Building Edge
September 2008
HOME: Living in the Heart of Florida
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I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend. We have had our share of worries with the storms, and September is the busiest month of hurricane season, but what is one more speed bump?
As we move into the Fall, it seems, things are starting to pick up. Builders and Realtors are telling me there is more traffic in model homes, and people seem more encouraged to buy. They sense a growing confidence that things may be starting to change with consumers - perhaps that homebuyers are really beginning to see that with all the elements in place, it is a great time to buy. There was a lot of activity at the Spring Parade of Homes in each county. The Fall parades start off at the end of this month with MCBIA, and all indications point to continued interest and good activity. In reviewing the housing numbers through August 31, it appears that, while new construction year over year was down again, inventory sales in six of the 10 price ranges went up. New construction was up in the $150,000-$199,900 range and the $250,000-$299,999 range. To see a copy of the report, click here.
On another note, the news is fairly good on Matt Cason, second vice president of the Columbia County Builders Association. Matt had recently suffered some severe burns. He had surgery at Shands last Wednesday. Doctors had to do some skin grafting on his legs, but his fingers, face and ears are healing fine on their own. He is expected to leave the Burn Intensive Care Unit this week. All our thoughts and prayers are with Matt, his wife, Carrie, and the rest of their family.
Finally, you may have read briefly about my request for help with the Child Advocacy Center. There were some amazing people who have stepped up and helped. Lori Willis and Robinshore, the team at Cox Communications, Mark Golden and Two Men and a Truck, the Junior League and many, many more. There is quite a bit that is still needed, including cleaning supplies, Cat-5 cabling, flooring, etc., but the generosity of some of our members has given me an immense amount of pride to be a part of this industry. Jake's Corner 
Our September issue, featuring the Fall Buyer's Guilder, is online here. You should be receiving your copy in the mail soon. Sales have closed for the October issue of Building Edge. We are back in Lake City, featuring Isaac Bratkovich and Isaac Construction. The National Feature will be on Weathering the Elements, including our new product showcase and covering Pest Control, HVAC, House Wrap, Brick and Siding.
In November, we will be featuring Chris Luetgert and Luetgert Development. Chris is a third generation builder intimately involved in every project he works on. We are excited to share his story with you. The National Feature will be on Green Building.
There are going to be some changes in store for Building Edge coming up for 2009. We are working aggressively to bring to you the publication of choice, and hopefully these upcoming changes will reflect that. Stay tuned in coming weeks for more details.
The Summer 2008 issue of Commercial Building Edge is online here, and has been mailed. We feature Brian Crawford, owner of Concept Construction. Our National Feature is on Lighting.
The Fall 2008 issue of Commercial Building Edge, featuring Paradigm Properties is now open. The National Feature is on Green Building.
Kicking off 2009 with a bang, our Winter issue will feature Todd Duffy and ACA Construction Group, LLC. ACA Construction Group was founded in Marion County in 2001 when three of the oldest and well-respected commercial construction firms joined together.
The October/November issue of HOME is in production. Our cover story for this issue is the terrific coach of our Womens Soccer Team at UF, Becky Burleigh. As a fellow Sponge, it is always nice to be able to feature someone from my hometown. Becky has done us proud, and we are lucky to continue having her lead our soccer team as we enter the 2008-2009 season. This issue also include the launch of our new chef's corner, fashion corner, travel corner, a health and fitness corner and more.
We have recently picked up some ringing endorsements that will be included in the media packets. It is that time of year where budgets are being set for 2009. Let us show you how being seen in HOME has already contributed to some businesses success, and can do the same for you.
If you would like advertising information, please click here. If you would like to find out about subscribing to HOME, please click here.
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Local News  |
County Home Values Rise in Tax NoticesSo you thought all the gloom about the housing market would have lowered the market value of your home in time for this year's taxes? Think again if you live in Alachua County. Market values reflected in the tax notices recently sent out generally rose because home prices here remained more stable in 2007 - the year on which the value is based - than in other parts of Florida and much of the nation, Property Appraiser Ed Crapo said. Click Here>>Apartment Glut in AreaCollege students moving into Gainesville this semester had more choices of apartments, with five new major complexes, and more condominiums and homes converting to rentals in a slower housing market. The glut of new apartments means apartment hunters often get their first choice of complexes instead of settling for second or third choices. For property managers, it means more empty apartments and sometimes having to offer more concessions such as waived fees or a free week's rent to lure tenants. Click Here>> McDonald's Arches Banned in County?
