COVID-19 Guidelines/Updates

More COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Guidelines and Updates COVID-19 Webinars & Podcasts COVID-19 Safety Resources COVID-19 Media

COVID-19 CAGC Member Facebook Discussion Group

Join the Facebook GroupCarolinas AGC has created a private Facebook group for members to discuss Coronavirus issues, share ideas, gain support, offer suggestions and generally be a part of an online community during these uncertain times. Please be sure to read our page guidelines and answer the two required yes/no questions before requesting to join the group.

Podcasts & Webinars

During this unprecedented crisis, Carolinas AGC, AGC of America and ARTBA are providing opportunities for getting operational and safety updates, guidelines for our workforce, and best practices for our industry. Webinars continue to be available, live and on-demand (for members). Carolinas AGC has launched a podcast as a way to get quick bite-sized best practices from experienced industry experts. Find available podcasts and webinars

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Financial Resources

To help members better understand and take advantage of the materials and information available to them, CAGC has compiled the following resources:

North Carolina Resources:

South Carolina Resources:

Coronavirus and SC Unemployment Insurance Benefits
A letter from the SC Governor regarding funds to help small business owners during this difficult time.
Governor McMaster has requested federal assistance for South Carolina small businesses from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The SBA expects to grant the Governor’s request as soon as today (March 18). As such, we want to share SBA’s guidance for how you can apply for a federal loan.

View the SBA’s full information sheet here.
SCDEW Resources:
Latest announcements on unemployment changes that should relieve burdens on employers and claimants.

Press Release: Employment and Workforce to waive the waiting week for South Carolinians seeking Unemployment Benefits due to COVID-19 as part of Executive Order
Press Release: Employment and Workforce waives the weekly search requirement for individuals who are unemployed due to COVID-19 and extends the tax deadline for employers
Press Release: Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data Week Ending March 21, 2020
Press Release: SCDEW pays millions in unemployment insurance and encourages individuals to file in anticipation of the additional $600 weekly payment to be made available under the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Coronavirus and SC Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19

SC Executive Order 22: Authorization for COVID-19 Support Payments by Employers

National Resources

NEW 05/27/20: U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Issues Guidance to Help Construction Workers During the Coronavirus Pandemic .
PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of the Treasury issued guidance (see question #31) that puts Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers and potential borrowers on notice that they should be able to prove in “good faith” that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support [their] ongoing operations” to be eligible for the loan.

While there is much ambiguity in this guidance, the message is clear that AGC members should have documentation of their market uncertainty and corresponding operational need for these PPP loans when they signed the loan application. AGC of America will provide additional resources to help address member concerns about this guidance.

AGC’s ConstructorCast podcast has a special report on the updated PPP program guidance and what it means for construction firms. You can watch it HERE and listen to it HERE.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information Sheet : Borrowers (US Department of the Treasury )
Families First Coronavirus Response Act

AGC of America

AGC of America COVID-19 Overview

Trump Administration Guidance Now Allows Firms With 500 Or Fewer Employees To Qualify For Paycheck Protection Program Loans
AGC of America Press Release
AGC of America CARES Act Analysis
The Latest on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program
Letter to Mitch McConnell Regarding Additional Funding for & Streamlined Access to SBA Loans Related to COVID-19

US Department of Labor

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Advocacy

Tell Your Legislators To Fund the NCDOT

Take ActionThe COVID-19 pandemic is threatening an already financially strained NCDOT. The NCDOT plans to cut transportation spending by $2 billion dollars in the next 12 months, an almost 75% reduction due to a substantial loss in gas tax revenue and other highway fund receipts. These cuts will have an unprecedented impact on our state’s roads, bridges and infrastructure and are threatening many construction jobs and projects that are considered essential. Tell the Governor and your state legislature to provide immediate funding for the NCDOT to ensure the future of our state’s infrastructure and construction jobs!

Taking action is easy. Simply visit our CAGC Legislative Action Center to submit a pre-written message to your legislators. Customize it with your personal information on how this issue impacts you and your company or sent it as is.

Read letters sent by CAGC:

CAGC Responds: Fights for Construction as Essential Service

In response to members' needs to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, CAGC is urging the Governors of North Carolina and South Carolina to consider all construction to be an essential service in the event there is a shelter-in-place order. View letters sent to NC Gov. Roy Cooper and SC Gov. Henry McMaster from CAGC.

Read the full press release.

Tell President Trump and Congress to Backfill State DOT Funding!
Take ActionThe COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on funding for our nation’s roads and bridges, threatening many construction jobs and projects. Tell the Trump Administration and Congress to provide immediate federal funding for these projects to ensure the future of our nation’s economy and construction jobs!

More Funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Programs

Take ActionTell the Trump Administration and Congress to add more funding to and simplify the eligibility requirements for the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs so construction firms and their employees can get needed coronavirus relief as soon as possible.

Taking Action is easy!
Simply submit the pre-written message as is to President Trump and your members of Congress or customize them with personal information on how this issue impacts you and your company.

