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Ivy Chang |
February 4, 2009 We Must Keep Track of Government With this economy, we wonder if our lives will ever be on the rise with jobs, homes, savings, spending and businesses on a do ... More
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The construction industry could help start the economy on a profitable path. That's what President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday, December 6, as he promised to put together the largest public works construction program to revive the economy. The program highlights elements of a recovery program that Obama wants to enact with congressional leaders shortly after he is sworn in on January 20. He defined his program to include infrastructure projects that repair roads and bridges, renovations in schools, sewer systems, mass transit, electric grids, dams and other utilities. Public works spending will emphasize projects that conserve and expand energy supplies and cleaning up the environment. Obama said he wants to create millions of jobs by investing the single largest amount in national infrastructure since the creation of the interstate highway system 50 years ago. Although he did not provide monetary figures, governors from all 50 states estimated that they had $136 billion worth of road, bridge and other projects that must go forward as soon as the money becomes available. Conservatives say that public works spending is a poor way of growing the economy because it hasn't been reliable as a catalyst for short-term economic growth. Obama said, "We won't do it the old Washington way," meaning that change is coming as he emphasized in his campaign. Economic troubles across the U.S. did not hit one state located in the Construction Bulletin, 3-state region. During the first week of December, North Dakota lawmakers were considering what to do with a $1.2 billion surplus. With unemployment rates in the rest of the country reaching more than 6%, North Dakota's was 3.4%, one of 3 lowest rates in the U.S. New car sales in 2008 were 27% higher than last year and foreclosures were among the lowest in the country. How did "the empty prairie" state get into such a lucky position? First, oil production in western North Dakota continued and placed the state as the fifth largest producer in the U.S. Second, its agriculture industry, the largest business in North Dakota, met with a strong year for farmers, including selling grains for alternative energy. Third, the state's conservative and basic culture means residents won't encounter the ups and downs of an economic boom as seen in other places. Some residents living in the Bakken Formation have received large sums of money for oil on their properties but they are not anxious to spend this money. For the unemployed living outside of North Dakota, take note: the state has about 13,000 jobs and it can't find people to fill those jobs. Public agencies and private companies are beginning to look elsewhere, including in Michigan where large numbers of people are laid off, to lure them into a bubble that, hopefully, won't burst until the rest of the country catches up to its economic status. |
Loren Faulkner |
April 1, 2009 California: According to the Construction Stats Once again the actual heavy/highway construction permits recorded in the past 30 to 60 days up and down the State of Californ ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the California and Hawaii regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
Christina Fisher |
March 31, 2009 Hydrogen Fueling Station Opens In Aiken County, SC Aiken County, the Economic Development Partnership and the Center for Hydrogen Research opened a hydrogen fueling station at ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry . |
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Ivy Chang |
June 22, 2009 Throwing Money into the Highway Trust Fund Last week, James Oberstar, chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee announced the committee is releas ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
Tom Hale |
March 27, 2009 Improving Traffic-Choked Indiana Corridor Easily the worst area to travel in Indianapolis is near Interstate 465 and I-69 just northeast of the city. It is a major bot ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, eastern Missouri, and West Virginia regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
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Christina Fisher |
March 25, 2009 Stimulus Update From New York, Pennsylvania Albany, NY – Governor David A. Paterson announced the creation of the New York State Economic Recovery and Reinvestment ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
Steve Hudson |
March 20, 2009 Getting Ready for the Stimulus With stimulus funds looming, folks are getting ready – and one of the ones making definite plans are the folks in Georg ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
Aram Kalousdian |
March 28, 2009 EFCA Empowers Employees EFCA Empowers Employees There s ... More
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The latest construction news and information for Michigan's regional heavy, highway, and non-residential building construction industry. |
Joanne Ray |
March 24, 2009 Federal Stimulus Grants - Positive Cash Flow For Rhode Island Providence, RI: According to an article in the Providence Journal, federal stimulus grants announced yesterday should lead to ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
Carl Molesworth |
April 1, 2009 Low Bids for Seattle Light Rail Project Good News for Owner Even though a big bubble of highway/heavy projects is working its way through the pipeline, thanks to the federal stimulus fu ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska regional heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
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May 29, 2008 Big Wyoming Contract The Wyoming Highway Commission appears to be on the verge of awarding by far the biggest single highway improvement contract ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Rocky Mountain region heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
Liz Moucka |
March 11, 2009 More About Illegals Working On Stimulus Projects I agree with Loren/California Builder and Engineer and USA Today. When construction projects ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Texas region heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
Michael Larson |
March 25, 2009 Work Begins on I-94 North-South Freeway. Project Expected to Create 2,300 Jobs. On Monday, March 23, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle kicked off the official start of work that will expand and upgrade the I-94 ... More
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Latest construction news and information for the Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan region heavy, highway and non-residential building construction industry |
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