What Have We Done for You Lately

Q1 2026

By: Dave Simpson, Carolinas AGC President & CEO

We’re kick-starting 2026 like we’re hopping on a Harley.

For starters, we’ve already gotten dozens of our Carolinas AGC general contractor members lined up for our new Contractors Showcase series that will continue in February in NC & SC – and likely sell out fast.

The New Year’s first quarter is chock-full of other can’t-miss CAGC events and opportunities as well, including:

Nearly 500 attendees have signed up for our 2026 Winter Convention in Aruba.
The first round of what will be 100+ networking events this year and 100+ training opportunities.
Our SC Legislative Day as well as NCDOT and CAGC joint workshops.
More Young Leader events at a time when we expect our YL program to surpass a record-breaking 500 members this year.
The launch of our new, cool and user-friendly CAGC website.
To better manage operations and staff efficiency, our Board of Directors recently approved a new Association Management System and an accounting platform that will improve our members’ website experience and interactions.
Click here for details about upcoming events including who’s coming to the first round of what will be a total of six Contractors Showcases this year.

The Big Picture

For a 40,000-foot look at where CAGC is, and where we are going this year, please take a moment to check out these January 2026 columns in our Weekly NewsBreak from Board leaders:

Political / Business Opportunities

Politically, this year CAGC will be strongly supporting SC Gov. Henry McMaster’s call for $1.1 billion in new money to keep road projects moving and on schedule despite inflation.
We’ll also be key players in working behind the scenes in NC in to ensure that badly needed infrastructure funding continues in Western NC as well as throughout the state.
The Carolinas are well-positioned for growth and development. For example:
- The recent U-Haul Growth Index ranks the Carolinas near the top of the list.
- Among major metros, Charlotte is No. 4, Charleston, No. 7, and Raleigh is No. 8.
- Both states continue to grab national accolades, with NC ranking in January 2026 by Site Selection magazine as the Top State for Workforce Development.

Minding the Store

At CAGC, we are blessed with stellar leadership with our Board of Directors who oversee the association; our Foundation Board of Trustees, who guide training and education efforts, including spending down $5.5 million this year in NC grants; strong committees and rock-star staff:

CAGC Foundation

CAGC Foundation’s Year-End Giving Campaign raised almost $32,000. These donations power hands-on training, scholarships, and outreach that connect people to opportunity and strengthen the construction workforce across the Carolinas.
100+ New On-Demand Training Opportunities, with many topics, are being offered for 2026.
Since 2023, 53 Construction Bootcamps have trained and launched 550+ new professionals into rewarding commercial construction careers.
CAGC High School Chapters kicked off in the fall and are steadily growing with 23 high schools and career tech centers currently participating.
Lane the Loader book is now offered on Amazon in paperback and eBook form.
We’re accepting applications for the Construction Business Academy 10th cohort, kicking off in Asheville in Spring 2026, details here.

Education and Other Efforts

CAGC has officially assumed management of the SC Mechanical Trades Certification Program, formerly operated by the Municipal Association of South Carolina. This transition will expand our impact, strengthen training standards, and streamline access for professionals who rely on this credential (https://www.cagcfoundation.org/fdn/SC-Mech-Trades-Cert-Program.aspx).
Over 170 classes for 2026 along with On-Demand training which is available 24/7 via computer or smart phone.
CAGC Carolinas High School Chapters – 22 and growing.
Business Development Roundtables are running quarterly for our CAGC BD members.
Through the NC Commerce grant, we awarded 9 work-based learning grants totaling $250k to small, minority construction businesses to assist them with hiring, training and upskilling current employees.
Cyber threats continue to grow in speed, scale, and sophistication, making awareness essential. CAGC is committed to providing members with regular briefings on the evolving cyber landscape and facilitate a trusted forum for sharing risks and insights across our community.
In 2026, the Construction Technology Forum will dedicate multiple quarterly meetings to cybersecurity, featuring expert-led briefings and peer discussion to help our industry stay ahead of emerging threats. We are pleased to welcome Brad Southwell, Practice Lead for Risk & Compliance at Worksmart, who will provide a timely overview of current risks, practical defenses, and key priorities for protecting systems, data, and operations.

Membership

Membership last year reached a recent all-time high, driven by strong overall growth and outstanding renewal rates. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our long-term CAGC members and our newest ones alike—you are the foundation of what makes this organization so special. We remain laser-focused on delivering exceptional value while fostering connections that strengthen relationships and help grow your business.
In 2025, we welcomed more than 160 new members to the CAGC family and achieved renewal rates as high as 95%. We continued investing in enhanced benefits and exclusive member events, including the popular Donuts with Contractors series.

Finally, cheers to all our 830+ CAGC member companies…

Best,