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Virtual Events and Cancellations/Closures

CAGC Charlotte Office Closure

Carolinas AGC employees are working remotely and our Charlotte office is closed until the Stay at Home Order is lifted. Even though our offices will be closed, we do not anticipate that this action will impact our ability to perform any of our services for our members.

Event Cancellations:

Due to State restrictions on gatherings, the following events are postponed, cancelled or made virtual. Committee meetings will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

All registered attendees for postponed events will be automatically registered for the new date and once rescheduled, will receive notification. All registered attendees for a cancelled event will receive a refund within 30 days.

Affected May Events

May 28 - Young Leader Virtual Happy Hour Event

June

June 2: Virtual Lowcountry Happy Hour Event
June 3: Virtual Piedmont District Luncheon
June 9: Cape Fear District Virtual Happy Hour Event
June 10 - SCDOT Advanced Work Zone Traffic Control-Supervisor - Cancelled
June 18 - Triangle District Young Leader Networking Event - Cancelled
June 18 - Triangle District Grand Slam Event - Cancelled
June 18 - Triangle District Virtual Happy Hour Event
June 25 - Young Leader Talk Series: Ask the Action Team

July

July 9 - Upstate District Virtual Happy Hour
July 14 - Western District Virtual Happy Hour
July 16 - Central District Virtual Luncheon
July 30 - August 2: 2020 CAGC Summit & EXPO - Event Cancelled
July 31: CAGC 2020 Virtual Summit

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State Resources

Current Orders Restrict Daily Business

North Carolina Resources:

NC Governor Issues Statewide Stay At Home Order - Effective Monday, March 30 at 5:00 pm
NC Department of Health and Human Services: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response in North Carolina
NC Executive Order Declaring State of Emergency
NC Executive Order Closing K-12 Schools and Banning Gatherings of 100+
NC Executive Order Announcing Sweeping Expansion of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
NC hospitals are in desperate need of N95 masks
If you have masks to spare please consider donating. Deliver masks to your local hospital's Materials Manager. Please tell the hospital representative the name of the company and how many you are delivering so they (the NC Hospital Association) can recognize you. Also, please send an e-mail to Betsy Bailey (bbailey@carolinasagc.org) with the same information.
NC Executive Order waiving restrictions on child care and elder care, providing DMV flexibilities
NC Department of Insurance Issues Guidance to City and County Managers Stating Construction and Inspections Should be Considered Essential Services
NC Executive Order #120 closing K-12 schools until May 15
Guidance for NC Construction Meetings and Bids from NC State Construction
Unemployment Insurance Changes Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
NCDOT COVID 19 Workforce Safety Plan
NCDOT Authorization to Travel
NCDOT Procedure to Eliminate the Exchange of Asphalt and Aggregate Tickets
AASHOTO Letter to Congress
NC Executive Order 130 - Meeting NC's Health and Human Services Needs
NC Executive Order 131 - Retail, Long Term Care, Unemployment Insurance Claims
Executive Order 133: Extending certain transportation-related provisions in previous executive orders
Executive Order 134: Allowing businesses flexibility to make payments that assist their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic
Executive Order 135: Extending stay at home order and orders limiting mass gatherins, requiring social distancing, and restricting visitation at long term care facilities
Executive Order 138: Effective 5 p.m. May 8, 2020, eases some restrictions on travel, business operations and mass gatherings
Executive Order 140: Lifts the statewide Stay at Home Order and moves the state to a Safer At Home recommendation

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South Carolina Resources:

SC Executive Order Requiring Anyone Coming to the State to Self Quarantine for 14 days Upon Arrival
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
SC Executive Order Suspending Transportation Regulations due to NC Declaring State of Emergency
SC Executive Order Declaring State of Emergency
SC Executive Order Closing K-12 Schools and Public Colleges, Universities and Technical/Community Colleges and banning gatherings of 100+
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and their information on COVID-19
A letter from the SC Governor regarding funds to help small business owners during this difficult time.
SC Hospitals are in desperate need of N95 makes.
If you have extra you are willing to part with, please send them to:
John Williams
SC Hospital Association
1000 Center Point Road
Columbia, SC 29210

Please email Leslie Clark to let her know how many you have sent.
Governor McMaster has requested federal assistance for South Carolina small businesses from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The SBA expects to grant the Governor’s request as soon as today (March 18). As such, we want to share SBA’s guidance for how you can apply for a federal loan.

General information is below, and the SBA’s full information sheet is here.
SC DOT Resources

SC Executive Order 10 Directing Additional Emergency Measures Due to COVID-19
SC Executive Order 11 Directing Additional Emergency Measures Due to COVID-19
SCDEW Resources: Latest announcements on unemployment changes that should relieve burdens on employers and claimants.

