BizBeat: Associated General Contractors merges chapters

The Jefferson City-based Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Missouri and St. Louis-based AGC of St. Louis chapters will merge to form Missouri's largest construction industry organization effective Jan. 1, 2015.

The new AGC of Missouri will be one of 93 AGC of America chapters nationwide that represent the interests of the construction industry and member construction firms. Those interests include professional development, safety, labor relations and advocacy services. The expanded AGC of Missouri will represent approximately 550 member firms in 110 Missouri counties and spread across 133 Missouri State House of Representatives districts and 29 Missouri Senate districts.

"Construction is a great job producer and a great way to grow the economy in the state. By its very nature, construction is very fragmented; it's very competitive," said Len Toenges, president of AGC of St. Louis who will serve as president of the merged organization, during a news conference Oct. 29.

"We've got thousands of construction companies, so the more we can get those construction companies in alignment to speak with a united voice, the more we can bring that component of our economic development into focus, the more we can create jobs, the more we can bring new funding to the state, the more we can bring new projects to the state."

Also during the news conference, Missouri State Sen. Mike Kehoe and Missouri Department of Transportation Director Dave Nichols spoke in favor of the merger's potential to enhance AGC of Missouri's relations with the state legislature and MoDOT.

"We want to send a clear message to state officials: we are ready to build," said Kyle Phillips, chairman of the former AGC of Missouri. "Our state's bridges and roads are sorely in need of repair and, in some cases, replacement; and we stand ready to join forces with our state's leaders to address the infrastructure needs of Missouri. Hopefully, we will be able to come together during the upcoming legislative session to find a way to solve transportation and safety challenges in our state."

The original AGC of Missouri was established in 1925, and the AGC of St. Louis was founded in 1949. Both the Jefferson City and St. Louis offices will remain in operation with full-time staff.