deaths among all major occupations.  The suicide rate is approximately 3.5 to 4 times higher among construction workers than the general population (43.5/100,000 workers vs. 13.91/100,000 of general population). Additionally, by many professional estimates, each suicide leaves at least 130 people who report knowing the person who has died. Of those, it is likely at least one third feel very close to the deceased and may need intervention or assistive services themselves. This creates about 1 million new persons a year in the US who are directly impacted by the suicide of someone close to them.

Mental health has been relegated to the shadows for too long, considered a taboo topic too personal and complex, sparking uncomfortable conversations that are not our business.  In fact, the business facts speak for themselves. Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year while suicides and suicide attempts cost the nation over $70 billion per year in lifetime medical and work-loss costs alone.

May is national mental health awareness month and AGC of Minnesota is partnering with CSDZ and other construction industry organizations to host "Breaking the Stigma Barrier: Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention in Construction," a unique construction industry dialogue centered on the challenges of mental health and suicide prevention. Renown topical expert and national speaker Cal Beyer will be hosting the webinar titled Breaking the Stigma Barrier - Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Attendees will learn what you and your organization can do to help promote mental wellbeing and reduce the risk of suicide among your workforce and the construction industry. This is a must-participate, no-cost event open to all members of the Minnesota Construction Community. Registration and additional information can be found here.

Please take time from your busy schedule on Friday, May 21 and register to attend this necessary and informative event. We work and live in an industry of family-based and person-centered businesses that rely upon the talents and gifts of every individual. It is time to invest yourself and become more aware of the role mental health and suicide prevention play in your overall wellness plans.

The House and the Senate wrapped up long debates on the floor this week, and now the work shifts to conference committees. Each conference committee is typically comprised of five representatives and five senators who meet to negotiate particular budget areas. Some committees started meeting this week, while others will begin their work in earnest next week. The Legislature must adjourn the regular session by Monday, May 17th.

Keep up to date with the latest conference committee membership and activity here. Contact Laura Ziegler, AGC Director of Government Affairs, with any questions or status updates. Remember to sign up for AGC Action Alerts (below). This becomes an important tool, especially at the end of session when key decisions are being made.

Click here to get started.

NEXT WEEK is AGC of Minnesota Construction Advocacy Week

Make your voice heard! Each year, AGC members walk from AGC offices across the street to the Minnesota Capitol to meet with key decision makers and advocate for the construction industry. It’s important to communicate with legislators this time of year as they make key budget and policy decisions. Furthermore, there are possibilities of additional federal funding for our state’s building and transportation infrastructure. Join us as we hear from AGC of America President Bob Lanham on the vital role of member advocacy, and MnDOT Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher on what’s in store in a post-pandemic recovery.

This year is a completely virtual, multi-day event to fit your schedule. Next week is also a great opportunity to focus on checking in with your legislators by making your own personal legislative appointments. See below and register today!

AGC encourages members to make virtual appointments with legislators during AGC’s Construction Advocacy Week. To find out who represents you, click here or contact your AGC Director of Government Affairs, Laura Ziegler.

We welcome all employees of AGC member companies to join in these virtual discussions and activities as your schedule allows.

AGC is one of several organizations in the Minnesota construction community teaming with CSDZ on this very important topic of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Construction. Join us on May 21!

This week-long event is an opportunity to celebrate the incredibly hard work done by people in our industry who make safety the foundation of everything they do. Click here and here to learn more about this event and how you and your employees can get involved. Certificates of participation can also be obtained during and after safety week by completing this form. AGC of America has also developed a social media toolkit for companies to use, complete with toolbox talks.

AGC of Minnesota is requesting proposals for the 2022 Construction Summit to be held at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The Summit will be held January 11-12, 2022. We are looking for presentation submissions in a number of different tracks, including:

AGC members and partners should submit their proposal by May 20 to assist the planning committee in developing their agenda. If you have any questions regarding the Summit, please contact Lisa Larson.

