". . . a ship is a building that floats. A
bomber is a building that flies. Construction
organizations as units can be used in stepping up
production of both." (AGC executive board
resolution, about mid-1943)
1934: President Roosevelt approves the new construction industry code, drafted with input from thousands of AGC members.
1931: AGC releases its “Forward America”
plan to increase construction work
during the Great Depression.
1930: AGC spearheads the creation
of the Construction League of America,
which holds conferences and issues reports
on broad construction industry issues.
1941-1945: AGC pledges its “wholehearted cooperation”
to President Roosevelt in mobilizing its resources to fight World
War II. AGC members support the war effort on all
types of projects, from building airstrips and troop housing
to shipbuilding and factory construction.
1938: The number of AGC members
now exceeds the number prior to the
start of the Great Depression.
1929 - 1945
“. . . understand the forces of
technological change and manage the change
so that it contributes to productivity and profits
for the construction industry, and progress for the
nation.” (Former AGC President M. Clare Miller, 1967)
1956: The government awards the first
batch of contracts to general contractors,
including AGC firms, to build the interstate
highway system.
1950: AGC reaches the 5,000 member mark.
1947: The federal government removes
all wartime construction restrictions, allowing
AGC members to build freely for the first
time in six years.
1958: AGC creates the H. B. Alexander Award for the
member with the most accident-free man-hours each year.
1954: AGC forms the AGC Education
Committee to coordinate efforts among colleges
and universities to create specialized curricula.
1947 - 1958
1968: AGC founds the AGC Education and
Research Foundation, which uses scholarships
to boost interest in the construction field
and provide opportunities for education.
"The business community can
change the membership and ideology of
Congress by selective political action.”
(AGC Chairman Ben Hogan, 1980)
1962: AGC holds its first Federal Contracts
Conference to address the growing complexity
of federal construction contracts.
1959: The construction industry reaches
15 consecutive years of growth. In response,
AGC doubles its national staff.
1976: President Gerald Ford receives AGC’s “Construction
Man of the Year” award. Ford vetoed a bill on secondary
boycotting (also known as “common situs”) that AGC had
argued would lead to more strikes, higher
costs, and a spike in unemployment.
1974: The AGC Legislative Network forms,
connecting each member of Congress with his
or her own contractor or “action man.”
1959 - 1976
1982: President Reagan signs the Surface
Transportation Assistance Act. AGC successfully
lobbied to include a five cent per gallon gas tax increase
that provided an additional $5 billion for infrastructure
projects.
“Become the organization of
choice for those associated with the
construction industry” (AGC Strategic
Plan mission statement, 1995)
1978: AGC creates the AGC Political Action
Committee, making the construction industry
just as influential as other major economic sectors
like the healthcare and energy industries.
1977: AGC initiates National Associate
Membership, opening up the association
to distributors, suppliers, and other
members of the industry.
1995: AGC releases its first strategic plan, which
addresses a range of industry issues spanning from labor relations
to technological improvement.
1991: AGC promotes “Partnering,” a management
technique designed to improve outcomes by
creating working relationships and resolving
disputes before projects begin. The Marvin
M. Black Partnering Excellence Awards are given
to projects epitomizing Partnering principles.
1977 - 1995
2007: ConsensusDOCs goes live.
“Just as the Associated General Contractors of
America has played a critical role in ensuring
the success of the construction industry during the past
100 years, we will be there to help contractors of all
types and size succeed for the next century.”
(Art Daniel, AGC of America president, 2017–2018,
and Eddie Stewart, AGC of America president, 2018–2019)
2000: AGC releases its “Platform for Building
America.” The platform covered issues like
infrastructure, taxes, regulations, labor relations,
safety, the environment, and workforce
development.
1996: AGC launches its first website.
2010: AGC Charities Inc. organizes its first
Operation Opening Doors (now Autodesk
Operation Opening Doors) charity project in
conjunction with the association’s
Orlando convention and renovates the homes
of local veterans.
2009: AGC releases its Construction Industry
Recovery Plan, identifying measures federal,
state, and local officials should take to improve
demand for construction and help the economy.
1996 - 2010
2018: AGC celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2015: AGC offers Certificate of Management
—Lean Construction, a certificate that proves
knowledge and understanding of lean
adoption, practice, and process.
2011: AGC launches the Certificate of
Management—Building Information
Modeling, an assessment-based credential that
shows knowledge and understanding of BIM.
2016: AGC’s board votes to amend national
bylaws, giving all members equal status.
2011 - 2018
