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This 5th Annual Lean Summit is jointly presented by the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), Lean Construction Institute (LCI), and Associated General Contractors of America (�鶹��ý).  This event will be held June 11, 2014 in St. Charles, Mo. The Summit will explore why and how owners can use Lean Construction to improve the delivery of their capital projects.  This is a great opportunity to learn and network with individuals interested in Lean Construction—owners, contractors, design professionals, and suppliers are all encouraged to join. 

Where can a construction industry professional learn the latest collaborative strategies and interact with high level leaders all in one place? At “AEC Collaboration 2014: Partnering, Opportunity, Risk & The Future”, the �鶹��ý of America Building Contractors Conference, Sept. 10-12, 2014, in Austin, Texas.

The Building and Federal and Heavy Construction Divisions have established a new task force to help �鶹��ý members learn more about underutilized and excess Federal facilities, an emerging industry issue.

Today, �鶹��ý celebrates Building Safety Month, along with other leaders of America’s design and construction industry, promoting resilience as the solution to making the nation’s aging infrastructure more safe and secure.  �鶹��ý and almost two dozen associations, representing 700,000 members, issued a joint statement on reliance at a special press conference and event on May 13 at the National Building Museum.  �鶹��ý  has included a session on how owners are incorporating resiliency into their plans during �鶹��ý’s 2014 Contractors Environmental Conference—on June 12-13, in Arlington, Va.  Visit www.agc.org/enviroconf2014 for more information.

The unemployment rate in construction dropped to the lowest April level in seven years as contractors added 32,000 workers to payrolls in April, bringing industry employment to 6.0 million, the highest level since June 2009, according to an analysis of new government data by �鶹��ý of America. Association officials warned that it is essential to revive and expand training opportunities before the industry runs short of workers.

Total construction spending remained in a holding pattern in March as strong gains in apartment construction and modest growth in homebuilding and private nonresidential activity offset falling public outlays, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by �鶹��ý of America. Association officials noted that the construction spending figures may get dramatically worse unless public officials act urgently to maintain federal highway funding.

The AIA-�鶹��ý Joint Committee met on March 27-28, 2014, in Houston, Texas. The Joint Committee is Co-Chaired by �鶹��ý member Dirk Elsperman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Tarlton Corporation in St. Louis, Mo.  The Committee discussed the status of pending federal legislation, the state of the construction market and how to strengthen the workforce and capitalize on the millennial generation.

Last week, �鶹��ý Building Division Chairman Rick Andritsch invited all �鶹��ý members to participate in our Committees, Forums and Councils. The BIMForum, Business Development Forum, Contract Documents Forum and Project Delivery Forum are looking for your involvement and ideas to keep up the good work that �鶹��ý does to promote a better industry for the professionals who build America’s future.

After starting out the year on a positive note, there was another minor increase in the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) last month. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending.

Construction employers added 19,000 workers to payrolls in March, bringing industry employment to the highest level since June 2009, while the industry’s unemployment rate dropped to the lowest March level in seven years, according to an analysis of new government data by �鶹��ý.