April 26, 2024

Thank You, Volunteers!

THANK YOU to the many volunteers whose service and expertise make AGC a trusted resource to our members!

From our Board of Directors to our many committees, forums, appointed Taft-Hartley fund trustees, and individual engagement, AGC volunteers serve the association as well as the entire construction industry with skill, responsibility, and integrity.

CEO REPORT

Welcome, Project Owners

Project owners have always been a vital part of the construction services sector. Nurturing and maintaining productive client relationships is fundamental to the success of your construction business. This past December, the AGC membership acted to formally recognize the value of these relationships by amending the AGC bylaws to allow project owners to join AGC as non-voting members.

Here you will see an owner solicitation document that details many aspects of what we anticipate will generate strong member interest. Recently, we have seen interest from local governments, state agencies, development firms, and even tribal governments. Your board of directors has stepped up to acknowledge this demand by proposing the bylaws amendment and further directing the eventual creation of a Construction Services Round Table Forum where ideas and information can be cultivated and freely exchanged.

The pace of change in the construction industry can be both awe-inspiring and frightening. If we are to thrive through disruptive times, we must better understand client needs and how to best deliver the quality, performance, and safety standards the client expects. Conversely, project owners are eager to learn and understand the opportunities, dynamics, and limitations that shape construction markets and how contractors adapt and react to those market and policy forces.

We look forward to the successful rollout of this new membership category and to the eventual announcement of the Round Table. If you happen to see a familiar owner at an upcoming AGC of Minnesota event or program, please welcome them to the association and to our brand of Trusted Resource professionals.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS

Worker Safety and Underground Utility Legislation Advances to House and Senate Floor for Final Vote

The Legislative Session is in its final weeks, which means both chambers are working to advance their policy and finance packages. Among the policy priorities is AGC-supported legislation to improve worker and public safety by increasing communication and collaboration to locate underground utilities properly and effectively.

The negotiated proposal (page 63-70) was included in final transportation policy conference committee report. House author of the underground utility bill, Representative Larry Kraft (DFL-St. Louis Park), has worked closely with AGC and dozens of interested groups and individuals throughout the legislative session to reach agreement on changes to 216D, the excavation notice system statute. The final language represents a collaborative product based on conversations with the MN Office of Pipeline Safety, utilities and service providers, partner construction associations, Gopher State One Call, local governments, MN Department of Transportation, and local companies. A conference committee of three House representatives and three Senators was formed to negotiate a deal in the area of transportation policy and they agreed to include the utility locating provisions.

AGC submitted a letter of support to the committee and provided an overview to the conference committee prior to the inclusion of the language in their report.

What would the legislation do?

Safety is the number one goal of this legislation. The proposal improves underground utility locating, enhances project communication, and prioritizes worker and public safety during road and building construction projects. Modernizing the law now is vital as the state prepares for the wave of projects over the next several years following recent state and federal infrastructure investments, including significant broadband infrastructure deployment.

Current state statute is based on outdated technology and processes for marking and mapping underground infrastructure. There haven’t been significant updates to Chapter 216D in almost 40 years. While our AGC contractor members are the ones directly digging into the ground, this legislation would impact every Minnesotan.

As AGC members are acutely aware, missing or inaccurate utility location marks can cause significant project delays during the excavation process as well as serious safety risks. According to the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council, there were more than 2,200 unintentional hits to underground utility infrastructure in 2021. The legislation would improve the quality of mapped underground utilities by leveraging geospatial technology that didn’t exist when the statutes were written.

The proposed legislation also improves information sharing amongst all parties involved in a construction project. Those changes include updated timelines for completing utility locates, applying requirements for pre-design, pre-construction, and on-site meets, and implementing statewide tracking of unintentional hits and the accuracy of utility marks.

What’s next?

The committee report reflects the final language for the House and the Senate to vote on before being sent to the Governor for his signature. A conference committee report cannot be amended on the floor. The report received unanimous support from the six conferees, which included Democrats and Republicans. If the House and the Senate vote to accept and approve the report, the legislation will be sent to the Governor for his consideration to sign into law.

Bonding/CaP investment next week

In case you forgot, this is supposed to be a bonding year at the Capitol. Governor Walz released his $982 million list of recommendations in January, the Senate has held a few committee meetings, and the House committee has met twice a week since the beginning of session. Finally, we will see the legislative proposals when the House committee releases their bill on Sunday and the Senate releases their version on Tuesday. Rumors around the Capitol suggest that Republicans are pushing for a bill around $850 million while Democrats would like to pass a bill closer to $980 million.

