ver the past year Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska staff, Legislative Affairs Committee members, governing board, and lobbyist have worked diligently with our members to advocate for priority legislation and policies at the state and local level, working with elected officials to ensure contractors had a voice in decisions impacting the industry. AGC remains committed to delivering the industry’s message, loud and clear. To that end, AGC:

• Wrote letters in support of a fair and predictable process on projects such as Willow, Alaska LNG, the Pebble Project, and Ambler Road;
• Worked with other businesses and resource advocacy groups to clarify the process and implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act;
• Hosted US House of Representatives and Alaska Governor forums with other business and resource advocacy groups to provide information to our members in a busy election year;
• Supported state legislation to increase Alaska’s motor fuel tax, create more comprehensive workers’ compensation laws, and promote craft careers and trade school opportunities;
• Followed and provided feedback on the administration’s second proposed General Obligation Bond package;
• Submitted comment, in conjunction with other business and resource advocacy organizations, related to Alaska’s fiscal challenges;
• Partnered with Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to provide feedback through an industry/agency working group to facilitate a smooth implementation of the Construction Manager/General Contractor legislation passed in 2021.

See how AGC of America has advocated for our members and kept members and chapters informed over the past year:

• AGC of America released quarterly Construction Inflation Alerts. These documents are intended to help chapters and members explain to owners, government officials, and others what is happening and what all parties can do to minimize the damage related to unprecedented increases in materials costs, supply-chain bottlenecks, and a tight labor market.
• Build America, Buy America Pushback: AGC submitted a letter in opposition to Build America/Buy America Act expansion requirements and hasty implementation of the program. These increased mandates have the potential to further challenge material lead times, complicate bid competitiveness, and add pressure on project budgets.
• Federal Gas Tax suspension opposition: AGC and its members opposed the proposed suspension of the federal gas tax. Gas tax revenues help pay for transportation construction projects across the nation and keep many construction companies in business, workers on the job, and the economy growing. Americans and the construction industry need real relief, not a gimmick that only saves them about $2 per week or $25 over the full suspension and could add $10 billion to the national debt.
• AGC opposes government-mandated PLA Rule: AGC submitted extensive comments opposing a federal government-mandated project labor agreement, or PLA, proposed rule, which will require every federal prime contractor and subcontractor to engage in negotiation or agree to PLAs on federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more, with limited exceptions.
• Oppose expansion of federal jurisdiction over Waters of the United States and wetlands.
• Member discount programs: AGC partners with trusted companies like FedEx, Home Depot, Michelin, ConsensusDocs, and more to ensure our members receive the best savings possible as they continually grow their businesses.

• Online Plans: As of December 1, AGC listed more than 2,500 jobs to our Online Plans site, making our members among the first to know about new jobs and projects out for bid across the state of Alaska. In 2022 AGC member firms were awarded more than $981 million in projects solicited in our Online Plans system.
• New AGC Retirement website: In 2022 the Northwest AGC Chapters Retirement Plan launched a new member-facing website for our plan. The AGC Retirement Plan offers cost-effective, low- maintenance 401(k) programs to construction companies of all sizes. In 2022, twenty-eight Alaska-based AGC members contributed thousands of dollars towards their employees’ retirements.
• Political Action Committee Fund: In 2022 AGC raised $50,000 from our annual Political Action Committee raffle and contributed $17,500 in an election year toward legislative candidates who support the construction industry in Alaska.
• Labor relations: In 2022 AGC strengthened our labor relations efforts by hiring a labor relations director to elevate our effectiveness and be more proactive when issues arise, as well as support members who participate in collective bargaining.
• AGC Safety Database is now powered by Procore. Access to this database is a free benefit for all AGC members, which houses up-to-date safety plans, templates, and additional safety-related material for on-site safety protocols. This material is intended to serve as a guideline for members to build their own comprehensive safety programs.