Partnering with Career Force, this year's Construction Crew Hiring Event will be a free and virtual career fair, allowing participants to reach potential candidates throughout the state. For many in the construction industry, virtual career fairs are a new way finding candidates.

Although the event is free, please consider a donation to Construct Tomorrow, dedicated to advancing the Minnesota construction industry’s outreach to students.

Register for the event here. More information here.

Donate to Construct Tomorrow here.

Join us on August 6 at Keller Golf Course in Maplewood!

Get all the details and register here.

We are reposting wage allocations as we receive them from the trades. We also appreciate the good feedback on our all-in-one allocations spreadsheet that makes the allocations uniform and explains what is taxable and what is reported for prevailing wage, and will post the 2021 sheet as soon as completed.

AGC members: if you do not have login credentials, please contact Renee.

2021 To Be Bound forms are available here. Be sure to complete the form to sign your firm for work in Minnesota and North Dakota, and return to TBB@agcmn.org, and also include the contact information of others in your firm who should receive updates on the contracts you checked. Need a login? Contact Renee.

We are preparing to release our form contracts under the annual license. If you have been operating under the gap license, please watch for this update and transition to the full licensed version. If you are looking for a great short form contract between Owner-Contractor, Contractor-Subcontractor, Anyone-Materials Supplier, or Contractor-ITO, they will be available to download on our website soon.

Are you unsure of what the prevailing wage is, particularly when it’s a part of your government contract? Are you prepared to submit certified payroll reports? Join us to learn how to determine prevailing wages, report on prevailing wage projects, identify labor classifications, understand Form IC 134 and submit appropriate payroll reports. Register here.

Social media is an important business tool, and email continues to be the primary method of business communication. Both reflect your professionalism. With clear instructions and plenty of examples and templates, learn to compose and send professional emails, voicemails and social media messages. Register here.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program applies to projects with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Met Council, and the City of Minneapolis. To participate in the DBE program, your firm must be a small business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s). Attend this session to learn program details, certification basics, and how the government agencies utilize it, and the benefits of having the certification. Register here.

*The Small Business Resource Center offers free virtual trainings for all certified small businesses. For the latest events, visit MnDOT Office of Civil Rights Event Calendar. The Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights partners with the Minnesota Procurement Technical Center Assistance and CIA Media Group, LLC to provide free virtual trainings to certified small businesses.

www.pws-mn.com

Please take a moment to review the Gopher State One Call locate request process changes, which are effective today, April 30, 2021. They apply to both web-submitted and call center requests.

Changes include:

Each year AGC of America conducts a survey of members involved in highway construction work to evaluate the state of highway work zone safety.

Congratulations to Mortenson on their newly-signed U of M Mechanical Engineering CHASE Level 3 project!

The Construction Health And Safety Excellence (CHASE) program began in 2003 as a partnership between Minnesota OSHA and AGC of Minnesota. The program is designed to recognize AGC member contractors for their safety programs and performance, while providing incentives for partnership.

The skid steer and compact track loader, two popular machines found on just about every job site. But what makes one a better choice than the other?

Take a deep dive into the machines and some of the factors that determine which is the best choice for the situation and task at hand. Learn more

AGC member My Medical Clinic is offering COVID-19 vaccinations (Pfizer 2-shot series) for employers/employees, including spots available for tomorrow (Saturday) and next Monday, May 3.

Sign up for appointments here or call at 651-340-1445.

1560 Beam Ave, Suite F | Maplewood, MN 55109

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation released a report yesterday entitled, “Minnesota: 2030, a framework for economic growth.” This report details the characteristics of Minnesota’s economy, the impacts of 2020 on Minnesota and its regions, and provides a 10-year outlook recommending key strategies for the state’s long-term economic success.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will end spring load restrictions (SLR) in the north-central and north frost zones Monday, May 3, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

Spring Load restrictions have already ended in the other frost zones.

Frost zones can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Start and end dates and other load limit information are shown at mndot.gov/loadlimits.