August 19, 2022
GENERAL NEWS
Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Roslyn Robertson Retires

Earlier this month, Governor Tim Walz announced the retirement of Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Commissioner Roslyn Robertson, who has served for over 34 years at DLI.

Robertson began at DLI as a student worker, moved to a labor standards investigator, then became manager of labor standards. Later, she was appointed as DLI's Assistant Commissioner for Workplace Safety. She then worked as the director of Minnesota OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation for three years. Robertson initially retired in October 2015, but she returned to DLI in 2019 as deputy commissioner, where she oversaw the agency operation areas of apprenticeship, construction codes and licensing, labor standards, occupational safety and health, and workers' compensation.

Governor Tim Walz appointed Robertson as commissioner on January 22, 2021. DLI ensures Minnesota's work and living environments are equitable, healthy, and safe. The agency oversees the state's programs for apprenticeship, construction codes and licensing, dual-training pipeline, occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, workers' compensation, and youth skills training.

Commissioner Robertson’s last day was August 12. Deputy Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach will serve as temporary commissioner through the remainder of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s first term.

AGC of MN is grateful for Robertson’s dedication and leadership, particularly to advance construction safety for over three decades. We appreciate her partnership over the years and wish her well in retirement! 
L-R: Tim Worke, Yolanda McIntosh, Matthew Semerad, MNOSHA Outreach and Partnership Director Nancy Zentgraf, Former Commissioner Roslyn Robertson, Doug Swenson, Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach, Laura Ziegler
Former Commissioner Roslyn Robertson celebrates Doug Swenson's Skill-Responsibility-Integrity (SRI) Award at the 2021 AGC Recognition Evening
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Project Labor Agreements

Project labor agreements are collective bargaining agreements limited to a single construction project which are required for the award of certain public and private construction projects. This article examines the typical provisions that PLAs impose and discusses the impacts of PLAs on union and nonunion contractors. Learn more

Kasia is a member of the Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson’s Construction Law Department. She can be reached at 612.359.7601 or kkokoszka@fwhtlaw.com
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE
Initial Analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act
 
President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) into law on August 16. The new law includes a $369 billion investment in climate and energy policies, $64 billion to extend a policy under the Affordable Care Act to reduce health insurance costs, and a 15% corporate minimum tax focused on companies that earn more than $1 billion a year. The IRA passed along party lines in the House and Senate. 
 
Tax incentives (179D) aimed at the construction of clean energy projects and energy efficient commercial buildings included in the law are tied new requirements such as prevailing wage and registered apprenticeships. To help provide some insight on new labor requirements and tax incentives, AGC of America put forth an initial analysis found here. AGCA issued a letter of opposition outlining their concerns.
 
AGC of America also held a Chapter Townhall - A Breakdown of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in the Inflation Reduction Act and What You Need to Know about Buy America. You can listen to the recording here.
USDOT Seeking Input on Buy America Requirements
 
With inflation raising construction materials and services by nearly 21 percent, USDOT wants to hear from you on how it should apply a sweeping expansion of Buy America requirements on construction materials for all federal-aid transportation projects.

Why It Matters: Without your input, USDOT may implement these new requirements in contract awards after November 9, 2022, amidst continuing supply chain woes–like long lead times and material allocations.
MN Projects Awarded with Federal RAISE Grants
 
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants to fund reconstruction across the U.S. were announced this week. Grants awarded to MN include Highway 197 Reconstruction in Bemidji with $18 million in funding, $9.5 million for a Bois Forte Transit Facility, $19.9 million for the 6th Street Bridge in Rochester, $12 million to Hennepin County for multimodal improvements on Lake Street, $15 million for improvements on Trunk Highway 55 and County Road 73 in Plymouth, and $24.99 million for West Superior Street active transportation in Duluth.
 
SAFETY UPDATE
New CHASE Level 3 Project

Congratulations to Benike Construction on their CHASE Level 3 project on the F&M Bank in Rochester!