Remember, a bonding bill requires a three-fifths majority to pass, meaning at least 11 House Republicans would need to join all 70 House Democrats to pass a bill; and in the Senate at least seven Republicans would need to join all 34 Democrats to pass a bonding bill.

The MN Legislature must adjourn before or on May 20. There are several pieces of legislation related to construction this session. Join the AGC Legislative Committee to learn more in depth. They will meet on May 2. Email Laura Ziegler to join the conversation.

Feedback Requested: Proposed Changes to Buy America Requirements

The Federal Highway Administration Notice of Proposed Rule Makin g (NRRM) and the Request for Information (RFI) has been posted. The proposed rule would discontinue the general waiver of Buy America requirements for manufactured products. The current general waiver has been in existence since 1983. MNDOT has requested feedback from AGC contractors. Buy America requirements are addressed in MnDOT’s special provision under (1601), with manufactured products exempt due to the existing general waiver.

Please email Laura Ziegler by May 7 for inclusion in comments to MNDOT.

Event: Legislative Funding for Infrastructure 101

Wednesday, May 1

The Minnesota Transportation Alliance, MnIA, ASCE, APWA-MN, WTS, ACEC, AGC, MAPA, MUCA, MN County Engineers and City Engineers Association and other organizations are banding together to educate our members on the various funding options, as well as the legislative process, so we can collectively take action to help our industry to secure state funding. We need people who are interested in learning how they can become a better advocate for the transportation industry and putting those skills into action.

RSVP for Briefing to: margaret@transportationalliance.com

AGC members- Please copy Laura Ziegler at lziegler@agcmn.org

10:00-11:15 am - AGC Conference Room (525 Park St., Suite 110 | St. Paul 55103)

Briefing on transportation and infrastructure funding

We will walk through the various transportation funding sources and the status of funding options for the 2024 Session. We will also provide talking points, key messages and assistance in talking with your local legislators.

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Quick One-on-One Conversations with legislators at the Capitol

We will all head over to the Capitol to ask legislators to talk with us briefly about the importance of getting a capital bonding bill passed this session.

LABOR & LEGAL NEWS

Labor Wage Allocations

We are finalizing our Master Wage Allocations spreadsheets and will be posting them here over the next couple of days as we receive final information from the trades.

These spreadsheets uniformize the numbers among the trades, including spelling out the gross versus net wage, numbers to submit for your prevailing wage survey, showing the WWP commitment (to help you verify that you and more. With a little feedback from members, this year’s sheet hopefully makes the sheet more helpful and clear.

If you are an AGC member and do not have access to the above web page, please contact Renee for login credentials.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

AGC of Minnesota welcomes the following new members:

UFP Site Built

700 East First Street

Minneota, MN 56264

UFP Site Build supplies wood trusses and prefab walls for multifamily and light commercial construction.

Huot Construction and Services

120 Bridgepoint Way, Suite A

So. Saint Paul, MN 55055

Huot Construction & Services specializes in multi housing units, healthcare facilities, industrial spaces, office and retail buildings, government contracts. Huot Construction is a disabled veteran-owned company.

Sompo

725 South Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Sompo is a surety provider.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION (DEI) NEWS

Presentation at MSU Mankato

This week Yolanda McIntosh addressed Mental Health & Suicide Prevention (MHSP) to a class of Construction Management students at MSU-Mankato, focusing on resources, lived experience, and warning signs.

Would you like a presentation on MHSP for your employees? AGC members can contact Yolanda for more information.

GENERAL NEWS

AGC is hiring a Professional Education and Industry Outreach Programs Director

The Director of Professional Education and Outreach Programs will focus on building and supporting AGC of Minnesota’s curriculum of professional development and education programs, managing the AGC Foundation, and supporting the scholarship program and related outreach activities.

The position requires creativity, high emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, problem solving and organization skills, initiative, and the ability to inspire. The Director will be a self-starter, expected to understand the construction market, needs of students and instructors, and opportunities for students to develop in the industry; to seize opportunities to build meaningful education programs; and to create and maintain education and industry solutions to further industry and student development.

Job description and application details here.

AGC Online 2024 Directory

AGC's 2024 Member Directory is available online.

You can always search for AGC members and the work they do by visiting our website, which is always updated and current. Contractor members can be searched by CSI code, and affiliate members can be searched by scope of work.

If you would like to change any of the information shown on your company's profile, Renee would be happy to make edits for you.

AGC-MnDOT Alternative Procurement Committee Meeting Set

The spring committee meeting is scheduled for May 3rd at 8:30 AM. Please email Laura Ziegler if you would like to learn more about the committee’s work or would like to participate.

Weekly Toolbox Talks for AGC Members

Are you using all of your AGC member benefits? AGC members get a discount on weekly safety talks (available in English and Spanish).

