RI Assoc. General Contractors celebrates 85th anniversary

The R. I. Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (RIAGC) is celebrating its 85th year with a renewed focus on its leadership role in Rhode Island's commercial construction industry. The RIAGC promotes workforce development, safety, professional education, positive labor-contractor relations and the principles of skill, responsibility and integrity. The chapter, founded in 1923, recently moved into a new office suite (#102A) at 260 West Exchange St. Both general contractor and construction manager union-affiliated members and construction industry-related associate members - such as subcontractors, architects, engineers, banks, insurance companies and equipment manufacturers - comprise the organization. "We will devote our 85th year to strengthening our efforts in workforce development, safety and education as well as helping our members explore recent developments, such as building green," said Eric Anderson, RIAGC executive director. Among the organization's activities are its sponsorship of the Young Constructors Forum, a group formed to facilitate networking, professional development, the building of social relationships and the exchange of ideas among the mid-career construction professionals of RIAGC-member companies. The RIAGC safety committee is a group that provides professional networking opportunities for the safety professionals of member companies. It sponsors safety workshops and forums that include regional OSHA representatives and conducts safety inspections required for member companies to meet the requirements for certification under OSHA's Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) program. Recent RIAGC activities include work with BuildRI, a labor-management partnership organization, to provide a $250,000 grant from the union-supported RIAGC Industry Advancement Fund to help renovate office and classroom space that The Providence Plan is leasing for its YouthBuild Providence job training and education programs in the Olneyville Housing Corp.'s headquarters building in Providence. The RIAGC also works with the RIAGC student chapter at Roger Williams University. It has provided $10,000 grants in each of the last two years to the New England Laborers charter school in Cranston. In addition, the organization works with secondary schools, such as the Warwick and Chariho career and technical centers to accredit their residential carpentry programs to meet the uniform national standards developed by the National Center for Education and Research for the national AGC organization. RIAGC members also benefit from the career development, meetings, events and seminars offered by the national Associated General Contractors of American organization. The national AGC provides members access to standardized contract forms; information on construction markets, construction law, human resources and industry issues; and a voice in legislative and regulatory matters through its advocacy activities.