AGC’s career awareness legislation signed into law

In a victory for AGC, career-awareness legislation spearheaded by the association was signed into law by Gov. Inslee last week.  

The bill (SSB 5713) creates a matching grant program to bring awareness to careers in industries that are having a difficult time attracting new people to their industry such as construction. AGC worked with prime sponsor Sen. Guy Palumbo (D-Maltby) and allies from the Washington Hospitality Association and the Carpenters Union to pass the bill in the first year of its introduction -- an unusual achievement in Olympia.

Now AGC is working to get funding for the bill included in the state’s operating budget, still in the works during a special session of the Legislature.

AGC Past President Nancy Munro (MidMountain Contractors) and AGC Executive Vice President David D’Hondt twice travelled to Olympia to testify before the House and Senate Higher Education committees in support of the bill. They explained to legislators how the measure will bring awareness to people aged 19-29 of the excellent, family-wage career opportunities available to them. They also described what AGC and its members already do to recruit new people into the industry and the millions of dollars invested by the industry in workforce development.

For more information, contact AGC’s Government Affairs Associate Michele Willms, 360.352.5000.

Photo: From left, AGC’s Christine Brewer, David D’Hondt, Nancy Munro and Michele Willms join supporting legislators (from right) Sen. Lynda Wilson, Rep. Melanie Stambaugh and prime sponsor Sen. Guy Palumbo for Gov. Jay Inslee’s signing of SSB 5713.