AGC Participates in Start Us Up Rally

Highway and Transportation Division Vice Chair Dean Word participated in a rally organized by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) to bring attention to the need for enactment of long term highway authorization legislation with increased funding levels to address national transportation needs and depression-like economic conditions in the construction industry. AEM and AED have held other "Start Us Up" rallies around the country, which included a parade of construction equipment intended to get media coverage. Word talked about the unprecedented high unemployment levels in the construction industry and AGC's most recent economic survey showing few contractors expect a construction turnaround in 2010.  Indeed, 88 percent of construction firms don't expect overall business conditions to improve until at least 2011.