AGC today announced the new officers who have been selected to lead the nation’s largest construction trade association.  Joseph Jarboe, senior vice president of Bethesda, M.D.-based Clark Construction Group, will serve as president; Paul Diederich, president of West Fargo, N.D.-based Industrial Builders, Inc., will serve as senior vice president; Alan Landes, president and COO of St. Joseph, Mo.-based Herzog Contracting Corp. will serve as vice president; and David Hanson, senior vice president of Detroit-based Walbridge, will serve as treasurer.“Our economy is hopefully on the rebound and exciting new technologies are changing the face of our industry,” said Jarboe, AGC’s new president. “By working together and building effective connections, we can ensure that the construction industry will help build a better future for America.”

Arlington’s Pentagon renovation project was the most significant construction projects of 2011, AGC announced today. As a result, the project’s contractor, Hensel Phelps Construction Co., was the grand award winner while 15 other firms received the association’s Alliant Build America Award in other categories.

The cost of construction materials accelerated dramatically in February after moderating for several months, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by AGC. As a result, construction firms will be forced to pay more for key materials even as demand for construction remains weak, AGC officials noted.

Dozens of volunteer contractors renovated the facility of a Honolulu-based charity group named HUGS that supports families with seriously ill children free-of-charge.  The renovation project was organized by the philanthropic organization AGC Charities, Inc., was the group's third annual Operation Opening Doors effort.

Bethesda-based Clark Construction Group was honored today for performing some of the construction industry’s best charitable work in 2011 for its efforts in helping communities impacted by the extensive construction work required through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.  As a result, the construction firm was one of 13 organizations nationwide to win the AGC in the Community Award from the charitable arm of the Associated General Contractors of America, AGC Charities, Inc.

This afternoon, the Senate passed their AGC supported, 2- year, $109 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) by a strong bipartisan vote of 74-22. Attention now is focused on the House of Representatives where Republican leaders have several options as to how they wish to proceed. The House has indicated if they do not have the votes to pass a reworked five-year bill that taking the Senate bill is an option. The House may also choose to pass a short term extension before the March 31st expiration of the current extension.  Please visit AGC's Legislative Action Center to send a letter to your Representative.

Vicksburg’s U.S. Route 60 at Vicksburg Road Roundabout was one of the most successful construction partnerships of 2011, AGC announced today.  As a result, the project’s contractor, Glendale-based Combs Construction Company, Inc., was one of only three projects to receive AGC’s Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award.

Construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between January 2011 and January 2012, while 20 states lost construction jobs and two held steady—the best net positive showing for state construction employment since 2007, according to an analysis by AGC of Labor Department data. Thirty-five states and D.C. added construction jobs between December 2011 and January, while 13 states had decreases for the month and two states had no change.

Construction spending inched down less than 0.1 percent in January, following a large upward revision in December and November, according to a new analysis of federal data released today by AGC. All forms of residential construction did well for the month and year-over-year, while private nonresidential spending was mixed and public construction declined amid continued congressional delays in passing a host of long-term infrastructure and tax measures.

Construction employment remains below peak levels in 329 out of 337 metro areas, according to a new analysis released today by AGC. Given the continued weakness in construction employment, AGC urged Congress to pass years-late infrastructure measures, including legislation to fund highway, transit and aviation construction work.“What makes these job losses even more frustrating is the fact that many of them could have been avoided,” said AGC’s chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr. “Thousands more construction workers would be employed today if Congress wasn’t years late in passing measures like the highway and transit bill.”Sandherr said that AGC is working with groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to push for passage of a new, fully-funded surface transportation bill as part of an effort called Make Transportation Job #1.To read the full press release, click here.View the new construction employment figures by state or by rank.