Master Builders of Iowa

AGC of America staff has reported that an interim rule was issued that brings many of the reporting requirements first made public in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the broader scope of federal contracting. The rule calls for reporting executive compensation and first-tier subcontract awards if the prime contractor and its subcontractors meet certain thresholds. It is based on the same point of law, the amended Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (a product of then-Senator Obama and Senator Tom Coburn [R-Okla.]).

One year ago, MBI was able to pass a law that we thought at the time would provide clarity to a process by which paper plans would be distributed to prospective bidders at no charge.  This had been a time-honored policy that worked well for architects, engineers, contractors, public owners and most importantly…the Iowa taxpayer.

Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for the AGC of America recently issued a press release showing construction spending has rebounded strongly in April, with an increase of 2.7 percent or $23 billion from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $869 billion.  Mr. Simonson noted that the gains were primarily driven by private residential construction (up 4.4 percent) and public construction (up 2.4 percent), but that private nonresidential also increased significantly (up 1.7 percent).
To see the entire release, CLICK HERE.

AGC of America’s economist, Ken Simonson reports that there has been some growth in the construction employment numbers.  29 states saw increases in construction jobs.  Iowa, however, stayed even from the previous month.  To see the entire press release, please CLICK HERE.

During the 2009 legislative session, $118.5 million was appropriated to the I-JOBS program for disaster relief in which recipients were identified through a process set forth by the I-JOBS Board.  For the 2010 session, the grant application criteria has evolved into smart planning parameters as determining factors for the additional $30 million in funding.  As part of the final agreement on the expansion of the I-JOBS program, the legislature agreed to require as a part of future allocations that communities will need to follow “smart planning” concepts and the I-JOBS Board to score each grant request on a basis of various sustainability principles.