For the second year in a row, children from western Pennsylvania celebrated National Careers in Construction Week with the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (CAWP) and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. The weeklong event, October 13-17, 2008, consisted of daily workshops utilizing CAWP-sponsored Build Up! Toolkits. Children visiting the museum had explored construction through multimedia presentations and hands-on activities, including building roads, bridges, and buildings to construct a model city in the workshop.  A front loader, provided by CAWP associate member Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co., greeted visitors entering the museum, allowing them to climb aboard and explore a piece of construction equipment firsthand.The week’s activities began with a visit from Bob Gibson, Heavy/Highway Training Coordinator for the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program.  Gibson gave children at the museum an opportunity to learn about how our roads, highways and bridges are constructed by showing them the role of carpenters in building and maintaining our infrastructure.  He helped to conduct an interactive session with the children using Build Up! Tuesday morning’s workshop included a visit from Crane Instructor Jim Haitz of the Western Pennsylvania Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship Program.  Children visiting the museum could put on a hardhat and operate a toy crane to pick up and move a cardboard beam into place, illustrating the use of cranes and the role of operators in heavy and highway construction.Throughout the week, CAWP contractor and associate members served as construction industry ambassadors by participating in the activities, which highlighted the importance of safety and education to the construction industry.  CAWP members participating included CAWP President Jack Gulisek, Jr., of John Gulisek Construction Company, CAWP Education Committee Chair John Maffeo, Jr., of Trumbull Corporation, and CAWP Education Committee member Jim Weaver of Jeff Zell Consultants.  CAWP Director of Industry Relations Jason Koss, who also took part in the activities, said, “Through the use of Build Up! toolkits, children can learn how to build bridges and buildings by engaging in a hands-on project, which reinforces skills such as math and science, and promotes future careers in construction.”AGC of America again sponsored its very successful Festival of the Building Arts at the National Building Museum as part of the Careers in Construction Week.National Careers in Construction Week is a nationwide campaign, sponsored by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), designed to increase public awareness of the hard work and contributions of our nation’s craft professionals and emphasizes the role construction industry partners play in helping youths and adults achieve career success.CAWP’s collaboration with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh for Careers in Construction Week was a fun and interactive way to help introduce the region’s future workforce to the vital role of the construction industry.  Above: Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania        President Jack Gulisek teaches some young visitors to the        Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh about construction

Applications for the 2009 ConstructMyFuture Scholarships for high school students planning to study a construction-related career are being accepted until February 3, 2009. The ConstructMyFuture Scholarships and web site are jointly sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of America, the Association for Equipment Manufacturers and the Associated Equipment Distributors.Last year, the program awarded $1,000 scholarships to students studying heavy equipment operation, diesel mechanics and hydraulics, and construction management.The ConstructMyFuture scholarship program is open to students and construction industry professionals and can be used for higher education or can be applied to the purchase price of tools by those already working in the construction industry.In 2009 ConstructMyFuture.com is offering an additional seven $1,000 scholarships, sponsored by: Kobelco Cranes, North America, Inc.High school students and construction industry professionals are encouraged to visit: http://www.ConstructMyFuture.com to apply for the scholarship.

Thanks to Shelco, Inc., the Georgia Branch, AGC, and the Oregon-Columbia Chapter, which all sponsored Build Up! kits for Boys & Girls Clubs in their respective states last week.Shelco is sending two kits to Raleigh, the Georgia chapter is sending two to Atlanta, and the Oregon-Columbia chapter answered the call for the only request in its state.AGC still has outstanding requests for hundreds of kits from clubs around the nation. Please visit our interactive map to see if there’s a club in your area looking for kits.All potential sponsors have to do is click on their state to find out which communities have requested kits, and how many kits each community seeks. A hot link will allow you to email Liz Elvin, AGC Director of Workforce Development, to inform her of your desire to sponsor kits. Liz will then send you the club’s mailing address. Sponsors can then go to our online bookstore: www.agc.org/bookstore and order kits to be shipped either directly to the club or to themselves for personal delivery.Boys & Girls Clubs serve nearly 5 million youths from more than 4,000, primarily inner-city, clubhouses.Each kit costs $199 plus shipping and would be shipped directly to the requesting club or to your firm if you’d like to deliver the kit in person. Additionally, AGC will send to the club a letter telling the club the name of the sponsoring AGC member or chapter.

The OBC Academy for Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE), a public charter school in Portland, Oregon, opened its doors for the 2008-2009 school year and is currently serving its first junior class of 142 students. ACE is the result of a partnership between the Oregon Building Congress - the school-to-career arm for the construction industry in Oregon and southwestern Washington – and four local school districts.ACE is a shared-time program for high school students that is comprised of learners from the sponsoring school districts, neighboring high schools and home schools. ACE offers a math, science, English and technical skills curriculum in the design-build industry delivered in an integrated, hands-on setting. Industry partnerships are integral to students’ experiences at ACE.The ACE Academy has the capacity to enroll 250 juniors for the 2008-2009 school year and 500 juniors and seniors for the 2009-2010 school year. All students who have completed the requirements for entrance into grade 11 are eligible to apply for admission to the school.Faced with the cuts in public school programs and the rising demand for workers at all levels, and based upon OBC’s own involvement in educational programs for both teachers and students, OBC decided to take a serious look at opening its own charter school several years ago. Its board gave the go-ahead in the spring of 2006 to submit a proposal to the state of Oregon. This proposal was approved in May 2006. OBC partnered with four school districts as well as more than fifty industry partners to turn ACE from dream to reality.ACE, which is housed in the Willamette Carpenters Training Center, utilizes the training facilities of the Carpenters, the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center, the Northwest College of Construction, and the HVAC & Metals Institute. ACE receives support from many others in the industry, including Oregon-Columbia Chapter AGC and many of its members.Students graduating from ACE will be prepared to go directly to work, an apprenticeship program, or a two- or four-year college.AGC of America plans to hold its next Construction Career Academy Workshop in April 2009 in Portland, Oregon in order to showcase this new academy. Please keep watch in this newsletter for registration information.

