The Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City (HCA) was founded in 1950 and consists of approximately 150 general contractors, specialty contractors, major suppliers, suppliers and affiliate members. Our members help build and maintain most of the region's critical infrastructure, including roads, highways, bridges and preparing sites for major commercial and public development, all with a commitment to making it better for you...
Gov. Parkinson Signs Transportation Bill
New Program Will Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs
In a move that promises to puts tens of thousands of Kansans to work, a beaming Gov. Mark Parkinson signed the state's recently passed $8.2 billion transportation bill on May 26.
"With the passage of this transportation bill, we will create jobs in the short term and the mid-term, and then create economic prosperity in the long term," Parkinson said at a signing ceremony at the Kansas Speedway.
The Heavies - proud members of the Greater KC, KCK, Overland Park and Olathe Chambers - support 14 Chambers' Push for Kansas Tax Increase to fund essential infrastructure and services.
View the letter from the 14 Chambers here:
Putting KC's promises under the microscope
With long-promised capital improvements again threatened by political thimble-rigging and budget shifts, the local construction industry has enacted a campaign to "Stop the Nonsense at City Hall."
HCA Executive Director Ed DeSoignie noted that, for many years, the HCA has supported Kansas City sales tax efforts dedicated to funding capital improvements. "We are extremely concerned that voter-approved capital improvement dollars are being diverted from their intended use to boost up the city budget. As a major supporter of the sales tax campaign in 2007, our credibility with the public is on the line and we take it very seriously."
"Unless our elected officials at City Hall reverse these self-destructive moves," said DeSoignie, "the people of Kansas City will be left with more broken promises, streets, bridges and sidewalks that will continue to crumble, as men and women in construction continue to be without work."
An independent study known as the CIC (Community Infrastructure Committee) report made clear that Kansas City should spend at least $150 million on deferred maintenance. The city has never reached that level of commitment, but in the past has made concerted efforts to attain that goal.
This year's budget provides only $42 million for deferred maintenance, an amount that falls far short of meeting the stated needs and past capital improvement campaign promises. Kansas City's acting city manager has recommended that funding for deferred maintenance be cut to $35 million in next year's budget. And that number could go even lower if $8 million is used for bond payments under the Mayor's "Schools First" proposal.
"These actions not only damage the credibility of our industry, they undermine the public trust," said DeSoignie. "We are asking all Kansas City, Missouri residents to contact the mayor and city council and tell them to stop raiding the capital improvements sales tax fund and live up to the commitment they made to voters to spend capital improvement sales tax dollars on capital projects as well as increase the deferred maintenance budget - not cut it. Only then can we start making things better again in Kansas City."
Veteran labor executive, Bridgette Williams, to become Deputy Director of Heavy Constructors Association
The Heavy Constructors Association (HCA) of Greater Kansas City, which
advocates for transportation infrastructure and safety improvements on
behalf of the area's road and bridge builders, announced today that
labor leader Bridgette Williams will become part of its management team
beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
Williams, who has led Kansas City's AFL-CIO as
President of the chapter for the last 15 years, will serve as Deputy
Director of the association. The HCA represents union contractors that
build and maintain most of the private and public infrastructure in the
area, including city streets, interstate highways, bridges, airports
and water and sewer systems.
During her tenure with AFL-CIO, Williams helped
boost participation by organized labor in major infrastructure and
landmark construction projects in the area. As the first female and
first African American to be elected President of a chapter of the
AFL-CIO, she spearheaded policy changes aimed at providing more
opportunities for minorities and women in construction.
As an organization committed to improving the safety
and quality of life of everyone who lives and works in this community,
we feel very fortunate to have Bridgette Williams join our team," said
Heavy Constructors Executive Director Edward DeSoignie. "She brings a
wealth of experience, talent, perspective and respect in the Greater
Kansas City business and labor communities that will only make this
organization stronger and more effective for our members."
DeSoignie said Williams in her new role with the
Heavy Constructors will focus on management/labor initiatives and
governmental and community relations. Efforts in 2010 will include
working with federal, state and local governments to find funding
solutions for critical transportation infrastructure needs.
"Pulling out of a recession starts with economic
development, and economic development starts with construction," said
Williams. "Construction is the one productive, good-paying American
industry, with good benefits, that hasn't been outsourced. We must, and
will do everything possible to keep families working."
For instance, DeSoignie said he and Williams will
work with Kansas City to improve the city's construction project
delivery system, in order to get already-funded, backlogged street,
bridge, water and sewer improvement projects off the shelf so people
can get work.
The Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas
City was founded in 1950 and has approximately 155 contractor and
affiliate members who construct and supply materials for most of the
area's major transportation infrastructure projects.
The face of economic recovery
Heavy construction supports thousands of families
With America's infrastructure and economy at a critical juncture, the people who create that infrastructure have launched a campaign to raise public awareness of the jobs they do.
You already may have seen the billboards, emblazoned with the faces of "heavy constructors." These are the faces of the people who make it possible for commuters to get to their jobs, and for food and other essential goods to be delivered where needed. They're the ones who don vests and hard hats, braving the elements as they crank up powerful pieces of equipment. They're laborers, operators, mechanics, truck drivers, masons, flaggers and crew supervisors - hard-working folks with good-paying jobs. They build our highways, streets, bridges, sewers and water systems.