Evidence is mounting rapidly as to the damage from the pandemic to the economy and construction. “Economic activity contracted sharply and abruptly across all regions in the United States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Federal Reserve reported on Wednesday in the latest “Beige Book,” a summary of informal surveys of businesses in the 12 Fed districts from late February to April 5. (Districts are referenced by the names of their headquarters cities.) Comments relevant to construction included the following. Boston: “steep declines in [commercial] construction activity.” New York: “Businesses in construction…noted declines in their selling prices…New construction starts have essentially fallen to zero, and ongoing construction projects have paused, except where considered essential.” Philadelphia: “Philadelphia's commercial real estate construction fell 70% by the end of March—some contractors have no projects.

It has been a while, but we're back to filming! On today's Words with Wayne, get an update on the upcoming primary election and the latest on COVID-19.

Be sure to check the Idaho AGC website for the latest COVID-19 information and to see our full calendar of upcoming training and events.

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), the managing and operating contractor for the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho, is seeking an Expression of Interest (EOI) from industry stakeholders interested in forming a partnership to develop and/or demonstrate advanced construction technologies and processes that would be transformative in nuclear energy system project economics and schedule success. This effort would be executed as an initiative of the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC). The scope of such a Partnership could include, but not be limited to, the development and/or demonstration of advanced construction technologies and processes that would substantially reduce the cost and schedule risk of new nuclear plant construction as well as long-term economics of nuclear deployment on a global scale.

The Idaho Department of Commerce and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture would like your feedback on impacts to your business due to COVID-19.

AGC of America has launched a new website to communicate how the construction industry is keeping its workers safe during the pandemic.  workingsafe.agc.org not only informs the public about how uniquely suited the industry is to working with sophisticated and ever-changing safety plans in place, it also provides resources to the industry itself, including Marrillia Protocols for COVID-19 exposure, COVID-19 Recommended Practices, and a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.  Visit the site by clicking the button below.

workingsafe.agc.org

Increasing shares of contractors reported cancellations of upcoming projects, delays and disruptions to ongoing work, and layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic, based on AGC’s latest weekly online survey, conducted April 6-9.

Despite the ongoing “stay home” order, Idaho’s 2020 primary election is underway. All across the state, Idahoans are voting by mail ahead of the May 6 deadline. Here’s a list of candidate endorsed by the Idaho AGC. We encourage all members to share the list with their employees and business partners and encourage them to vote.

Association Survey Conducted This Week Suggests Industry’s Job Losses are Spreading Rapidly; Officials Call for Additional Federal Measures to Help Avoid Further Layoffs and Economic Pain

The fast-worsening covid-19 pandemic has triggered layoffs at more than a quarter of construction firms responding to an online survey released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The finding, based on responses from earlier this week, contrasts with the government’s monthly employment report for March, which found that construction employment declined by 29,000 as of mid-March.

April 7, 2020

Good evening AGC Members,

Good afternoon AGC Members,