Think of golden arches and what comes to mind? McDonald's, of course. Think about the golden arches - are they a design feature or a sign? By definition in Alachua County codes, the arches are a sign and would not be allowed at a new retro-style McDonald's the company wants to build to replace the existing Archer Road restaurant. So McDonald's is trying to change the code to allow protected trademarks such as the arches. Click Here>> County Blocks Raises for Sheriff's EmployeesOn a split vote Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission formally rejected substantial raises for Sheriff's employees for the coming budget year - despite pleas from Sheriff Sadie Darnell. The raises would have left the county with just $13,000 to spare in the budget - which a majority of commissioners said is too little money in a time of uncertainty. More state cuts could coming in the 2009 fiscal year, which starts in October, and are all but ensured to come in 2010, commissioners have been told. Click Here>> Gainesville Greens Scrapped After 3 YearsBack in September 2005, the artist's rendering of a 12-story downtown high-rise condominium complex with retail space and restaurants turned plenty of heads. But almost three years later, the Gainesville Greens project still hasn't seen the light of day, and now developers have announced it never will. Click Here>> City Pressed to Decide on Homeless Center
Those who spoke to Gainesville city commissioners Tuesday night about selecting a site for a center to assist the homeless left one clear message: The commission needs to make a decision - and soon. "I'm extremely concerned that if there's no decision tonight to either move toward negotiations or select a site, then we are pretty much going to be dead in the water," said Jon DeCarmine, executive director of the city's Office on Homelessness. "I feel a very severe death by committee coming on." After three years of logistical and political roadblocks, where to locate the one-stop homeless center is regaining some clarity. Click Here>> City Looks to Attract New BusinessNow known as the Phillips property on State Road 100 in Columbia County, a 504-acre section of land continues to be tentatively designated as a catalyst project site. This means it is under consideration for acquisition to help the local economy. The land is a site for the 14-county region's Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC). The Lake City City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night in favor of a resolution for a second memorandum of agreement. Click Here>> Marion Oaks Residents Oppose Proposed PrisonHundreds turned out Tuesday evening for a community meeting in opposition of plans to build a prison in Marion Oaks. It was standing room only in the 450-capacity auditorium at the Marion Oaks Community Center with the overflow crowd estimated at more than double the amount inside. Speakers were set up outside so everyone could hear what was being side during the meeting. Click Here>> County Freezes Utility Prices
It's official. Marion County Utilities' water and sewer rates will not rise on Oct.1. Tuesday, the County Commission formally voted not to raise rates, a direction they looked headed in at an Aug. 13 workshop. However, last Thursday night, with Commissioner Jim Payton absent, they deadlocked in a 2-2 vote. Click Here>> Star-Banner, The Sun Cut 22 Jobs in Merger
The Ocala Star-Banner and The Gainesville Sun, which merged news operations last month, have announced they are cutting some newsroom positions and shifting some news staffers from Ocala to Gainesville. In all, 22 news positions will be eliminated. Up to 15 Ocala news staffers will help staff a joint news and copy desk operation in Gainesville. The merger of news operations is designed to reduce costs and streamline some processes at the papers, which are owned by The New York Times Company. The Star-Banner and The Sun will still publish distinct editions, with editors, reporters and photographers in each city. Click Here>> Insurance Firm May Open Doors Downtown
The ability to find qualified professionals may determine whether a new employer locates in downtown Ocala. At Tuesday night's meeting, City Council directed staff to begin a standard, two-committee review process to assess the financial viability of Maslow Insurance LLC. The company, a subsidiary of mortgage-giant Taylor Bean & Whitaker, recently applied for a local Economic Incentive Fund grant of $48,000 as part of a state-funded program that aims to bring nationally recognized industry to Florida. "This might be a small turn in the right direction for the economy here," said Pete Tesch, president of the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Council. Click Here>> After Cuts, UF Looks to Loans to Kick Off Building ConstructionDespite cuts to a state program providing matching funds for gifts, the University of Florida will proceed with the construction of two campus buildings. UF will borrow money to start construction on a graduate business building and an Asian art wing of the Harn Museum, President Bernie Machen said Thursday to university trustees. St. Petersburg financial consultant William Hough donated money last year that included nearly $10 million for the business building. Gainesville's David and Mary Ann Cofrin gave a similar amount this year for the Harn addition. Click Here>> City Holds Tax Rate Steady for 2008-2009
Gainesville city commissioners tentatively approved a millage rate Thursday night for the 2008-2009 budget year that's the same as it was for 2007-2008.The City Commission also approved a budget for the city that has been reduced by about $2 million since the original 2008-2009 budget was first proposed. With Commissioner Scherwin Henry absent, commissioners unanimously approved a millage rate of 4.2544 mills - identical to last year's. A mill represents $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of taxable home value. Click Here>> Water Agency Putting Limits on Marion
The Southwest Florida Water Management District is cracking down on counties that use too much water. The agency, commonly known as Swiftmud, announced Thursday that it was expanding its 150-gallons-per-person, per-day limit, usually reserved for counties with limited water supplies, to all the counties within its jurisdiction, including Marion west of Interstate 75. The St. Johns Water Management District oversees the county east of the interstate, but that water agency has no such plan to limit water use. Currently, Marion County uses more water per capita than any of Swiftmud's 15 other counties, leading the group by pumping 249 gallons from the aquifer. The average daily water use throughout the district is 119 gallons per resident. Click Here>> Is City's Communications Department a Luxury in Tough Times?
