Modernising America’s Sub‑Grid Backbone
American Gridwork Partners has taken a decisive step toward reshaping the nation’s critical sub‑grid systems with its acquisition of PMT Site, one of Tennessee’s most respected underground utility and site infrastructure specialists.
The move reflects a growing recognition across the United States that decades of underinvestment have left local power, water, and data networks struggling to keep pace with electrification, digital expansion, and demand surges driven by data‑intensive industries.
AGP’s strategy places local expertise at the core of a scalable, coordinated national platform designed to support a multi‑decade, multi‑trillion‑dollar infrastructure effort. By incorporating family‑owned firms with proven track records into a unified network, AGP aims to build the connective tissue needed to modernise the grid from the ground up.
PMT Site’s Regional Strength
PMT Site has grown steadily under the leadership of Founder and CEO Phil Terhaar, particularly in Tennessee’s rapidly expanding mixed‑use and industrial development landscape. With a strong portfolio of underground utility installations, power upgrades, water systems, and site preparation works, PMT has developed a reputation for meticulous execution and deep community involvement.
Phil Terhaar will continue in his role, ensuring that PMT retains its identity, regional capabilities, and established client relationships. He noted the importance of aligning local experience with national ambitions: “This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for PMT Site. Together, we’re advancing our shared commitment to improving the reliability and resilience of the grid, beginning here in our local community, throughout the Tennessee Valley, and extending across the country.”
He added that the company’s culture and expertise remain at the forefront as it joins a wider network designed to bring consistency, capacity, and coordination to large‑scale infrastructure work: “Joining AGP allows us to keep our identity, customer relationships, and regional capabilities while benefiting from a national network that accelerates our impact across the most critical infrastructure arenas.”
The Case for Sub‑Grid Modernisation
America’s sub‑grid layer serves as the physical interface between transmission‑level infrastructure and the homes, businesses, data centres, and industries that depend on reliable service. These local networks include underground power distribution, water pipelines, fibre, and critical service corridors. Many of these systems are several decades old, with materials and designs that no longer match the needs of a modern economy shaped by electric vehicles, AI computing, and high‑density digital infrastructure.
Across the country, grid congestion, outage frequency, and water system failures have highlighted the vulnerability of ageing sub‑grid assets. The Department of Energy has repeatedly emphasised the need for accelerated upgrades to distribution‑level networks, which account for the majority of customer‑facing reliability challenges.
AGP’s Networked Delivery Platform
The acquisition of PMT Site marks the formal launch of AGP’s coordinated delivery platform, described as a modern Construction‑as‑a‑Service approach. This model brings together regionally dominant contractors under shared operating standards, systems, and project delivery frameworks.
Grant E. Stark, CEO of AGP Southeast and Partner at Legacy Holdings, underscored the significance of PMT’s role within this new structure: “PMT represents the local, specialised expertise that America’s grid deeply relies on. They’re rooted in the community, proven in the field, and stand ready to scale the heavy lifting required for this multi‑decade national rebuild.”
AGP intends to expand the network with additional partners that meet stringent operational, cultural, and technical criteria. This includes firms with strong reputations for underground works, distribution‑level construction, and resilience‑focused service offerings.
Building Capacity for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The long‑term transformation of America’s infrastructure is being driven by several converging forces:
- Rapid electrification across transport and industry.
- Explosive data growth from AI, cloud computing, and hyperscale data centres.
- Climate resilience requirements for water and energy systems.
- Rising development across mixed‑use, industrial, and logistics projects.
Legacy Holdings Co‑Founder and Managing Partner Benjamin Krall framed the strategy within the broader context of national economic development: “We’re building the connective infrastructure for the modern economy. AGP’s networked delivery platform unites America’s best regional contractors into a coordinated system capable of modernising the grid from the ground up. This isn’t a bet on a trend, it’s an investment in the nation’s most urgent rebuild.”
The integration of specialised local contractors allows AGP to mobilise rapidly for multi‑state or high‑complexity projects, offering consistency and scalability that are difficult to achieve through traditional regional contracting models.
Regional Expertise, National Impact
PMT Site anchors AGP’s early platform structure and demonstrates the practical value of a distributed yet unified national approach. With a pipeline that includes more than a dozen prospective partners, AGP aims to establish a network capable of supporting large‑scale deployments across energy, water, and data infrastructure.
This model also reflects current market shifts. Many utilities, developers, and hyperscalers are seeking collaborative delivery structures that reduce fragmentation, shorten timelines, and ensure predictable execution across jurisdictions. By aligning local firms with shared operational frameworks, AGP intends to close capacity gaps that have historically slowed infrastructure modernisation.
A Long‑Term Commitment to Community‑Level Infrastructure
AGP operates with a clear mission to rebuild America’s critical systems one region at a time. Its partnership‑driven approach emphasises retaining local leadership, preserving identity, and ensuring that long‑trusted businesses remain central to the communities they serve.
The acquisition of PMT Site aligns with this philosophy and sets the tone for AGP’s future partnerships. With national demand for infrastructure upgrades expected to grow for decades, AGP’s model offers a pathway for reinvestment, generational transition, and operational stability for family‑owned firms.
A Long‑term Investment
As America enters a new era of infrastructure development, the role of coordinated, well‑resourced regional contractors has never been more important.
AGP’s acquisition of PMT Site signals a long‑term investment in strengthening the sub‑grid systems that support economic growth, technological advancement, and community resilience.