View all the CHASE Level 3 projects and learn more about the partnership here.
Proud of your safety record? Apply for the Jeff Jensen Memorial Construction Safety Excellence Awards

The Jeff Jensen Memorial Construction Safety Excellence Award ​​was established by AGC of Minnesota in 2003 following the untimely and early death of Jeff Jensen, the third-generation owner of J.R. Jensen & Son, Inc., located in Superior, WI.

Jeff Jensen was ahead of his time in demanding a safe workplace at all levels of the organization, from the top down and including subcontractors. Jeff graduated from Michigan Tech with a civil engineering degree and worked as a field operations employee before moving into management. As such, Jeff had a firsthand knowledge of what safety could and should be. 

AGC Minnesota is proud to honor Jeff Jensen’s memory with the
Jeff Jensen Memorial Construction Safety Excellence Award.

Nominations for this year's awards are due by September 30, 2022and the awards will be presented at our annual Recognition EveningOctober 13, 2022.
Last year's award recipients:
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Four Star Construction
Meyer Contracting
Bolander
EDUCATION & EVENTS
Reserve your team or sponsorship for the 2022 Sporting Clays Fundraiser, held on Wednesday, September 14! Proceeds go to the AGC of Minnesota Foundation, which provides scholarships to students pursuing a career in the construction industry.


Thank You to our newest Sporting Clays Fundraiser sponsors!
Fall Member Meeting

Join AGC members for a fall member meeting on September 28 at the Mendakota Country Club!
Economic Outlook: Resurgence or Recession?

AGC of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson will review the latest evidence and offer his fearless forecast for construction nationally and in Minnesota.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – What You Need to Know

Hear from Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson attorneys Hugh Brown and Julia Douglass on the IIJA’s effects on P3 projects, environmental review, Buy America requirements, Davis Bacon requirements, and other implications of the Act. The Act is also anticipated to increase inflationary pressures on construction materials and labor, and this session will offer some insights on how to handle the price increases that result.
AGC of America Member Refresher

Hear from Christi Beatty (AGC America Vice President, Chapter Services & Membership Engagement) on the resources available to all AGC members.
Member Refresher: Around the AGC of Minnesota World in (Under) 80 Minutes!

Whether you are a new member or seasoned member, spend 10 minutes at each of the six tables and get an update on AGC resources available to all members. Visit all 6 tables, and you will be entered into a $100 gift card drawing! Table topics: Labor/Legal Services (Mike Schechter); Safety Services/CHASE (Matt Semerad); Member Benefits/Marketing Opportunities (Renee Horsman); DEI Initiatives (Ana Lowery); General Membership/Education (Merry Beckmann); Advocacy (Laura Ziegler).
Planning for the 2023 Minnesota Construction Summit is in full swing! Registration for attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors is open - click the buttons below to reserve exhibiting space, sign up as a sponsor, or save money by registering early to attend!
2023 Summit Keynote: Jake Thompson

Today’s ultra-competitive landscape requires a special mindset and skillset in order to create – and maintain – a leading edge. Fortunately, these are two areas that are not determined at birth, but instead can be effectively built with the right focus and choices. Discover how embracing a competitive, growth-oriented mindset will foster professional and personal development at an unparalleled level and position you with an advantage in your customers’ eyes. 

But in order to rise to this elite level, one must first understand how to make elite choices. In this session, Jake will show you how to do exactly that and create a daily plan of attack to ensure you stay consistent with it.

Hear from Jake on Day 1 of the 2023 Construction Summit in his keynote address, "Compete Every Day: How to Unlock Your Competitive Advantage in Life."

Jake Thompson is an author, keynote speaker, and the Chief Encouragement Officer at Compete Every Day, a brand he started in 2011 by first selling t-shirts out of the trunk of his car. Jake works with organizations all over the world as a performance coach, teaching how they can develop the focus, habits, and culture in order to grow their businesses and their individual lives. He currently lives in Dallas (TX) with his wife Elena, and their three rescue dogs, Sugar, Biscuit, & Donut.
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