It has been a great privilege to serve as your 2021 AGC of Minnesota Board Chair. This past year has been filled with challenges that I am proud to say have been met head on. Our industry has managed to thrive and succeed through the uncertainties of a pandemic-influenced economy and large-scale global supply chain disruptions.

I am deeply proud of the work AGC has done to move our industry forward, keep the workforce safe, and deliver significant economic opportunity to the construction industry. In such challenging times, I hope each of you have come to recognize the true value of being an AGC member.

I would like to take a moment to highlight a few things that have brought value to your AGC membership over the past year:

I wish to personally thank the AGC staff. We are fortune to have such a quality staff that reflects the standard of excellence embedded in our 103-year history.

I hope you will all prioritize attending the 2022 Minnesota Construction Summit next month (January 11-12 at the St. Paul RiverCentre). This will be an important event for the entire industry, filled with quality education and the in-person networking that we’ve missed the past couple years.

Finally, thank you members and friends for a successful and exciting year as your Board Chair. It is my distinct honor to have served.

Jeff Carlson (Park Construction Company)

AGC of Minnesota Board Chair, 2021

A district court in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction that prevents the enforcement of the federal contractor mandate. This means that two federal district courts have enjoined the federal contractor mandate. Although too soon to characterize these cases as dominoes, we are watching the appeals and whether the federal vaccine mandates (both contractor and OSHA ETS) will take effect or be struck down.

AGC in conjunction with our sister association MCMCA have reached an agreement with the Operating Engineers Local 49 permitting contractors to enforce a vaccine mandate. The agreement recognizes the complexity and controversies a mandate creates for employees and contractors, and does its best to navigate the problems. A copy of the agreement is available here. We will be making available a to be bound form to accept this mandate agreement.  Also, AGC has provided guidance for contractors to comply with the confidential information and accommodation requirements a mandate implicates. The guidance is available here. 

View all of AGC of America's COVID Vaccine testimonial videos.

Access the COVID-19 Toolkit.

Futurist Jack Uldrich is one of our keynote speakers for the Summit. Listen to the latest episode of AGC's podcast "The Resource" for a conversation between Jack and AGC CEO Tim Worke on changes currently taking place in the industry, those coming, and the leadership skills necessary to navigate the future.

Thanks to everyone who joined us this past Tuesday at the Met Ballroom for our annual business meeting, where we thanked our outgoing Board of Directors members:

and welcomed the following incoming board members:

The latter of the two economic forecasts by the State was issued on Tuesday, which shows the largest budget surplus the state has ever seen at $7.7 billion. State legislators will use this and another forecast in February to guide their budget and policy decisions in a non-budget setting year. 2022 is largely seen as a bonding year, but the Legislature will discuss many other issues of how to spend or not spend the surplus dollars. Some of the surplus will automatically go towards the state’s budget reserve and the U.S. Bank Stadium Reserve fund. Stronger than expected consumer spending and corporate profits, and thus tax receipts, drove the surplus.

AGC of MN will be working in the upcoming session for the State to devote investment towards any necessary matching funds for the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in Congress. The historic surplus is a key opportunity for legislators to invest in vertical and horizontal construction. 

AGC and MnDOT have joint technical committees to discuss current and future issues in the respective technical areas. They meet once in the Spring and once in the Winter. All five technical committee meetings will take place in December via Zoom. Bituminous has already taken place.

If you are interested in joining one or more committees or have items for the agenda, please contact Laura Ziegler at lziegler@agcmn.org.

Monday, Dec. 13^th from 9 AM – 11:30 AM

Will also recognize 2019 and 2020 Bridge Award Winners

Monday, Dec. 13^th from 1:00-2:30

Tuesday, Dec. 14^th from 2:00-3:30 PM

Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 1:00-2:30 PM

Minnesota LECET, LIUNA MN & ND and the Laborers Training Center are hosting the LIUNA Career Fair tomorrow, Saturday Dec 11, 2021 from 10 AM - 1PM at the LTC in Lino Lakes.

UNION CONTRACTORS: You are welcome to attend and it is NOT TOO LATE to share this communication with interested candidates.

Did you know that the average life span of a bridge is 60 – 70 years? There are a number of ways to reach or exceed that average. Newer materials like high-performance concrete and epoxy/stainless steel rebars certainly improve the quality and longevity of a bridge. Learn more

By Paul Kivisto, P.E., Senior Structural Engineer, WSB

In October 2021, the Walz administration directed state agencies to determine if and how Minnesota should move forward with a Clean Fuel Standard.

MnDOT and the MDA are engaging stakeholders and listening to the public as a key part of that process. The state’s goals through this process including identifying action steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, create new jobs, attract new economic investments, and reduce air and water pollution in both urban and rural communities.

The public is invited to participate in one of two upcoming virtual sessions:

For more information and links, visit MnDOT’s website.

AGC has been busy over the past year working on behalf of our members and the industry in the areas of advocacy services, labor services, legal services, safety services, diversity, equity, and inclusion services, networking, education, and leadership development! Get all the details in our annual report.

As we continue to highlight the various AGC service offerings that bring value to our members, we focus today on the legal services AGC provides, including the In-House Counsel Forum, fair and balanced contracts, amicus briefs, and alternative dispute resolution (mediation/arbitration).

Check out the media kit

or contact Jennifer to create partnership customized to your needs.