Choate Construction Company Named Nation’s Safest Construction Company by AGC

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Choate Construction Company was recognized for having the nation’s best construction safety and wellness plan in 2021 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association, which oversees the WTW Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 46 other companies were also selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs. Choate Construction was judged and selected as the grand award winner from among 15 first-place winners across six occupational divisions. The firm developed and implemented exceptional safety and risk control program through continuous improvement and maintenance of its safety and health management … Read more

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Construction Jobs Exceed Pre-Pandemic Level in 18 States, D.C., Says AGC

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Only 18 states and the District of Columbia have added construction jobs since just before the start of the pandemic in February 2020 despite a pickup in most states from October to November, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said one reason employment is below pre-pandemic levels in many parts of the country is the lack of available workers to hire. “Construction activity has picked up in recent months but still has not reached the employment levels of early last year in most of the country during … Read more

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Most Infrastructure Categories Post Year-to-Date Declines Compared to 1st 8 Months of 2020, Reports AGC

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Total construction spending was flat between July and August, as a decrease in nonresidential projects offset continuing gains in residential construction, according to a new analysis of federal construction spending data the Associated General Contractors of America. Officials urged the House of Representatives to promptly approve the bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed in the Senate earlier this year, noting that spending on infrastructure in the first eight months of 2021 declined from year-earlier levels. “Nearly every nonresidential spending segment has deteriorated from already inadequate 2020 levels in the first two-thirds of this year,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. … Read more

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4 Ways to Overcome Project Setbacks, Challenges in Unpredictable Environments

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By Mark Hendricks The last year has reinforced that nothing is certain, and the unexpected should always be expected. Major storms, growing labor shortages, a canal blockage and a global pandemic were just a few of the many unpredictable events that have caused procurement interruptions, longer lead times and rising prices for most of the commonly used building materials. The inevitable slowdown put an uncomfortable spotlight on the construction industry’s heavy dependence on the global supply chain, as well as demonstrated how the shifting of just a few variables can cause major headaches. Delivery times for lumber orders, alone, have … Read more

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Association Reports Construction Spending Posts Small Increase, Coronavirus + Soaring Costs, Supply Disruptions Threaten Further Gains

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Total construction spending ticked up from June to July, as gains in residential and public construction offset a dip in private nonresidential projects, according to a new analysis of federal construction spending data the Associated General Contractors of America recently released. Officials noted, however, that challenges remain for the industry, particularly because of continuing problems with coronavirus flare-ups and supply-chain disruptions. “Although nonresidential construction is no longer in free fall, many categories face continuing challenges,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The rapid spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 is causing a pullback in re-openings and travel that … Read more

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