As infrastructure needs grow and skilled labor remains in short supply, the Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire (AGC NH) is doubling down on its mission to support, unify, and advocate for the construction industry statewide. Representing hundreds of firms and professionals, the association has built a reputation as a force for policy reform, workforce development, and member engagement. With construction activity holding strong in 2025 and major challenges on the horizon, AGC NH’s leadership is focused on helping its members stay prepared and connected. Executive Vice President Alex Koutroubas recently shared how the organization is tackling advocacy, labor, and strategic growth head-on, while keeping its members at the center of it all.
Founded in 1949, AGC NH is a full-service trade association with a mission to improve the state’s construction sector. That mission is most visible at the state capitol, where Koutroubas and his team are engaged year-round. “We try to have a seat at the table to make sure the construction industry’s voice is heard with policymakers and with the executive branch,” said Koutroubas. “We’re a lot closer to the members than national organizations are, so we make sure their concerns are brought directly to decision-makers.”
In the most recent legislative session, AGC NH tracked close to 100 bills, actively lobbying on about a quarter of them. A top priority was securing increased funding for roads, bridges, and transportation infrastructure via the state budget. “For the first time in 18 years, we were able to get the House and Senate to agree to raise user fees for vehicle registrations,” he explained. “That helps shore up the highway fund and supports long-overdue investment.” The organization also collaborated with other groups to support permitting reform. The goal is to allow certain smaller, low-impact projects to proceed through a permit-by-notification system, reducing red tape while maintaining regulatory oversight.
One of the association’s biggest priorities is helping the next generation discover what a career in construction can offer. In partnership with state education initiatives, AGC NH helped support a dual and concurrent enrollment program that allows high school students to earn college credits in technical fields, including the trades. “We feel it’s crucial to expose young people to the variety of options available after high school,” said Koutroubas. “Programs like these give students a head start in the trades, and help them build confidence and direction.”
To amplify this message, AGC NH also took part in the Bring Back the Trades event, a large-scale outreach effort connecting industry professionals with students, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors. The event covered a range of skilled trades, from plumbing and automotive to electrical and construction. AGC NH sponsored the event, hosted a booth, and engaged directly with attendees. “There were thousands of students from across the state, and we had the chance to talk to a lot of them,” said Koutroubas. “There’s real interest in the trades. It’s just about showing young people that this is a legitimate, fulfilling, and rewarding career path.”
While AGC NH focuses on advocacy and public engagement at the state level, it strategically leverages its affiliation with AGC of America for training, certifications, and continuing education. “We don’t offer a wide range of technical training ourselves, but we lean into our national organization for that,” Koutroubas said. “That lets us stay focused on the business, regulatory, and political landscape in New Hampshire.” Although there are no current mentorship or scholarship programs in place locally, Koutroubas acknowledged this is an area the association may explore in the future.
One of the most visible successes of the past year was the revival of AGC NH’s awards program. Now called the Achievements in Construction Awards, the event recognizes standout projects, celebrates safety leadership, and honors long-term ethical contributions to the industry. “The program had been dormant for several years,” said Koutroubas. “We brought it back with over 20 project submissions, judged by independent reviewers outside the association.”
The event attracted around 90 attendees and generated positive buzz across media and social platforms. Awards included seven safety recognitions based on OSHA incident data and an ethics award, which went to Koutroubas’s predecessor in recognition of their service to the association and industry. “It was one of the biggest things we did this year,” Koutroubas said. “It was a great way to reconnect with members and showcase the amazing work being done in our state.”
As 2025 progresses, New Hampshire’s construction outlook is strong. Most contractors have steady backlogs, and many are booked into the latter half of the year. But Koutroubas said 2026 carries more question marks than the industry is used to. “There’s some uncertainty,” he said. “It’s not that the market is heading for a downturn, but projects aren’t lining up quite as quickly as they have in recent years.”
That said, Koutroubas views the situation as a warning, not a crisis. The focus remains on continued lobbying for infrastructure investment at both state and federal levels, ensuring that planned projects are funded and released in a timely manner. “We’re actively working to make sure infrastructure spending remains a top priority,” he emphasized. “It’s one of our core public policy goals.”
For Koutroubas, AGC NH’s greatest asset isn’t its lobbying power or its public presence. It’s the engagement of its members; competitors who come together under one banner to advocate for shared priorities. “One of the biggest things with an association is participation,” he said. “We want every member to feel connected and have a say in what we do.”
“One of the biggest things with an association is participation. We want every member to feel connected and have a say in what we do.”
The organization offers multiple ways to get involved, from joining committees and boards to attending events and weighing in on legislative priorities. While contractors may compete in the marketplace, they unite within AGC NH to protect the long-term health of their industry. “It’s important for people to know that we are a space where the industry works together,” Koutroubas said. “We have incredible members, and their involvement at every level is what makes us effective.”
In a state where infrastructure needs are expanding and workforce pipelines are still being built, AGC of New Hampshire is standing at the intersection of leadership, policy, and people. Under Alex Koutroubas’s direction, the organization is securing funding wins, amplifying industry voices, and reconnecting members through events and recognition. It is also paving the way for new generations to discover the value and vitality of a career in construction. As 2025 unfolds and 2026 takes shape, AGC NH is focused on helping its members not just respond to market shifts but shape them.