In the past fiscal year, the city of Gainesville's Communications and Marketing Department sent out 150 news releases, helped plan 30 ribbon-cutting or ground-breaking ceremonies and continued working to implement the city's new brand, winning dozens of awards for its work. A sign the department's employees are busy? Sure. A sign the department is making the best possible use of taxpayers' dollars in tight budgetary times? Click Here>> Home Show Plans Begin
The annual North Florida Home & Patio Show is gearing up for its spring opening March 7-8, 2009. The sixth annual home show is organized and presented by the Rotary Club of Lake City-Downtown and sponsored by the Lake City Reporter. Co-sponsors for the event are SunState Federal Credit Union and Newman Media. Businesses that participated in last year's event have been notified by mail, said 2009 Home Show Chairman Mike Gordon. Click Here>> MCBIA Calendar of Events Click Here>>
BANCF Calendar of Events
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State News  |
Fla. Judge Rejects Planning Amendment Appeal
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit trying to get a growth management proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot. The suit by Florida Hometown Democracy Inc. challenged a Feb. 1 deadline for verifying petition signatures. The group's proposed state constitutional amendment fell about 65,000 signatures short. The amendment would require voter approval for changes in local growth plans. The suit dismissed by U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Mickle on Friday blamed missing the deadline on discrepancies and problems by state and local election officials. That allegedly included a failure to verify thousands of valid signatures turned in well before Feb. 1.
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Florida Supreme Court Strikes Down Amendment 5 Tax Swap Plan
The state Supreme Court today removed a multi-billion tax swap plan from the November ballot, just hours after a majority of justices argued forcefully during courtroom arguments that the voter summary for Amendment 5 was misleading about its potential implications for school funding. The justices also knocked off the ballot a pair of school voucher amendments, in another closely watched case heard today. In the tax case, the justices took less than four hours after arguments ended to issue a 7-0 ruling that struck from the ballot a plan to eliminate most school property taxes in favor of more sales taxes. Their decision is final.
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Tax Swap Dead But Taxes on the Table
Tax reform is likely to return to the legislative arena following last week's decision by the Florida Supreme Court to remove a sweeping "tax swap" amendment from the November general election ballot. The state's highest court rejected Amendment 5 from the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. It would have eliminated about 25 percent of the property taxes that Floridians pay each year, while requiring the money, which is used for school programs, to be replaced by a combination of a sales tax increase or the elimination of some of the numerous sales tax exemptions.
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Partnership Strengthens Sustainable Housing in Florida
Green is no longer just another color. Just like location, location, location, green is now one of the primary considerations when building a new home. While green building has been around for years, its popularity has only grown in recent years as more and more consumers have learned the value of investing in green. Consider that in 1999, consumers didn't talk about carbon-neutral or zero-energy homes, and the American public was largely unconcerned about global warming. At the time, there were only 7,000 Energy Star-certified homes. Now, there are more than 800,000.As demand for green built homes has increased, the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) has taken a pro-active lead in promoting this very type of construction. In 2006, FHBA endorsed the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Green Home Standard, a statewide green building program that addresses Florida climate-specific issues, unlike national green building programs.
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Utility Prices May Rise Due to Fuel Costs
Florida Power & Light is seeking a 7 percent increase in customer bills for 2009 to pay for increased fuel costs, more nuclear power and energy conservation measures, the company announced Tuesday. The average monthly bill would increase $8.29 to $119.41 for 1,000 kilowatt hours, which the company said is among the lowest rates in the state. The estimates can change based on fluctuating fuel prices and the potential impact of hurricanes, the company said. The Florida Public Service Commission would have to approve the increase.
