December 2023 eBulletin

I hope everyone is enjoying themselves during this holiday season, and as we wind down the year, I’ve been doing a bit of reflecting about some of the Advocating, Growing, and Connecting that AGCVA has done and continues to do on your behalf. 

This election season brought with it many significant changes to our state legislature. Between the redistricting process, the primary elections and a wave of retirements from longtime legislators, the General Assembly faced a loss of over 635 years of legislative experience as well as a turnover of at least 40 percent of the legislature even before the first ballot was cast. 

Each month, we recognize those celebrating 50 or more years, 40 years, 25 years, 10 years, and 5 years of membership. 

We applaud each of you for your commitment to AGCVA. 

By virtue of your membership, you have made the AGCVA community stronger and have shown tremendous leadership and dedication to the industry. We are proud to serve each of you, and we thank you for your membership in AGCVA. 

AGCVA members have been up to a lot in the last month!

We are thrilled to recognize these accomplishments and recognitions, and we encourage you to connect with your fellow members and extend your congratulations!

Please click the link below to help us thank our 2023 Annual Sponsors for the Piedmont, Roanoke, and Richmond Districts.

Machine learning, AI and physics-based models can accelerate net-zero efforts, providing a more than 100-fold increase in the pace and scale of decarbonization, the consulting firm says. 

There’s an alleged pattern among federal government initiatives that drives the construction industry crazy. Lawmakers will set a priority for the industry but refuse to put any money behind it. But with the Biden Administration recently allocating $2 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for 150 construction projects for the General Services Administration that make use of low-carbon construction materials, the government is putting its money where its mouth is, says Jordan Howard, who serves as counsel for federal construction and regulatory affairs at the Associated General Contractors of America. 

January 23 | 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Williams Mullen (Richmond)

Join us for Construction Day on the Hill, where you and other construction leaders will connect directly with state lawmakers who represent you. By taking part, you will help legislators understand the issues most important to your company and the industry.

The Department of Labor's (DOL) priority regarding funds withheld for violations of the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) is a key focus of discussion. It is clarified by the DOL that they have precedence over other claims to withhold funds, such as those from a contractor's surety, contracting agency, trustee, assignee, successor, or claims under the Prompt Payment Act. Wage and Hour emphasizes that withholding encompasses unpaid wages, monetary relief, and is broad in scope. Furthermore, the agency highlights that fund suspension may occur when a contractor fails to submit certified payroll or provide the required records. In the interest of clarity and precision, Wage and Hour introduces changes to the proposed rule, including edits to the withholding contract clauses and the addition of language specifying that fund suspension should continue until necessary funds are withheld.

Heidi Blanck, a professor of technology and occupational sciences at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, is describing the genesis of her Women in Construction program — a series of regional events she hosts a few times a year to introduce young women to careers in the construction industry. “I started this initiative really to provide an outlet for young women to explore careers in a low-commitment, high-impact way,” Blanck says. “Career exploration is the underlying theme. I started writing grant requests, then I started advertising the event; it was a lot of trial and error at first. The inaugural event was held in 2017, and they’ve been essentially sold out ever since.”

AGCVA is pleased to announce the addition of John Nichols to the Virginia BEST Review Board. John has been in the construction industry over 28 years, always holding a roll in safety. As the Director of Safety for W.M. Jordan Company (Peninsula District), he is responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring and training of W. M. Jordan Company’s health and safety program. John understands the necessary steps to keep a project’s construction operating safely, and his efforts firmly establish the safety and well-being of all workers as a core corporate value. These values are sure to make John an asset to this board and to the growing number of participants in the AGCVA Virginia BEST safety program.

“It brings me great satisfaction knowing that I helped make sure every man and woman made it home safely to their families after a day on the jobsite,” said John. “I also like knowing that our team was a part of something that has helped make people’s lives and our communities a better place.” — John Nichols

Construction occupations have the highest rates of death by suicide and drug overdose in the United States, and it’s increasing. It’s no secret that construction is a tough industry, built by hard-working laborers who put in long hours under tight deadlines in all kinds of working conditions, often while dealing with physical pain and injury. Topics like mental health and wellness aren’t normally a part of workplace conversations in a culture deeply ingrained with the ideals of picking yourself up by your bootstraps.