Following a broader wave of consolidation across the construction sector, Kansas City, Missouri-based Garney is strengthening its footprint in the Pacific Northwest through a strategic acquisition aimed at long-term infrastructure growth.
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Garney, a national contractor specializing in water and wastewater construction, has acquired Emery & Sons Construction Group, a Salem, Oregon-based heavy civil and underground utility contractor, according to a company news release. The move bolsters Garney’s ability to deliver civil and municipal infrastructure projects across the region, CEO David Burkhart told Construction Dive.
The acquisition brings nearly 60 years of local experience from Emery & Sons, particularly in underground utilities and heavy civil construction. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“The Pacific Northwest is a region we’ve evaluated for years because the long-term demand for water and infrastructure investment is strong,” Burkhart said. “This acquisition strengthens our ability to deliver larger, more complex work in the region by establishing a permanent base with the right foundation in place.”
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Garney sees sustained demand for water and wastewater infrastructure as communities work to replace aging systems while planning for long-term population growth. Burkhart noted that many public owners are increasing investment to ensure reliability and resilience in critical water systems, echoing trends discussed by builders on recent earnings calls.
Workforce availability also factored into the decision. According to Burkhart, owners increasingly want partners that bring established field leadership and skilled craft labor capable of executing complex projects.
“This decision wasn’t driven by a short-term revenue target,” Burkhart said. “It was about establishing lasting capability in the Pacific Northwest with a team that already has the experience, equipment and local knowledge to do this work at a high level.”
Moves like the Emery & Sons acquisition, he added, help contractors address workforce shortages while strengthening long-term talent pipelines and creating stable career opportunities within the industry.
Both companies will continue operating under their existing names and leadership teams as integration progresses, according to the release.
The expansion supports Garney’s long-term goal of becoming a full-service water solutions provider by expanding in-house capabilities across earthwork, transmission and distribution pipelines, water mains and other large-scale civil components that are critical to complex water infrastructure projects.
Originally reported by Sebastian Obando, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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