• Bluebeam Baseline Series: a new three-course series designed to help contractors maximize their return on investment by ensuring teams are up to speed on essential features and tools within the Bluebeam platform. The consecutive, three-course series consists of Baseline Basics; Material Takeoffs and Estimates; and Advanced Material Takeoffs and Estimates.
• AGC EDGE virtual courses: Giving AGC members the competitive edge, these high-quality, virtually live trainings focus on increasing leadership and sustainability skills within the workforce. AGC’s four EDGE courses include Building Information Modeling; Lean Construction; Project Manager Development Program, or PMDP; and Construction Supervision Fundamentals.
• PMDP: AGC’s Project Manager Development Program is a five-course class covering the essentials of project management for emerging project managers and provides a solid foundation for long-term career development and takes participants through the management of the entire lifecycle of a construction project.
• Alaska Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead, or AK-CESCL, training: In 2022 AGC issued more than 400 CESCL certifications.
• Construction Quality Management for Contractors, or CQM-C, certification courses: Through a combination of in-person courses and a partnership with sister-chapter AGC-California, we were able to issue ninety CQM certifications to Alaska contractors.
• How to Write a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, or SWPPP: This one-day course is designed to supplement the AK-CESCL training by explaining how to properly produce and maintain a SWPPP in compliance with federal, state, and local storm water requirements.
• Scheduling in Oracle Primavera P6: This course discusses US Army Corps of Engineers contract requirements and how to successfully meet those requirements using Primavera P6.

Employees of AGC member companies are eligible to receive discounted registration for all of the training events listed above and have discounted access to nationwide continuing education programs through our partnership with AGC of America.

• In 2022 WeBuildAlaska.com was redesigned to serve as the hub for our workforce development efforts. The site is a one-stop shop for information about the various trades along with information and links to existing construction training apprenticeship programs throughout Alaska.
• AGC also launched a multi-faceted digital media campaign increasing awareness and interest of employment opportunities within Alaska’s construction industry. Through a series of targeted digital ads, the campaign focused on promoting careers in construction and directing users to the resources at WeBuildAlaska.com. During the campaign, we saw more than 12,000 users visit the site.

• Scholarships: In 2022 AGC awarded $20,000 to students across Alaska who are pursuing higher education in a construction-related field.
• Sponsorships: We support UAA-CM and UAF-AGC student clubs by providing monetary support for club participation in competitions that include Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, Starvation Gulch, Ice Arch, and the Associated Schools of Construction Regional competition.
• Internships: Through the Construction Leadership Council’s annual Speed Interviewing event, AGC successfully connected several UAA CM students with AGC contractors, resulting in summer internships or employment for the students. We plan to host a similar event with UAF this year.

Throughout 2022 AGC published four editions of our award-winning magazine, The Alaska Contractor, which featured profiles on longstanding AGC members, statewide project updates, columns on construction industry financial services, occupational health and safety, and legal and HR updates, along with expert advice and guidance related to the construction industry for state and federal agencies, private groups, and other trade organizations.

In February AGC and CIPF presented the 2022 Alaska Construction Spending Forecast to our membership, which highlighted the economic benefits of Alaska’s construction industry and provided our members with an informative review and estimate of construction activity in Alaska for the year ahead.

In March AGC partnered with the Department of Labor Civil Rights Office to virtually host the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, or DBE, Conference which saw participation from DBE Firms, small businesses, large prime and general contractors, construction managers, financial institutions, insurance providers, consultants, and small business advocates.

Throughout the 2022 legislative session, AGC ran a series of informative commercials on Gavel-to-Gavel to build awareness with lawmakers of the economic impact that Alaska’s construction industry has statewide.

• Lunch & Learns—topics included the positive benefits of mentorship, fall protection, OSHA partnerships, and cybersecurity.
• Member Mixers—AGC’s Membership Committee hosted Member Mixers in Anchorage, and our first Member Mixer in the Mat-Su Valley in more than four years!
• Spring Agency Day—Agency Day attendees listened to project updates from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, DOT&PF, the US Department of Defense, Alaska Railroad, Fairbanks-North Star Borough, UAF, and more.
• Safety Fair—In July AGC’s Safety Fair returned and brought members together for a family-oriented event introducing kids of all ages to the construction industry.
• Anchorage and Fairbanks Golf Tournaments—Our popular golf tournaments in Anchorage and Fairbanks sold out in record time with seventy-four teams participating between the two tournaments, providing invaluable networking opportunities for our contractors and suppliers.
• Chili Cook-Off—Chili Cook-Off attendees sampled more than ten chili recipes from member-chefs, with our winning member’s recipe featured at the Hotel Captain Cook during our Annual Conference.
• Annual Conference and Dinner Dance—AGC members, staff, and agency reps gathered for three days of project updates, professional development seminars, awards luncheons, and networking during the return of our highly anticipated annual conference. At the Dinner Dance Gala with a ‘20s speakeasy theme, we celebrated the successes of our industry. This year the prestigious AGC Hard Hat Award went to Kelly Layman of Marsh McLennan Agency for his contributions to the industry; Volunteer of the Year award to Aaron Bartel of B.C. Excavating; and Associate of the Year award to Parker, Smith & Feek.