In order to facilitate an ongoing dialogue about between the AGC members and chapter staff who are working with construction career academies and construction charter schools, AGC of America will host a conference call at 3 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

Due to the changing landscape in Federal Contracting, it is more important than ever that contractors -- those experienced in Federal work or those looking to move into the this market -- are aware of the ramifications of the new administration, rule and regulation updates, and the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on the Federal contracting process. This webinar series will provide an overview of the existing process and walk attendees through the evolution Federal contracting.

Join AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson or Senior Executive Director of Government and Public Affairs Jeff Shoaf and Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, to learn what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) means to your business and your local community. Get the latest updates on how dozens of federal and state agencies are moving on stimulus projects, and gain insight about the overall construction economy, construction funding and tax provisions in the stimulus package. Briefings will be held on the following dates: April 3 in San Diego, April 15 in Houston, April 22 in Chicago and April 24 in Atlanta. Simonson will present in San Diego, Houston and Atlanta, with Shoaf will present in Chicago. Click here for more information and to register.

STP Instructor Training WorkshopJune 4-5, Omaha, Neb.           This two-day workshop will prepare participants to conduct STP courses, get the most out of STP instructor materials and effectively teach adult learners. Whether you are interested in starting an STP program in your area or looking to provide an improved STP experience, this interactive workshop will provide the information, tools and techniques you need to successfully facilitate your programs. Learn more www.agc.org/STPITW.

AGC's new national education program was launched last week and met with much interest and excitement by its first students. AGC of DC offered the course on April 7 in Arlington, Va.BIM 101 was developed by AGC in conjunction with the leading BIM practitioners, technology firms and educators, and is designed to serve construction professionals, building developers, owners, managers, architects, engineers and construction product manufacturers.  BIM will make it easier for construction firms to lower costs and speed construction work by taking advantage of virtual design and construction technology.  The first-of-its-kind educational program is designed to give construction professionals a broad understanding of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process.BIM 101: An Introduction to Building Information Modeling, is the first of six planned courses in the BIM Education Program series. The series is designed specifically for construction professionals eager to learn the essential concepts of BIM. The course instruction is supported by real-world case studies and is designed to serve as a foundation for advanced courses.The courses can be taken at any of the association's 95 chapters, in addition to a range of construction firms and educational institutions.For more information about BIM 101 or for a listing of sites offering the class, please visit www.agc.org/BIMEP or contact Amy Fields, Senior Director of Curriculum and Program Development at curriculum@agc.org.

Do you have a conference, workshop or other type of educational learning event for which you need complete contract document samples?  ConsensusDOCS can help!

AGC members and chapters who are looking for the next generation of workers are encouraged to connect with their state and local workforce investment boards to provide summer jobs for youth.The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $1.2 billion for youth activities through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  While states will have until June 30, 2011, to spend WIA Youth Recovery Act funds, they are strongly encouraged to “use as much of these funds as possible to operate expanded summer youth employment opportunities during the summer of 2009.”The Recovery Act changes the WIA so that workforce investment boards may engage in direct contracts with institutions of higher education, such as community colleges or other eligible training providers, to offer classes. Additionally, the age eligibility for youth under the Recovery Act funds is increased from 21 to 24 years old.According to a Workforce3 One webinar held on March 24, 2009, for the summer youth program there is only one indicator of effectiveness to measure: work readiness. Programs would have to establish a methodology for determining work readiness skills, including but not limited to: worksite supervisor evaluations, work readiness skill checklists administered by program staff or portfolio assessments.Employers participating in these programs will be reimbursed for the cost of the summer employees’ salaries.Summer employment is defined as any set of allowable WIA Youth services that occur between May 1 and September 30, as long as it includes a work experience component.  In addition to providing “meaningful work experience,” summer youth programs should:      • Make an effort to match worksites with participants’ interests and goals;      • Structure the work experience to impart measureable communication, interpersonal, decision-making,      and learning skills in the workplace;      • Ensure work experience arrangements do not unfavorably impact current employees and do not      impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements;      • Identify regional and local environmental resources and businesses promoting green jobs and products      to provide youth summer work experiences that prepare them to compete in a green economy;      • Include introductory programs, such as pre-apprenticeship programs, and combine basic technical      skills training in the classroom with experience on the worksite or through a work experience      or internship;      • Integrate work experience activities with classroom-based learning activities where appropriate      so that the youth are provided with assistance in developing and refining attitudes, values,      and work habits which will contribute to their success in the workplace;      • Connect with employers and their individual state apprenticeship office to better determine how      best to coordinate a pre-apprenticeship or pre-employment training program; and      • Encouraged to focus services on the youth most in need including: out-of-school youth and those      most at risk of dropping out; youth offenders and those at risk of court involvement; children of      incarcerated parents; and Native American youth.Workforce3 One, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration, is an online communication and learning platform that contains the complete webinar, its transcript, and the accompanying Powerpoint presentation.To connect with your state’s workforce investment board, the National Association of State Workforce Chairs provides hot links to every state’s workforce investment board or council. The National Association of Workforce Boards Web site lists workforce investment boards by state, as well as grant opportunities.

Glenn Hillegas, executive vice president of the San Diego AGC Training and Trust and former principal of Stanley E. Foster Construction Tech Academy (CTA), was one of four speakers invited to Washington, D.C., recently to discuss San Diego’s high school reform initiative and the experiences of two of its small high schools.

Committee Chairman Ed Proefke Jr. decided to hold a virtual meeting in the hopes that it will allow greater participation by AGC members and chapter staff who interested in workforce development.

The Associated General Contractors of America – along with more than two dozen other associations, interest groups, and businesses – recently signed a letter to President Obama seeking an increase in funds for the program that supports career technical education (CTE). CTE, formerly known as vocation education or voc-ed, is funded at the federal level through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, funding for which has decreased over the past few years, even as enrollment nationwide has increased.