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Fall Leadership Conference
The Florida Home Builders Association will hold its 2008 Fall Leadership Conference on October 1-4 at the JW Marriot in Orlando. In addition to conducting committee meetings and a board of directors meeting, FHBA members will elect and install new leadership for 2008-2009, induct home building professionals into Florida's Housing Hall of Fame, and announce the Builder, Associate and Remodeler of the Year.
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Crist Delays Next Tax-Relief Step
The removal of a property tax-cutting amendment from Florida's ballot left Gov. Charlie Crist disappointed Thursday, but he said he wants to deal with a series of hurricanes threatening the state before deciding his next move on tax relief. Crist threw his support to Amendment 5 after it was offered by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, but Wednesday the Florida Supreme Court took it off the Nov. 4 ballot. The justices haven't yet explained their 7-0 ruling, but their questioning during oral argument echoed opponents who said the amendment's title and ballot summary were misleading.
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'Green' Comfort
Though Florida is known far and wide as the Sunshine State, it's increasingly becoming known as the "Green" State - and it's Gov. Charlie Crist who has most recently gone green. In July, Crist issued Executive Order 07-126, which became effective Jan. 1, 2008. It precludes state agencies from contracting for "meeting and conference space with hotels or conference facilities that have not received the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) 'Green Lodging' program designation for best practices in water, energy and waste efficiency standards, except when certified to the governor by the responsible agency head that no other viable alternative exists."
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Voltz: Three Years to Pay Impact Fees
To try to stimulate the sluggish economy, Brevard County should let commercial developers pay impact fees over a three-year period, County Commissioner Helen Voltz says. Voltz contends that impact fees, which are assessed on new construction, are hampering job growth. The county charges $5,637 per 1,000 square feet for retail projects and $5,136 per 1,000 square feet for office projects. Hotels are charged $2,781 per room, records show. Impact fees are collected to help fund school construction, road projects, fire-rescue, emergency medical services, correctional operations and libraries. On Thursday, Voltz withdrew her initial idea: a temporary moratorium on impact fees. Instead, she proposed a three-year payment period, similar to the system used in Hillsborough County.
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Rate Increase Appeal by State Farm Rejected
Florida's insurance commissioner has denied State Farm Florida's appeal of his decision to reject an average 47 percent rate increase for property coverage against hurricanes and other perils. Commissioner Kevin McCarty refused to grant a formal hearing on grounds the company failed to allege any material issues of fact that are in dispute. Last month, he ruled the company failed to submit sufficient data to justify an average increase of that magnitude.
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National News  |
Government May Soon Back Troubled Mortgage Giants
The government is expected to take over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as soon as this weekend in a monumental move designed to protect the mortgage market from the failure of the two companies, which together hold or guarantee half of the nation's mortgage debt, a person briefed on the matter said Friday night. Some of the details of the intervention, which could cost taxpayers billions, were not yet available, but are expected to include the departure of Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd and Freddie Mac CEO Richard Syron, according to the source, who asked not to be named because the plan was yet to be announced. Click Here>> Wind, Solar Energy Built on Temporary Tax BreaksCongress is putting the short-term future of renewable energy companies in jeopardy even as the presidential candidates and most lawmakers hail windmills, solar panels and biofuels as long-term solutions to high gasoline prices and global warming. Some $500 million in investment and production tax credits will expire Dec. 31 unless Congress renews them. Without that help, solar and wind power companies say they will reverse planned expansions and, in many cases, cut payrolls and capital investment. Schott Solar has visions of quadrupling its operation in Albuquerque, N.M., to reach 1,500 jobs and $500 million in investment. But the investment tax credit, company spokesman Brian Lynch said, is what makes solar power cost-competitive. Without it, expansion plans must be reconsidered. Click Here>> New Business Provides Solutions to Unfinished Construction OpportunitiesThe economic turmoil and the rise in foreclosures in the real estate market has left many residential and commercial projects "unfinished." Owners are hoping to sell. Investors are looking for deals. Construction companies are looking for projects to complete. A new company and website, UnfinishedConstruction.com, provides a way to showcase variety of unfinished projects: homes, office buildings, and zone-ready land. The site also offers an out-of-the-ordinary page which advertises tree farms, churches and even alligator farms, all on one site. With the simple click of the mouse, an investor can search for zone-ready, commercial/industrial, residential and out-of-the-ordinary properties. Owners and Brokers can advertise their unfinished property in complete confidentiality. Construction companies can advertise their services within a specific