Showing Up Matters

ne of the core values of AGC of Alaska is simple: we advocate.

Not just during legislative sessions. Not only when a project is delayed or funding is uncertain. Advocacy happens year-round because decisions made at the municipal, state, and national levels directly shape Alaska’s construction industry and the environment our members work in every day.

As we approach Alaska’s August 18 primary election, it is a good reminder that participation matters long before decisions are finalized. Construction professionals understand better than most that successful outcomes are shaped well before equipment reaches a jobsite.

Good projects require planning, coordination, communication, and steady involvement from start to finish. Civic engagement works the same way.

Municipal races matter.

State legislative races matter.

National elections matter.

The decisions made in those elections influence transportation funding, permitting, workforce policy, public infrastructure priorities, procurement rules, and the overall business climate across Alaska. Issues like government-mandated Project Labor Agreements, transportation funding, labor policy, environmental regulation, and resource development do not appear overnight. They are shaped over time by elected leaders and by the people willing to stay engaged in the process.

Past AGC presidents often reminded us that advocacy is not about politics alone—it is about stewardship. Stewardship of an industry that builds Alaska’s roads, schools, ports, pipelines, hospitals, and communities. Several former leaders emphasized that if contractors are not willing to participate in the public process, others will make decisions for our industry without understanding the realities of building in Alaska. That wisdom remains relevant today.

Over the past year, AGC members and staff have continued advocating on issues critical to Alaska construction, including contractor payment protections, workforce development, transportation priorities, labor policy, and infrastructure investment.

That work extends beyond Juneau. At the national level, Alaska benefits when leaders understand the realities of building in our state and advocate for long-term infrastructure and resource priorities.

Alaska’s congressional delegation has emphasized the importance of transportation infrastructure, military readiness, domestic energy development, and responsible resource investment—all issues directly tied to the strength and stability of Alaska’s construction industry. In an election year, those conversations carry even greater importance.

Past presidents also frequently spoke about the value of relationships—that progress in Alaska depends on people willing to sit down together, solve problems, and keep communication open even during disagreement. That spirit of collaboration remains one of AGC’s greatest strengths.

This year, AGC joined other statewide business organizations in supporting continued advancement of the Alaska LNG Project, recognizing its potential to strengthen energy security, support thousands of construction jobs, and create long-term economic opportunity across the state.

At the same time, AGC continues advocating for strategic investments in transportation, including improvements to Alaska Railroad infrastructure and freight mobility projects that strengthen supply chains, improve military readiness, and support economic growth statewide.

None of this happens without engagement.

AGC’s staff, Legislative Affairs Committee, Department of Defense and Department of Transportation steering committees, lobbyist, and members work hard to ensure Alaska’s construction industry has a respected voice at the table. But advocacy cannot belong only to committees and staff. It belongs to all of us.

Voting is one of the simplest and most important ways to participate. Staying informed matters. Attending local meetings matters. Building relationships with elected officials matters. The conversations that happen outside election season are often the ones that shape decisions when critical issues arise.

Past AGC presidents consistently reinforced another important truth: the construction industry succeeds when people show up consistently—not only during challenges, but when there is an opportunity to lead.

Alaska’s construction industry has always succeeded because people stepped forward—on jobsites, in communities, and in public service. That same “northern attitude” that helps us solve problems in the field should also guide how we engage as citizens and industry leaders.

The August 18 primary election is another opportunity to do exactly that.

AGC will continue to advocate, educate, and promote this industry with professionalism and persistence. I encourage every member to stay informed, stay engaged, and most importantly—show up.

Because participation builds more than projects. It helps build the future we will all work in together.