"I extended an invitation to meet with the president the next time he is here," Parnell said at the Captain Cook Hotel Nov. 12.

Because Elmendorf Air Force Base was locked down, there wasn't enough time to be there for the president's speech and keep his appointment to speak at the Associated General Contractors of Alaska's annual awards luncheon, he said.

Before the Fort Hood murders occurred, the president's first visit had been scheduled for Veterans Day.

John MacKinnon, AGC of Alaska executive director, said the governor's presence was a special privilege this year.

"Honoring his commitment says a lot about Gov. Parnell," he said.

The governor used his speech before the standing room only audience to announce his capital budget plans, which include spending a $100 million a year for the next five years on deferred maintenance. The money will fund repairs and renovations for Alaska's roads, ferries, airports, university buildings and other public facilities.

The state owns about 2,300 buildings, 400 of which are part of the University of Alaska system.

"It only makes sense to take care of the assets we have and to be good stewards of Alaska's finite dollars," Parnell said. "Fixing what we've got just makes sense."

MacKinnon said the plan is good news for the 21,000 people who work in the construction industry.

"Deferred maintenance is bread and butter, and common sense," he said. "It demonstrates responsible state spending and a smart investment by the state in this competitive construction market."

Parnell said his administration will maintain its full-court press to open up Alaska's outer continental shelf to oil and gas development.

"Alaska needs the 35,000 jobs the OCS offers," he said.

There are lots of bright spots in Alaska's economy - like drilling at Point Thomson and progress on a gas pipeline.

"Compare the milestones of the last two years to the past 30," Parnell said. "It will be the first time we've had an open season for Alaska gas."

He also spent a few minutes talking about the Governor's Performance Scholarship idea he's introduced. The program would reward students who got good grades while taking a more rigorous curriculum - four years of math, science and English and three years of social studies.

An A grade point average gets students a 100 percent scholarship to the University of Alaska system. While a B average is worth 75 percent and C average, 50 percent.

It's all part of an effort to fill Alaska's need for an educated workforce and improve high school graduation rates. One in three freshman high school students drops out, Gov. Parnell said.

The annual AGC of Alaska conference also included a visit by AGC of America President Doug Pruitt and his wife, Becky. He is the chairman and CEO of the Sundt Companies, in Tempe, Arizona.

Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan and Pruitt were the featured speakers at AGC's subcontractors breakfast Nov. 12.

Pruitt encouraged members to work collaboratively with other organizations on issues that will advance the construction industry. "We need to extend a hand to find solutions."

In tight economic times, training and development are crucial investments for businesses, he said.

"Training and development are an investment, not an expense," Pruitt said. "You'll be stronger when the economy recovers because you invested in your people."

Retiring Baby Boomers are creating more job openings than can be absorbed by Generation X, which follows, he said.

The industry is facing the loss of a lot of talent due to the aging process, and there aren't enough Generation X workers to replace them, Pruitt said. "We have a workforce shortage today that is only going to get worse."

He proposed solving the workforce problem through resolution to America's immigration issues.

"We have to get immigrants out of the shadows and onto the tax rolls," he said.

The luncheon concluded with a ceremony honoring the five recipients of this year's Marsh USA and AGC of Alaska "Excellence in Safety Awards." Winning companies were Davis Constructors and Engineers; Jacobs Engineering; Kiewit Building Group; Beacon Occupational Health and Safety Services; and, Steve Stuart of the American Marine Corp.