market. Click Here>> Wood Flooring That's Environmentally FriendlyIt's 2008: The housing market is a mess, new home construction is half the level of four years ago and remodeling sales are down. It's a pretty crummy time to be in the building supply industry. But not for EcoTimber. The Richmond firm, a national leader in environmentally friendly wood flooring, expects to see its sales rise 20 percent this year - even while the overall wood flooring industry is likely to face a third consecutive year of declining sales. EcoTimber has the good fortune to be serving the green building market, one of the few parts of the construction industry that continues to grow. Click Here>> Economic Stimulus Act Provides Big Benefits to Construction CompaniesConstruction Partner, a leading developer of integrated accounting, job costing and estimating software solutions for the construction industry, today announced that it has published important guidelines for construction companies on how to take advantage of the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act for businesses. The guidelines, which are available for download at www.ConstructionPartner.com, detail the depreciation benefits available to contractors for asset purchases, such as construction software, made in the 2008 tax year. Although a great deal of media attention has been given to the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act and how it benefits individual taxpayers, less information has been shared about the tax incentives that this law delivers to businesses. For construction companies, there are some very useful provisions within the Act, primarily around depreciation deductions for new construction software, and equipment purchases. Click Here>> Oil Prices Lowest in 5 Months
With news that the Gulf Coast region's energy infrastructure escaped serious damage from Hurricane Gustav, oil prices plunged to the lowest level in five months Tuesday, falling to within sight of $100 a barrel. Oil prices for October delivery fell to as low as $105.46 in early trading -- the lowest they've been since April -- before settling down $5.75 Tuesday to $109.71 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil prices are almost 30 percent off their brief high of $147 a barrel in July. The last time oil prices were less than $100 a barrel, the week of March 14 to 20, the nationwide average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline stood at $3.27. AAA said Tuesday that the nationwide average stood at $3.68, up 90 cents a gallon from a year ago. For now, all signs point to lower prices. Click Here>> NAHB to Honor Excellence in Green Home Building The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will honor excellence in green residential design and construction practices and outstanding green advocacy efforts with the 2009 NAHB National Green Building Awards. "Home builders and housing industry professionals are instrumental in adoption of sustainable building practices that benefit home owners, the environment and the economy," said Ray Tonjes, NAHB Green Subcommittee chair and a green remodeler and builder in Austin, Texas. "We look forward to honoring their commitment to green building, and sharing their innovative best practices with the residential construction industry." Click Here>> NAHB to Honor Outstanding Work Site Safety Programs Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE), which provides recognition for home builders who develop outstanding work site safety programs. "The home builders and housing industry professionals who have received SAFE awards during the past two programs are an outstanding representation of the commitment to safe behavior and safety education practiced by NAHB members across the country," said Buck Roberts, chair of the NAHB Construction Safety & Health Committee and a builder from Anderson, S.C. "We look forward to recognizing many more safety best practices in Las Vegas in January in the 2008 SAFE awards." Click Here>> 30-Year Mortgage Rates Decline for a Third WeekRates on 30-year mortgages fell for a third straight week, dropping to the lowest level since mid-July. Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reported yesterday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages dipped to 6.35 percent this week, down from 6.40 percent, the previous week. It marked the third consecutive decline and left rates at the lowest level since July 17 when they stood at 6.26 percent. The 30-year mortgage, which hit a high for this year at 6.63 percent on July 24, has been above 6 percent since late May as financial markets have become convinced that rising inflation pressures will keep the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates further to bolster the weak economy. Click Here>> Toll Brothers Slips Again, But Positive Signs DetectedToll Brothers Inc., the largest U.S. luxury home builder, reported its fourth straight quarterly loss, as weak demand for new homes forced the company to mark down the value of its land and unsold homes. But Chief Executive Robert Toll is seeing signs the market is stabilizing: The company reported the lowest contract cancellation rate in more than two years, and more buyers are putting down deposits, even as "explosive energy price increases, rising unemployment and severe mortgage and credit" conditions cut demand. "We believe that there is pent-up demand," Toll said in a statement. But he noted the housing market won't begin to recover until the trove of foreclosed homes on the market are sold. "Unfortunately, we can't predict when that will occur." Click Here>> New Home Door Locks can be Controlled OnlineWhat if locking the front door of your home while you're away were as easy as hopping on the Internet?At the CEDIA Expo in Denver this week, Ingersoll-Rand Co.'s Schlage unit is showing off door locks that can be wirelessly set or opened via the