Join large project owners, leaders from top building construction firms, design professionals and other stakeholders at the AGC IPD and Lean Construction Building Conference in San Antonio, Texas, September 21-24, 2011 at the Westin La Cantera Resort.

By Thomas J. Kelleher, Jr., Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP In 2006 Congress added Section 3402(t) to the IRS Code (26 CFR Part 31).  That section provides that the Government of the United States, every State, every political subdivision thereof, and every instrumentality of the foregoing (including multi-State agencies) making any payment to any person providing any property or services on a public project (including any payment made in connection with a public program) shall withhold 3% from all payments as a guard against possible business tax evasion. 

President Obama signed H.R. 4 into law, a bill supported by AGC that repeals the 1099 reporting requirement that would have required all businesses to submit Form 1099s to the IRS and to any business with which it purchased $600 or more in goods or services in a year, creating a tremendous paperwork and compliance burden for businesses of all sizes. 

AGC's Specialty News is focused on informing AGC specialty contractor members of Specialty Contractors Council activities, important industry issues that affect your business, and market trends. 

Specialty contractors from across the country attended the AGC of America 92nd Annual Convention this week in Las Vegas.  The Specialty Contractors Council (SCC) Executive Committee met to discuss future initiatives and the SCC sponsored a session and reception on March 22.

The General Services Administration was assigned $5.5 billion worth of construction projects under the Recovery Act – of that, more than a half billion dollars has been saved and is set to be redistributed to other very necessary federal projects.

The leading indicator of nonresidential construction activity, the U.S. architecture billings released by the American Institute of Architects, was up more than 2 points in December, taking the reading from 52.0 to 54.2. Any reading over 50 is said to indicate expansion 9 to 12 months in the future.

Join your colleagues March 21-25, 2011 in Las Vegas for AGC of America's 92nd Annual Convention.  AGC’s Annual Convention delivers the working knowledge contractors need to improve operations, expand into new markets and build their business. 

Based on the Construction State Law Matrix, AGC has updated maps showing which states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, permit Construction Management At-Risk (i.e. CMAR, CM At-Risk, CM@R, CM/GC, GC/CM, CMc) under state law for vertical and horizontal construction projects.  Click here to view this free resource.

Originally written in 1999, a task force of AGC members updated and completed the AGC Guide to Construction Financing-Second Edition (PDF).  This 26-page publication clearly explains the construction financing process and points out some of the opportunities and pitfalls for the contractor. It is intended to serve a reference to get contractors thinking about the risks associated with project financing.