The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) has announced key deadlines for its 2019 scholarship, awards and recognition programs.
They include:
The Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program
Established in 1999, this first-of-its-kind scholarship fund provides post-high school financial assistance to the children of highway workers killed or permanently disabled on the job. More than 160 scholarships have been awarded to worthy students from 28 states to pursue undergraduate and graduate courses as well as technical training.
Application deadline: April 5.
The Globe Awards
The awards recognize private-sector firms and public-sector transportation agencies that do an outstanding job in protecting and/or enhancing the natural environment in the planning, design and construction of U.S. transportation infrastructure projects, or transportation construction-related product manufacturers and material suppliers that utilize exemplary environmental processes to protect or enhance the natural environment. Winners will be announced at a Foundation awards luncheon on May 14 in the Nation’s Capital.
Nomination deadline: April 8.
Transportation Development Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals or families from the public and private sectors who have made extraordinary contributions to U.S. transportation development over their lifetime and demonstrated exceptional leadership. Nominations are considered in two categories:
Nomination deadline: April 10.
Applications and nomination forms can be found at www.artbatdf.org. Please contact ARTBA’s Eileen Houlihan with questions: ehoulihan@artba.org.
Gather ’round for a bit of good news (and some not so good news)! Construction employment has climbed to an 11-year high. In January, the construction industry increased by 52,000 jobs and by 338,000 jobs (or 4.7 percent) over the past year.
According to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction spending also showed moderate increases in all major categories. Year-to-date spending rose by 3.9 percent for residential construction, 3.5 percent for private nonresidential construction and 7.0 percent for public construction.
“Even though the industry added employees at more than double the pace of the overall economy in the past year, the average workweek in construction reached an all-time high and unemployment in construction hit a series low, indicating that contractors would hire even more workers if they were available,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist.
Average weekly hours in the industry increased to 39.9 hours in January, the highest since the series began in 2006, the economist noted. Average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory employees, a series that dates back to 1947 and covers construction trades, set a record of 40.6 hours, Simonson added.
This accompanies a lower unemployment rate of 6.4 percent in January 2019 compared to 7.3 percent in January 2018.
“In a survey the association released in January, more contractors reported they expect the dollar volume of projects available to bid on to expand than to shrink in 2019 in each of 13 project categories,” reads AGCA’s announcement of the survey. “In addition, 79 percent of construction firms reported that they expect to add employees in 2019. However, nearly as many—78 percent—reported they were having trouble filling some positions and 68 percent said they expected that hiring would remain difficult or become harder.”
To resolve these issues, the association has urged government officials to strengthen career and technical education programs and facilitate immigration for workers with construction skills before a worker shortage stalls completion of needed infrastructure.
World of Asphalt and AGG1 are rapidly approaching, taking place Feb. 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Be sure to download the shows’ mobile app before you go.
The app will help attendees pre-plan their show, map out routes, and stay connected at the show.
Attendees can use the just-released show app to:
To download, search AGG1 or World of Asphalt in your app store. Synchronize with your online show planner agenda to keep track of your schedule and make changes on the go.
AsphaltPro has also put together a resource to help you identify which exhibitors to visit at the largest trade show floor in the event’s history.
The mobile app and (online show directory) also outline special show events, including:
Find details on the show app or online at www.worldofasphalt.com and www.agg1.org.
Don’t forget to add Booth 10126 to your travels so you can visit with your AsphaltPro staff.
