AGC Maine Press Releases
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August 21, 2008
AGC Maine Honors Bill Purington
Maine Drilling and Blasting Chief Receives Major Achievements in Construction Award
AUGUSTA- William Purington, President and CEO of Maine Drilling and Blasting in Gardiner has been awarded the 2008 Major Achievements in Construction Award. The award is presented annually to a person in the construction industry who has unselfishly contributed his or her time, energy, and talent to Maine's construction industry and the Associated General Contractors of Maine. Purintgon is the 33rd to be recognized with this prestigious award.
The award was presented in Bar Harbor by AGC Maine Vice President Mark Bancroft. In his remarks, Bancroft commented that Bill Purington’s management expertise had enabled the company to double in size every 4-5 years since the early 90's, covering the northeastern United States. Today, Gardiner-based Maine Drilling and Blasting is one of the largest companies of its type in North America. In his remarks while accepting the award, Purington thanked AGC Maine and credited his family members and employees for maintaining a high standard of performance and for their continued focus on excellence. “We have a great team at Maine Drilling and Blasting” Purington said, adding that “each member has contributed to the company’s success.” Bancroft said the Major Achievements in Construction is the AGC's most prestigious award and that the tradition is best illustrated by the caliber of its past recipients – starting with Bud Cianchette, in 1975. Other MAC Award winners include Jerry Haynes, Ralph Knowlton, Herbert E. Sargent, Al Bancroft, Phil Grondin, Jack Kelley, Chuck Cianchette, John Bridge, Don Starr and last year’s winner, Ron MacQuinn.
Bill Purington’s stewardship and commitment to the construction industry extends beyond his family and company. Bill completed AGC of America’s Advanced Management Program in 1992. He then served on the AGC Board and was Chapter President in 1995. He has been recognized as the Maine Small Business Person of the Year, and received the Kennebec Valley’s President’s Award in 1999. Purington currently serves on the Board of Directors at Bangor Savings Bank and Thomas College.
About MD&B Maine Drilling & Blasting, recognized as a leader in the industry and a long-term contributor to the local community, offers drilling and blasting services to the construction and quarry markets, along with a variety of specialty services throughout the Northeastern United States, including rock bolting, hoe ramming, engineering, public relations, preblast surveys and packaged and bulk distribution. In addition to the corporate office in Gardiner, Maine, Maine Drilling & Blasting has offices in New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. About AGC
Chartered in 1951, Associated General Contractors of Maine, (AGC Maine) is the state chapter of The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). AGC Maine is dedicated to ensuring a sound and healthy construction industry, and providing the public with an assurance of the skill, responsibility and integrity that AGC-member firms are known for. The company has 275 member companies in the General, Specialty and Sub Contractors and Service / Supplier divisions.
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August 1, 2008
CONTRACTORS URGE AMERICA TO INCREASE TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT
Maine Facing $54 Million in Transportation Funding Shortfalls if Congress Fails to Invest
Augusta, Maine—The nation continues to face an infrastructure funding crisis, one year after the tragic collapse of the I-35 W bridge in Minneapolis, Minn. States are increasingly unable to address pressing transportation needs as construction materials costs continue to rise and without any corresponding state or national funding increases. The problem could be made worse next year when the U.S. DOT may be forced to slash highway funds to states by a minimum of 34 percent because revenue into the federal Highway Trust Fund is not adequate to sustain the program.
2008 Chapter President Loren Clarke of Nickerson-O'Day said that state legislature has made a significant commitment to bridges and highway reconstruction, however, the federal effort hasn't kept up. "MaineDOT has says we have a $2 billion funding deficit over the next decade here in Maine and I believe them. This is the time for our delegation in Washington to act. The states cant do it alone" he said. In 2007, the U.S. Congress provided an additional one-time boost of $1 billion for states to address bridge needs, which translated into about $8 million for Maine. Estimates show that the problems are much more far-reaching – with many states facing budgetary crises and implementing cutbacks in transportation investment – and that the entire national system still needs an infusion of $65 billion to repair or replace the significant number of bridges that are fifty years or older. On Monday, AASHTO released a report saying that 20 percent of our nation’s bridges are more than 50 years old. With an average age of 43 years old, it will cost $140 billion to repair and modernize the nation's 600,000 bridges.
“In Maine, that translates into a $54 million cut in funding,” said John O'Dea, Executive Director (acting), AGC of Maine. “Couple that with the news from our DOT that 817 bridges in Maine are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and it is obvious that we have reached a crisis stage. We cannot wait any longer to tackle our growing infrastructure needs."
State Transportation budgets are also struggling to deal with the rising prices of construction materials – asphalt has more than doubled since the beginning of 2008, with increases of as much as 40 percent announced in many regions since July 1 bringing the price in Maine to as much $750 / ton; on-highway diesel fuel costs have risen 68 percent in the past 12 months; reinforcing steel (rebar) has roughly doubled since the beginning of 2008; and the price of construction plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and plastic fencing and moisture barriers, have risen 10-25 percent since early 2008.
Chartered in 1951, Associated General Contractors of Maine is the state's largest construction industry trade association. The Association maintains an office in Augusta and has 275 members statewide. Member companies include general contractors, sub-contractors, and service & supply providers. For more information, visit www.agcmaine.org ###
January 21, 2007
Loren Clarke Installed as 2008 AGC Maine President AUGUSTA, Maine - Loren Clarke, senior vice president of Bangor-based contracting firm Nickerson & O'Day, Inc. has been named 2008 President of Associated Constructors of Maine. In remarks to 275 attendees at AGC Maine's 57th Annual Meeting in Portland, Clarke stated that the Association's primary function is to give a voice to the people who work in the construction industry.
"AGC's responsibility goes well beyond our member companies. It also includes the lives of our employees and their families. We need to ensure that they are heard" Clarke said. He added that AGC has the resources to get the job done. "Now is the time for the construction industry to stand up for a strong Maine economy" he added.
Clarke has been an active AGC member for several years and has participated in numerous committees, task forces and the AGC Maine Board of Directors. During his one-year term as AGC President, Clarke will be supported by an executive committee comprised of Senior Vice President Mark Bancroft of Bancroft Contracting Corporation (South Paris); Vice President Art Dudley of Arthur C. Dudley Contractor / Builder (Standish); Treasurer Ken Grondin of R.J. Grondin & Sons (Gorham); and a 30-member Board of Directors representing all facets of Maine's construction industry.
Chartered in 1951, AGC Maine is the state chapter of The Associated General Contractors of America and represents the interests of more than 270 construction firms and related businesses throughout Maine. The not-for-profit trade association is dedicated to ensuring a healthy construction industry and providing the public with an assurance of the skill, responsibility and integrity of ACM-member firms.
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