Contractors, Designers Meet with Top North Carolina Lawmakers--and Get Big Results

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Jun 26, 2014, 09:27 ET

RALEIGH, N.C., June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Carolinas AGC (CAGC) members and staff, along with representatives from AIA North Carolina, the Professional Engineers of North Carolina, and the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina, attended a joint NC Legislative Day recently to underscore the needs for public infrastructure funding. The theme, "The Cost of Doing Nothing," reflected the $1.4 billion per year price tag to run poorly maintained state and UNC facilities.

(View CAGC video featuring state and business leaders.)

According to the NC Recovery Coalition, which consists of the four construction and designer organizations, it costs 40 percent more to maintain facilities that are not properly repaired and renovated at a time when the state's facilities inventory is over $21 billion. And each $1 billion spent on design and construction creates or sustains 28,500 jobs. Click here to see a blueprint that attendees delivered to state lawmakers.

The momentum continues from the May 28 event. The North Carolina House unanimously approved on June 25 Senate-passed legislation which amended House Bill 1043. The bill calls for the formation of a blue-ribbon panel to make recommendations on new funding sources and needs for construction and design involving state agencies, the UNC System, community colleges and local school boards along with local governments' utility needs for water and wastewater infrastructure, through the year 2025. The legislation will result in multi-billion-dollar recommendations for the construction industry. H1043 is now up for consideration by NC Governor Pat McCrory.

Passage of this legislation involving badly needed infrastructure funding for building and utility construction has been a top goal for Carolinas AGC for more than a decade. Dave Simpson, CAGC's NC Governmental Relations/Building Director, said: "The work we have done in the NC General Assembly this year is the result of great teamwork—and not enough can be said about the excellent leadership of NC Rep. Dean Arp and Sen. Neal Hunt as well as our colleagues in the architecture and engineer associations to drive this bill through the House and Senate."

At the joint Legislative Day last month, presentations by CAGC lobbyists and others were made to NC Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest, House Speaker Thom Tillis, House Majority Whip Mike Hager, Rep. Dean Arp (sponsor of major construction and design legislation), and House GOP Freshman Leader Rick Catlin.

Simpson publicly thanked Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union) and Sen. Neal Hunt (R-Wake) for leading efforts on passage of this badly needed legislation, along with a great team effort by the NC Recovery Coalition.

For more information, contact CAGC lobbyists Dave Simpson ([email protected]), Berry Jenkins ([email protected]) or Allen Gray ([email protected]).

Carolinas AGC (CAGC) represents contractors and construction-related firms in North Carolina and South Carolina, and serves as a chapter of AGC of America and ARTBA. Together with its members, CAGC believes in advancing the construction industry to enhance the quality of life and deliver a sustainable difference in the Carolinas. Visit us at www.cagc.org, connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and join us July 30-Aug 3 in Charlotte for the Carolinas AGC Divisions' Conference and Construction Industry Summit!