Annually, AGC general and specialty contractors are responsible for approximately 40 percent of the volume of commercial construction work in the state of Oregon. AGC policies and programs reflect the consensus and guidance of industry leaders with widely diverse background: small and large business-owners, union and open shop contractors, woman- and minority-owned companies located throughout the region. AGC associates round out the perspective from the point of view of architects, engineers, financial and legal advisors, suppliers and other professionals familiar with the demands of the construction industry. Nationally, AGC represents more than 32,000 members.

Who is AGC?

The Associated General Contractors, Oregon-Columbia Chapter, is a full-service construction trade association serving Oregon and Southwest Washington since 1920.

• AGC provides services to open shop and union contractors, specialty contractors, and professional and industry associates.
   
• The local chapter has close to 1,100 members; the national chapter has over 32,000 members, including 8,000 general contractors.
  
• The local chapter has the third largest number of members of the 101 AGC chapters nationwide.
  
• AGC of America's 2002 Chapter of the Year 
  
• Construction employs more than 3.5 million Americans directly. In Oregon, construction is one of Oregon's strongest industries, providing 86,500 "family wage" jobs which average $800 per week in pay. More than 33,000 construction businesses are registered in Oregon based on information from the Contractors Board.
  
  
• The executive director of the Oregon-Columbia Chapter of AGC is Mike Salsgiver. The president of the local chapter in 2009 is Andrew Beyer, vice president Walsh Construction Company, Portland.

The Oregon-Columbia Chapter of AGC is committed to providing quality products and services to its members, as well as leadership on issues affecting the region.

• Services provided to members include innovative insurance programs, an award-winning safety and loss control program, and legislative and communication efforts on behalf of the industry.
  
  
• The Oregon-Columbia chapter provides educational opportunities, including management classes, supervisory training, craft (Operating Engineers, Laborers, Carpenters, Roofers and Painters) apprenticeship programs, and vocational education.
  
  
• AGC is the voice of construction concerning all phases of the industry, including support for minority and women-owned business enterprises, total quality management in construction, education and training, and opening public works projects to more private contracting.

Membership Profile

Building Our Future
The Associated General Contractors, Oregon-Columbia Chapter, has served as the voice and choice of the commercial construction industry in Oregon and Southwest Washington since 1920. With nearly 1,200 member companies, AGC is the only trade association representing the full range of commercial construction from industrial to building, from heavy highway to multi-family residential.

Delivering the Competitive Advantage
AGC offers a full array of services: innovative workers' compensation programs, health insurance and pension plans, lobbying on the local, state and federal levels; management training programs, safety training, labor relations; and human resources consulting.

AGC is working today to meet Oregon's future construction needs. Workforce development is a targeted priority - efforts are currently underway to assure a highly skilled, diverse workforce through support of apprenticeship and school-to-work programs. AGC has also joined with other regional partner to provide mentoring programs for emerging construction businesses with a special focus on minority and women-owned companies.

AGC membership to a large degree is made up of many small to mid-sized contractors.

This is how membership breaks out within the general and specialty contractor categories:

• 39% have annual revenues between $0 and $2 million
• 25% have annual revenues between $2 and $5 million
• 33% have annual revenues over $5 million

• 286 general contractors
• 449 specialty contractors
• 152 industry associates
• 117 professional associates
• 42 miscellaneous

AGC is an association hard at work in the community as your advocate; AGC supplies you with staff expertise you cannot usually afford to hire yourself; AGC offers educational programs which make your current workforce more productive and help you to grow a workforce for the future; and AGC sponsors programs which will give you a competitive advantage in the marketplace. You can't afford not to be a member!