 AGC of America awarded the AGC Student Chapter Service Award to Iowa State University in recognition of continued service to their community and a positive reflection on the construction industry. “This special recognition of Iowa State is well deserved for their long-time service and dedication to the communities still struggling in Katrina-devastated areas,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, Chief Executive Officer of AGC.  “We are proud to recognize these students for their remarkable commitment to public service.”This is the first year AGC has given this prestigious award, recognizing Iowa State University’s continued dedication to rebuilding the Mississippi Coast following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  Iowa State students have spent their last three spring break vacations restoring homes, lives and communities.  The students have elevated their commitment to civic participation and inspired others to do the same.The AGC Outstanding Student Chapter Contest recognizes the top three student chapters for their dedication to community and public service projects.  Student chapters have been in existence for more than 75 years, and exist to encourage and support student interest in the professional construction industry.  AGC of America in conjunction with AGC's local chapters support over 150 student chapters nationwide.  The first place winner of the 2008 Outstanding Student Chapter Contest was Boise State University; Arizona State University took second place; and Southeast Community College took third.

Submission Deadline: May 1, 2009Paul Flentge, Chairman of the Supervisory Training Committee, and Ed Proefke, Jr., Chairman of the Workforce Development Committee, announced the new AGC Education Excellence Awards at the 2nd Annual Training & Development Program.The new program will recognize the most innovative and collaborative training and development programs sponsored by AGC Chapters and contractor members during the 2008 and 2009 calendar years.An AGC Chapter and contractor member firm will be awarded in each of three categories: Craft, Supervisory, and Project & Executive Management. One award will be given to the outstanding Instructor of the Year. A Grand Award will be presented to a firm or Chapter that demonstrates learning and performance as a top concern, reaching the highest level of excellence for construction training and development programs at all levels of the organization.EEAs are open to all AGC general and specialty contractor members in good standing, AGC Chapters and individuals employed by these organizations. Non-members may not apply.  Electronic submissions and all supporting material must be received by AGC by 5 p.m. EST on May 1, 2009. For more information, visit here .Applicants will be judged on the type of program and the major elements of the program, including targeted job functions; enrolled individuals; history of the program; tools, programs and materials used; and demonstrated improved performance, productivity, and success.The first awards will be presented at the 3rd Annual Training & Development Conference, to be held Oct. 27-29 in Atlanta, Georgia.

OSHA is working on a new confined space standard for construction and the proposed standard will be a significant change in the way contractors have worked in confined spaces in the past. With the proposed construction rule a major change in the industry, the Associated General Contractors of Northwest Ohio developed a mobile confined space simulator to conduct employee trainings.  This simulator allows employees to receive hands on training with all of the equipment commonly used in a confined space entry and also teaches would-be rescuers how to perform needed rescues. OSHA requires that employees receive training in the ability to recognize and avoid hazards associated with confined spaces. Typical training on confined spaces is often given in a classroom and doesn’t offer hands on training.  The simulator was developed from a need to teach students not only the OSHA requirements for working in confined spaces but to also allow them the ability to use all of the typical equipment hands on. “This is a very unique opportunity for training in OSHA’s Region V and the surrounding areas. Where else will a company come to your location, with this type of a setup and train your workers,” states Scott Goodwin, Director of Safety and Training for the AGC. Hands on training to educate workers about the hazards of confined spaces is critical to ensure they know how, why and when to use the equipment correctly.“Most businesses never perform hands on training like this,” says Doug Crowell, Ballville Township Fire Chief. “We used this simulator to train our firemen on how to enter confined spaces safely and perform rescues.” With an estimated two-thirds of all rescuers becoming victims themselves, training is an essential tool for survival. It isn’t always feasible to send workers to an out of town training center but with the confined space simulator that problem was solved, it comes to you. With the simulator students can practice in a safe and controlled setting thus reducing the costs significantly. This simulator is a great tool for everyone to receive hands on training. Factories, construction, manufacturing facilities, industrial sites, municipalities and fire departments can all benefit. For more information call Scott Goodwin at (419)241-3601, email him at sgoodwin@cccouncil.com or click on http://www.confinedspacetrainingservices.com.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the AGC Education & Research Foundation are committed to supporting research and other programs deemed beneficial to the advancement of the construction industry. AGC and the Foundation and are soliciting proposals for the 2009 William A. Klinger Memorial Award.

AGC has made it easier for Chapters and members to determine if a Boys & Girls Club in their community is looking for Build Up! kits by creating an interactive map on our web site.

What is the Price of Time on a Construction Project? - A ConsensusDOCS Webinar November 6, 2008 at 2:00-3:30 pm ET Attendees of will learn project management best practices regarding delay on a project.  An experienced construction professional will provide proven techniques to determine and minimize costs associated with time delays.