Press Release: Employment and Workforce to waive the waiting week for South Carolinians seeking Unemployment Benefits due to COVID-19 as part of Executive Order
Press Release: Employment and Workforce waives the weekly search requirement for individuals who are unemployed due to COVID-19 and extends the tax deadline for employers
Press Release: Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data Week Ending March 21, 2020
Press Release: SCDEW pays millions in unemployment insurance and encourages individuals to file in anticipation of the additional $600 weekly payment to be made available under the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Coronavirus and SC Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19

SC Executive Order 12: Regulatory Flexibility to Facilitate “Social Distancing”
SC Executive Order 13: Authorizing Law Enforcement to Maintain Order, Ensure Public Safety, and Preserve Public Health During the State of Emergency.
Executive Order 14 - Self-Quarantine for Individuals from High-Risk Areas
Executive Order 15 - State of Emergency Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
SC Executive Order 16 Closing Beaches and Waterways
SC Executive Order 17: Closing Nonessential Businesses
SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Corona Virus Information
SC Executive Order 18: Closure of additional non-essential businesses
SC Executive Order 19: Lodging and travel restrictions for individuals from high-risk areas
Information for Fleet Operation
SC Executive Order 21: Home or Work Order
SC Executive Order 22: Authorization for COVID-19 Support Payments by Employers
SC Executive Order 23: Third State of Emergency Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
SC Executive Order 25: Modification of Emergency Restrictions for Public Waters & Emergency Measures for Unemployment Claims & Benefits
SC Executive Order 28: Modification of Restrictions for Public Beaches & Waters & Incremental Modification of Non-Essential Business Closures
SC Executive Order 29: State of Emergency Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Response, Other Measures
SC Executive Order 30: Rescinding Self-Quarantine, Lodging, & Travel Restrictions for Individuals Entering S.C. from High-Risk Areas
SC Executive Order 31: Modification of Home or Work Order & Authorization of Outdoor Dining Services
SC Executive Order 34: Authorization of Limited Indoor Dining Services & Rescission of Boating Restrictions
Additional Businesses, Gyms, Pools are Able to Open Monday, May 18
NEW 5/14/2020: SCDMV Changes due to COVID-19
SC Executive Order 35: State of Emergency to Facilitate COVID-19 Pandemic Response, Testing, & Other Measures
SC Executive Order 36: Additional Modification of Non-Essential Business Closures

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National Resources

Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak

Issued on March 13, 2020 in response to widespread outbreak.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

AGC of America

AGC of America COVID-19 Overview

AGC has assembled general guidance and links to information from our federal agency partners and health organizations including what employers should do. AGC of America Coronavirus Impact Survey: Each weekly AGC of America has sent a survey link to member to begin tracking, reporting on and analyzing impacts on construction. See results of the surveys below:

News Releases
Survey Results
YouTube Analysis by Ken Simonson, Chief Economist, AGC of America

AGC of America Proactive Measures for Addressing COVID-19

AGC of America has released a pre-screening questionnaire and tips for preventing and responding to a suspected or confirmed positive case of COVID-19 for members use.

Trump Administration Guidance Now Allows Firms With 500 Or Fewer Employees To Qualify For Paycheck Protection Program Loans
AGC of America Press Release

Resources for General Cleaning and Preventative Measures for Job Sites from AGC of America:

DOL: Guidance for Preparing Workplace for Coronavirus (pages 8 & 9)
Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-1
EPA Press Release: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-expands-covid-19-disinfectant-list
Milwaukee: Cleaning of Tools to Help Prevent Spread of COVID-19
CDC: Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations – Community Facilities

AGC of America CARES Act Analysis

The Latest on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program

Letter to Mitch McConnell Regarding Additional Funding for & Streamlined Access to SBA Loans Related to COVID-19

OSHA

04/08/20: OSHA Expanded Temporary Enforcement Guidance on Respiratory Protection Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces in All Industries During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

OSHA has issued federal standards for COVID-19 and has prepared a publication to help employers perpare for COVID-19 in order to reduce the impact of outbreak conditions on businesses, workers, customers, and the public. More information can also be found on the OSHA Website COVID-19 Health and Safety Page including how OSHA standards can be applied to protecting workers from COVID-19.

OSHA Guidelines on Closing a construction site

OSHA temporary guidance for recording cases of COVID-19 that provides relief to the construction industry

ARTBA

ARTBA Coronavirus Outbreak Resources

ARTBA is compiling information from a variety of resources to help keep its members and other transportation construction professionals informed on key issues related to the Coronavirus pandemic.

US Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced its first round of published guidance to provide information to employers about meeting their requirements to offer emergency paid sick leave and paid family medical leave offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) when it takes effect on April 1, 2020. The guidance – provided in a Fact Sheet for Employees, Fact Sheet for Employers, and Questions and Answers document – addresses critical questions, such as how an employer must count the number of their employees to determine coverage; how small businesses can obtain an exemption; how to count hours for part-time employees; and how to calculate the wages employees are entitled to under this law.

USDOL Guidance on Paid Sick Leave and FMLA
USDOL Poster: Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

FMCSA has granted some limited relief. The waivers and enforcement order below were issued by the agency on 3/24/2020. The waiver is valid through June 30, 2020 and suspends CDL renewals and renewals of tests and medical certifications associated with CDL renewals.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of the Treasury

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of the Treasury issued guidance (see question #31) that puts Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers and potential borrowers on notice that they should be able to prove in “good faith” that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support [their] ongoing operations” to be eligible for the loan.

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