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- Construction stats turn more pessimistic
Things aren't looking great. The Associated General Contractors of America noted that 28 states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs between October 2011 and 2012. The number of stalled construction projects in New York City is up 17% since February, according to the New York Building Congress. Investment in nonresidential construction was down 4.4% in the third quarter, according to the first Marcum Commercial Construction Index put out by Marcum, an accounting and advisory firm. "Despite 13 consecutive quarters of economic growth, nonresidential construction has not been among the sectors experiencing meaningful recovery," noted analyst Anirban Basu. GlobeSt.com
(11/30), Real Estate Weekly (New York)
(11/29), Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.) (subscription required)
(11/30)     
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Construction sector sees labor shortfall as demand rises: There is a dearth of construction workers in several states, including Florida, Texas, Iowa and Arizona, despite the industry losing 2.2 million employees between 2007 and 2011. Increasing demand for labor and a lack of workers have surprised builders, so they are coping partly by paying more overtime, said Ken Simonson, chief economist of Associated General Contractors of America. USA Today
(11/28)
| News & Trends | | |
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- Beacon Roofing sees revenue climb 3.9% in Q4
Beacon Roofing Supply reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 11% to $27.9 million in the period that ended Sept. 30, down from $31.3 million a year earlier, when a tax benefit added to the profit. The company saw revenue climb 3.9% to $598.1 million due to acquisitions and rising demand for roofing products. The Wall Street Journal
(11/29)
- Repairs at leaky roof of Ark. theater to cost over $100K
The roof at the Malco Theater in Helena, Ark., is slated to be repaired due to leaks on the secondary and tertiary roofs, according to Scott Shirey, executive director of the KIPP Delta Public Schools. The repairs are estimated to cost $118,000. Shirey hopes to get a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help pay for the roof. Stuttgart Daily Leader (Ark.)
(11/29)
| Energy & the Environment | | |
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- More roofing contractors jump on the solar bandwagon
More roofing contractors are joining the solar movement now that the price of panels and inverters has come down. In some cases, the roofing professionals team with electrical contractors. Solar "is a natural fit for roofing and electrical contractors," said Clean Power Design founder Jason Loyet. "It is not far outside what they already do. Now they are putting the pieces together. That is what the next wave is." Greentech Media
(11/29)
- Inverted roof of "Crushed Can" is no longer
Crews recently completed the demolition of the Moose Jaw Civic Center in Saskatchewan, Canada, to make way for development plans, including retail space. The building was commonly known as the Crushed Can because of the inverted curve of its roof that was "supported by a series of two-inch cables suspended from 30-foot concrete A-frames forming the walls," writes Peter Kenter. Work on the demolition yielded 15,000 cubic yards of concrete that will be recycled. Journal of Commerce (Canada)
(11/28)
| In the Office | | |
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- How great leaders close out the year
As 2012 winds to an end, it's important for leaders to look back on the year that was, Les McKeown writes. Whether your company experienced significant success or colossal failure, you should be aware of how your team perceives what has occurred this year. "As the leader, it's your job to understand what narrative has taken hold in your team and to manage it accordingly," he advises. You should also attempt to get rid of policies or practices that are no longer useful. Inc. online/The Synergist blog (free registration)
(11/27)
- How to save money by cutting out waste
"Lean" principles, which focus on removing waste from business processes, are becoming popular at all sorts of organizations, Stephanie Faris writes. You can incorporate such principles into your company by optimizing your use of space and determining whether there is any unnecessary equipment around the office, she writes. Intuit Small Business Blog
(11/27)
| Government & Regulatory | | |
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| NRCA News | | |
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Retirement plans can make loans, hardship distributions to Hurricane Sandy victims
The Internal Revenue Service has announced that 401(k)s and similar employer-sponsored retirement plans can make loans and hardship distributions to victims of Hurricane Sandy and members of their families. 401(k) plan participants, employees of public schools and tax-exempt organizations with 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities, and state and local government employees with 457(b) deferred-compensation plans may be eligible to take advantage of these streamlined loan procedures and liberalized hardship distribution rules. To qualify for this relief, hardship withdrawals must be made by Feb. 1, 2013. Learn more.
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Green roof publication is available
Written by Kelly Luckett, a LEED-Accredited Professional and industry expert in green roof system design and installation, Green Roof Construction and Maintenance provides comprehensive information to help you skillfully design, construct and maintain green roof systems. Participants in NRCA University's Vegetative Roof Systems for Roofing Contractors: Your Rewards, Responsibilities and Risks will receive 10% off the member price when they purchase this publication. The member price for the publication is $60, and the retail price is $120. Learn more, or purchase it.
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