September 17, 2021
COVID-19 NEWS
COVID-19 Mandate Updates and Recommendations

There are many updates this week on issues surrounding mandates and recommendations for employers. Click below to read the full report.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS
New Leadership Elected for the MN State Senate 

Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) was elected Senate Majority Leader last week. Jeremy Miller was first elected to the Senate in 2010. He was previously the Senate Jobs Chair and most recently the Senate President. Senator Miller owns a scrap metal business. Former Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (Nisswa) stepped down from his leadership position prior to announcing a run for Governor.

Senate Republicans aren’t the only ones with leadership changes. On Monday, September 13th, the Senate DFL elected Melisa López Franzen as their new Minority Leader. The position was vacated after Senator Susan Kent (Woodbury) stepped down and announced she would not be running for re-election next year. Senator Kent was recognized as AGC of MN’s Legislator of the Year in 2014 for her contributions to the construction industry.
Senator Franzen was elected in 2012 to represent Senate District 49, which includes Edina and parts of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Bloomington.
She is the Co-Founder and President of NewPublica, a public relations and strategic communications firm. She previously worked as an Attorney at Target Corp for 8 years.

AGC of MN looks forward to continue working with the Senators in their new leadership capacity!
Are you signed up to receive AGC's Legislative Action Alerts? 

Stay in the loop and make your voice heard on all action alerts that AGC sends out! When legislative issues arise that affect the construction industry, the need is often for swift action, and AGC makes it easy for you to send a message to all of your elected representatives in under a minute.
EDUCATION & EVENTS
Sporting Clays Fundraiser a Huge Success

Wednesday's sold-out Sporting Clays Fundraiser was our highest attendance and most profitable ever (final numbers raised for scholarships still being tabulated)! Congratulations to our award winners pictured below! Special thanks to RDO Equipment Co. for being our title sponsor, and to all of our other sponsors and participants! See all the photos from the day here.
Top Team 2021: Grazzini #1 (score of 450)
(Gregory Grazzini, Jake Boerboon, Dan Meyer, Greg Peters, and Rick Scott)
Top Gun 2021 (score of 96):
Jay Andrews (Northwest Area Jaycees)
Top Female 2021 (score of 62):
Paige Brosseth (Wilson McShane)
5 Important Things to Know About JDLink Connectivity and Machine Data

Machines are becoming more integrated with technology. Connected machines offer a great opportunity for equipment owners and fleet managers to improve day-to-day operations and monitor the health and productivity of their fleet. Here are five important things to know about how JDLink helps in that effort. Learn more

Jeff Lemna, Vice President of Customer Support, RDO Equipment Co.
AGC Safety Committee Meeting

The AGC Safety Committee will reconvene on Thursday, October 7 (7:00-9:00 a.m.). If you'd like to participate, please register here.

Questions? Contact Matt Semerad.
Last Chance to Register for STP Fall Classes

Click the links below for more information and to register for fall Supervisory Training Program (STP) classes!

September 29 - October 27

September 30 - October 28
AGC Member Educational Event:
COVID Mandates

AGC returns the tag team of Mark Becker (Fabyanske Westra Hart & Thomson) and Kurt Erickson (Littler Mendelson P.C.) to discuss the COVID vaccine and testing mandates.

Join us for a discussion on October 22! More information and registration here.
AGC Member Educational Event:
Prefab/Modular Construction Debate

Prefab/Modular construction is growing and challenging our understandings of construction contracting. There is a growing debate how to buy prefab and modular: whether the common law or UCC applies, or which should. 

Join us for a debate on October 22! Get all the details here.
AGC Awards Recognition Evening

Join us on October 13 at International Market Square, as we honor the recipients of our annual safety awards, the Skill, Responsibility & Integrity (SRI) Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award!

Holiday Reception

Join us on December 7 at the Metropolitan Ballroom for our annual holiday reception!


The 2022 Minnesota Construction Summit is the industry event of the year, bringing together construction industry professionals for two days of inspiration, education, and networking!

More details on attending, exhibiting, and sponsoring here!
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION NEWS
September is Workforce Development Month
 
September is Workforce Development Month, a time to honor workforce development leaders and staff across Minnesota, as well as draw attention to the resources available to those looking for work, wanting to prepare for in-demand employment or exploring their career options. The State of Minnesota recognizes that investment in the education, training and career advancement of Minnesota's workforce is crucial to the ability of our state to compete in the global economy.

Financial Assistance Available Now for MN Certified Small Businesses

The SFY22 Micro Grant program is open. MN Certified Small Businesses may apply for up to $2,000 reimbursement for the eligible reimbursements listed in this document.
City of Saint Paul Supplier Diversity Program Community Listening Engagements
 
The City of Saint Paul (City) has embarked on a journey to improve its business inclusion efforts and develop a Supplier Diversity Program. In doing this, the City seeks to meaningfully engage the business community and build community relationships.
 
The City will host six Community Listening Engagements in
collaboration with Strong & Starlike Consulting, Inc. between September and
November 2021. Each engagement is intended to: 1) Provide space for business
owners to share honestly and openly, 2) Ensure participants feel valued and
heard, and 3) Clearly communicate ways participant input will be used and how
they will be kept informed on changes made by the City.
 
For more information regarding the engagements, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Special Shows in September and October
 
Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, 2021 marks Hispanic Heritage Month — a time to celebrate and pay tribute to the stories, rich cultural traditions and significant contributions of Hispanic Americans whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain and Central and South America.

Not only is this a time to celebrate, but it is a time to reflect on how we can better-understand and connect with our Latinx neighbors, and lift one another up. For more information, click here.
The Suicide Prevention Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health presents the Suicide Prevention Webinar series. These educational webinars serve as a way to connect and share information. Upcoming webinars: 

  • October 19 (2 p.m.) "Suicide Prevention and the Faith Community" - Glen Bloomstrom
  • November 16 (2 p.m.) "Veteran Populations and Suicide Prevention" - Brittany Miskowiec
  • Dec 8 (1 p.m.) "Mental Health and Well-being" - Anna Lynn  
GENERAL NEWS
I494/35W Project Draft Layout

MnDOT’s project team has posted a draft layout for the I494/35W project that will be let (as a Design-Build contract) in late 2022 or early 2023.

If you do not have credentials for the Sharepoint site, please contact Peter Davich to gain access.
Your Trusted Resource

Associated General Contractors of Minnesota 

525 Park Street, Suite 110 |  St. Paul, MN 55103
651-632-8929