Each week includes a new topic, complete with quizzes and answer keys, and subscribers have access to the extensive library of previous safety talks.

Learn more here, and contact Renee with any questions.

$2 million in funding now available to support sustainable building & material efforts in Minnesota

As a part of the materials management and solid waste grants funding allocated by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023, the MPCA is now accepting applications for projects that focus on sustainable building and materials management strategies that reduce waste and increase deconstruction, salvage, and reuse.

The EPA estimates that approximately 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris are generated in the United States annually, which is more than twice the amount of generated mixed municipal solid waste. In addition, the resources and energy needed to manufacture new building materials is incredibly high and there is also significant pollution and waste generated throughout that production. Extending the life of existing structures and reusing building materials rather than producing new reduces both waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

More information to help applicants submit proposals can be found on the sustainable building & materials management grants webpage. You'll also find details for accessing an online information session being held on Wednesday, May 22 at 3 p.m. to assist applicants through the grant application process. Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. CT on Thursday, June 20, 2024 through the SWIFT Supplier Portal.

Optimize Your Growing Business with Aftermarket Services

While technologies such as advanced positioning and imaging solutions sound intriguing, they also sound complicated. For professionals who want to improve consistency and communication, where do they begin? It may sound counterintuitive, but technology solutions start and end with people. Contractors say RDO’s service delivers the answers to your phone, tablet or machine every time. Read more.

Founded in 1968, RDO Equipment Co. sells and supports intelligently connected agriculture, construction, environmental, irrigation, positioning, and surveying equipment from leading manufacturers. With more than 80 locations across the U.S., we deliver creative solutions so our customers can grow and build the world.

Full-summer overweight permits start April 26 in the North-Central frost zone

MnDOT will start full-summer overweight permits in the North-Central frost zone on Friday, April 26, at 12:01 am.

Full-summer overweight permits have already started in the South, Central and Southeast frost zones.

Full-summer overweight permits have already started in the South and Southeast frost zones. Seasonal load limit (frost) zones and restricted routes can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Start and end dates and other load limit information are shown at mndot.gov/loadlimits.

Federal Reserve Spring Construction Survey

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis needs your input on current conditions in the construction sector and at your company.

Please take this short survey to help the Fed better understand business conditions at your company and across the sector.

Why respond? A couple of reasons:

It provides real-time information to Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari for FOMC meetings (where the Fed decides interest rates and other monetary policy).
It provides real-time information to our partner organizations like AGC.

All responses are anonymous. To maintain anonymity, please do not include any self-identifying information in comments. If you receive this survey from multiple partners, please respond once.

Your input is greatly valued, and the Minneapolis Fed appreciates your time and insights on these important matters.

Help AGC and HCSS Improve Highway Work Zone Safety

Each year AGC of America conducts a survey of members involved in construction work on or near highways to evaluate the state of work zone safety. AGC will use the information collected from this survey as the main focus of a media and public education campaign to get the message out that drivers need to slow down and be more careful in work zones.

To do that, AGC wants to collect information on the number, severity, impacts and potential solutions to highway work zone crashes. They also want to know if you feel that current work zone laws, and enforcement efforts, are effective in the states where you operate.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Friday, May 10. This will give enough time to analyze the results and release the results and safety messages to the media and broader public in advance of Memorial Day and the traditional start of the summer driving season.

Please do not hesitate to contact Brian Turmail with any questions, comments or concerns about this survey and the plans to use it to promote highway work zone safety.

Scholarship Application Closes May 17

The application form for 2024-2025 AGC of Minnesota Foundation scholarships is open until May 17, 2024. Please share with any young people pursuing a degree in the construction industry!

EVENTS & NETWORKING

Expand the Toolbox: Reinventing our Construction Workforce Through Technology Advancements

Join us next Thursday, May 2 at Knutson Construction for an exciting event exploring the cutting-edge technologies evolving the construction industry! This event will host industry experts that will discuss the latest technological trends and innovations that are shaping the future of construction.

Contractors and Education - If you are looking to incorporate new technology into your business or update your workforce with the latest skills and knowledge, this event is perfect for you! We will cover a wide range of topics, from digital tools and software to advanced equipment that are changing the way we build.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders, participate in interactive panel discussion, and even experience live demos of the newest construction technology equipment in action.

Learn more and Register

CERT Connect Open House for ALL Small Businesses

Join many departments within Ramsey County, as well as city partners and the U of M, on Thursday, May 9 (8:00-10:30 a.m.) at the Maplewood Community Center for an opportunity for small businesses to have deliberate, worthwhile conversations with county staff who are directly involved in construction!

Learn more and Register