Building construction is a major contributor to employment and economic activity, in addition to producing structures that add to productivity and quality of life. In 2009, nonresidential building general and specialty trade contractors accounted for 3 million of the construction industry's 6 million employees. Construction of nonresidential buildings totaled roughly $400 billion, compared to $280 billion for nonbuilding construction and $260 billion for residential construction.

Hot Topics

Advocacy

AGC regularly engages with influential members of Congress and top officials with the federal agencies to implement AGC's legislative and regulatory agenda. View AGC's legislative and regulatory agenda for the 111th Congress here.

• Infrastructure Investment. AGC is advocating for expanded investment in our nation's infrastructure and for improvements in the construction of our nation's buildings.
• Tax Policy. AGC supports lowering the federal tax burden on individuals, construction companies, and other business as a means of promoting investment, business development, and business expansion.

Key Issues

• Lean Construction. Created in 2009, the AGC Lean Construction Forum is an inclusive and collaborative community that is open to anyone with an interest in lean construction processes. The Forum is focused on facilitating dialogue and information sharing through its website, agcleanforum.org, and developing a curriculum and learning opportunities on the use of Lean principles in the construction industry.

• Building Information Modeling. AGC is a leader in the promotion of Building Information Modeling (BIM). AGC's efforts are focused through the AGC BIMForum, which is a group of leaders throughout the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry who are working to facilitate and accelerate the adoption of BIM.

  AGC is also developing the BIM Education Program, a six-course curriculum program for delivery at AGC Chapters, individual construction firms and educational institutions. Learn more at www.agc.org/BIMEP.

• Green Construction. AGC is committed to promoting "green" construction practices that are reasonable, practical, and appropriately focused on their intended result. AGC's green construction curriculum, Building to LEED® for New Construction, provides an overview of the LEED-NC rating system with a focus on the means and methods of construction, preparing construction professionals to work on a LEED project. This course is available for delivery at AGC Chapters, individual construction firms and educational institutions. AGC has a wealth of information on green construction and other environmental issues.
• Contract Documents. AGC actively endorses the industry endorsed ConsensusDOCS standard contracts, which fairly allocate risk among all parties on a project.
• Project Delivery. AGC has information about all types of construction project delivery including case studies, educational programs, research, publications, articles, and presentations.
• Construction Marketing. AGC's construction marketing resources include publications, products, a peer network, and a knowledge source that are offered to help increase the profits and visibility of construction firms.

Presentations

• June 2010 AGC Building Contractors Conference
• January 2010 AGC Building Contractors Conference
• June 2009 AGC Building Contractors Conference
• January 2009 AGC Building Contractors Conference
• June 2008 Building Division Meeting
• January 2008 Building Division Meeting