Internet, from a mobile phone or a computer.The battery-operated locks have keypads that are locked and unlocked with 4-digit access codes (or old-fashioned keys, as a backup). Users who forget to lock a door and want to enter their code remotely can hop onto a Web portal or an application added to their mobile phones. These password-protected portals also let people change, activate or disable the codes. Click Here>> Versatile and Durable Concrete Revs Up DrivewaysDrive home your house's curb appeal by pouring creativity into your driveway. More homeowners are employing decorative techniques to transform understated gray concrete into driveways that make a statement. Whether you're embellishing a newly poured driveway or perking up an existing one, decorative treatments made to look like stone or bricks can give you a fresh look and complement a home's architecture. Click Here>> Renewable Energy's Biggest WishWhile politicians of all stripes are vying to be seen as saviors in the energy crisis, Congress isn't giving renewable energy investors the one thing they say would help the most - long-term tax credits. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle want the nation to move away from fossil fuels and become more energy independent. Barack Obama is pushing his $150 billion, Apollo Project-style plan to invest in renewable energy. John McCain is calling for a $300 million prize for any person or company who makes major advances in electric car batteries, and lower corporate tax rates across the board. But it's the tax credits for renewable energy projects - currently hung up in partisan fighting over how to pay for them and in danger of expiring - that those who actually invest big money into renewable energy say they need the most. Click Here>> "Fifty for Fifty" Initiative to Engage State Legislators in Every State to Develop Green Schools CaucusesToday, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) kicked off its "Fifty for Fifty" initiative working with state lawmakers in all 50 states to promote green school buildings. The Council's goal is for every state legislature in the nation to have its own caucus or working group of lawmakers advancing green schools for kids. Inspired by the successes of the Congressional Green Schools Caucus, the initiative will build on widespread participation in USGBC's LEED for schools program, which has over 1,000 green schools registered across the U.S. Click Here>> | |
Commercial News  |
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Publix Planned on Maricamp Near First Baptist ChurchCity residents may soon have one more place to grab groceries. A Publix is the planned anchor store for a new shopping center that developers hope to raise on 18 acres at the intersection of Southeast Maricamp Road and Southeast 24th Street. The complex is planned between Ocala National Bank and the Cedar Shores/Winn-Dixie Shopping center, near the First Baptist Church of Ocala. Click Here>> Nonresidential Construction Maintains Momentum, AGC Says
"Nonresidential construction spending continued growing in July, despite the weak economy and housing slump," Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), said today following the release of construction spending data from the Census Bureau. "But Congress must act promptly to avert layoffs in power and highway construction." "Although the headline figure showed a drop of 0.6 percent in total construction put in place in July, the bad news was limited to residential spending, which tumbled 2.1 percent," Simonson asserted. "The report included a huge upward revision in June and May nonresidential spending, and yet the July figure was still 0.2 percent higher than the new June total. "Year-to-date figures comparing the first seven months of 2008 and 2007 show how broad-based the nonresidential strength is," Simonson stated. "Total nonresidential spending through July was 14 percent ahead of the year-ago total, and 15 of the 16 Census categories-all but religious structures-rose. Click Here>> AGC Congratulates Army Corps of Engineers for Rebuilding Success After Katrina TragedyThe Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) applauded the successes of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as federal, state and local entities working together to mitigate the powerful effects unleashed by Hurricane Gustav over the past several days. "Thanks to the work of the Corps of Engineers, government officials at all levels and the hard work of the construction industry, the New Orleans area has the best hurricane and storm damage reduction in its history," said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors. Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, construction contractors have worked tirelessly to complete the repair and restoration of 220 miles of floodwalls and levees.
Click Here>> Registration Now Open for U.S. Green Building Council's Annual Greenbuild ConferenceMore than 25,000 attendees are to attend the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) annual conference and exhibition, which will be held from Nov. 19-21 in Boston. Greenbuild is the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, offering opportunities to learn more about the LEED green building certification, the nationally accepted system for green buildings, developed by the USGBC as a tool to build healthy, energy efficient, resource-friendly structures. This year's show will explore "Revolutionary Green: Innovations for Global Sustainability," with Boston serving as the ideal backdrop. The city, home to innovations that have far-reaching impact, will be the location for a variety of educational sessions, full- and half-day LEED workshops, exciting speakers, special events and building tours. Click Here>> Upcoming Events
Florida's Workers' Compensation Workshop
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