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AGC votes to act on Oregon construction lawsuit
Contractors across the nation may soon be following an Oregon legal dispute. The relatively complicated FountainCourt case began in 2007. The board of directors of the Associated General Contractors鈥� Oregon-Columbia chapter last week voted to take action on the Washington County lawsuit, saying it could have serious implications for the construction industry.
Contractors face risky climate of rising costs, low bids
Contracting companies are facing a risky situation as their costs continue to rise faster than the prices they charge for new construction. Oregon firms are adjusting their business plans to suit the weak economy, but overhead fees are shrinking and could lead to trouble down the road 鈥� especially if those fees are artificially low, as one regional executive contends.
Don’t get too excited, but prices for construction work rose in July
Both construction material costs and the amount contractors can charge for work increased in July. The Associated General Contractors' index for new construction (what contractors charge for new projects) rose 1.0-1.3 percent last month, the highest growth rate in two years in most cases, bringing hope to the sector that has been hit hard by federal budget cuts in public construction.
AGC-Oregon going ‘Back to the Future’ at annual conference
The Oregon-Columbia chapter of Associated General Contractors is going back to the future this year for its annual summer conference. The theme pays tribute to the construction players who weathered […]
Bad news for bridges and roads, jobs report finds
The construction industry took another existential hit today when an analysis of the latest national Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report by the Associated General Contractors of America showed that the industry lost yet more workers 鈥� 9,000 between May and June.
Lake Oswego project wins big in AGC competition
The Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer project was named winner of the Grand Award when the Aon Build America awards were handed out by AGC last week.
Q&A: Dee Burch, incoming president of Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter
Dee Burch, president of Advanced American Construction, is the new president of the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia chapter. In his term he hopes to foster business friendly bills in the Legislature, work with leadership to get the Columbia River Crossing project on track and help draw more young people into the construction trades.
Construction jobs drop as stimulus funds dry up
Nationally construction employment shed 16,000 jobs in December and the industry-wide unemployment rate grew to 20.7 percent. Across the United States, 5.6 million people work in the industry, a 27 percent decline since the peak in August 2006 of 7.7 million people.
Dee Burch to become new AGC chapter president
Dee Burch, president of Advanced American Construction, will become the new president of the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter starting on Jan. 14.
Construction materials costs rising rapidly
Prices for materials have grown rapidly over the past year, further complicating financial woes for contractors that have had to lowball bids to keep working during the recession.
Pacific Northwest construction could rebound quickly
Expect slow but steady growth in the Pacific Northwest construction sector over the next year, says Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors. Nationally, the group expects steady […]
Economist sees good signs for Oregon construction
While employment figures for Oregon's construction industry dropped 5 percent in the past year, there are some indications that the worst may finally be over.
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
