Construction employment expanded in two-thirds of all states in January as the industry showed signs of emerging from a six-year slump, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials cautioned however that the industry's recovery remains fragile and that current and looming federal budget cuts threaten to drag down construction employment in numerous states.

Opp Construction of Grand Forks, N.D. was named the nation’s safest construction company in 2012 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association, which oversees the Willis-sponsored Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 51 other companies were selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs.

Prices for construction materials jumped in February, driven by extreme increases in items used in new housing and nonresidential building renovations, according to an analysis of new federal figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the increased materials prices are hitting contractors struggling to recover from a years-long downturn in construction demand.

The construction industry added 48,000 jobs in February, the ninth consecutive month of job growth for the sector, as more people are working in construction than at any point in the last three and a half years, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Firestone-based Flatiron Construction Corp. was honored today for its efforts to build three much-needed footbridges in Nicaragua as part of the Bridges to Prosperity program. As a result, the construction firm was one of eight organizations nationwide to win the AGC in the Community Award from the charitable arm of the Associated General Contractors of America, AGC Charities, Inc.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) today announced the new officers who have been selected to lead the nation’s largest construction trade association. Paul Diederich, president of West Fargo, N.D.-based Industrial Builders, Inc., will serve as president; Alan Landes, president and COO of St. Joseph, Mo.-based Herzog Contracting Corp., will serve as senior vice president; Charles Greco, chairman of Houston, Texas-based Linbeck Group LLC, will serve as vice president; and Wm. Brian Burgett, president and CEO of Westerville, Ohio-based Kokosing Construction Co., Inc., will serve as treasurer. 

Jefferson Parish’s Huey P. Long Bridge widening project was the most significant construction project of 2012, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. As a result, the projects’ contractors, Massman Construction Co., Traylor Bros. and IHI Corporation, known as MTI, was the grand award winner while 16 other firms received the association’s Alliant Build America Award in other categories.

Arlington, Arizona’s Historic Gila River Bridge Rehabilitation project was one of the most successful construction partnerships of 2012, the Associated General Contractors of America announced today. As a result, the project’s contractor, Phoenix-based Haydon Building Corp. was one of only two firms to receive the association’s Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award.

Construction charity organization AGC Charities, Inc. began work this week on renovations to the main facility of a Palm Springs area group that supports children and adults with disabilities as part of its annual Operation Opening Doors event. Dozens of contractors are donating time, expertise and money to make a series of improvements to the headquarters of Angel View.

Construction spending snapped a nine-month string of monthly gains with a sharp decline in January but still rose from year-ago levels, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that “across-the-board” federal spending cuts known as sequestration, which took effect today, along with a possible shutdown of the federal government later this month, could hit construction harder than most sectors and dampen demand for needed projects.