Markets Gain Momentum

McGraw Hill Construction's Dodge Momentum Index gained 3.3% in June, its third consecutive monthly increase following a weak first quarter. The index measures non-residential building projects entering the planning stage, which is a lead indicator of construction spending by a full year, according to Dodge. The growing volume of projects at the planning stage suggests that non-residential construction starts should be headed up over the remainder of the year.

U.S. Firm Wins Contract To Build Storage Facility in the Ukraine

Holtec International, Marlton, N.J., and Ukraine's nuclear utility, Energoatom, have signed a contract to build the Ukraine's first domestically owned central storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. Completion is set for 2017.

The companies signed the original contract for the turnkey supply of the facility in December 2005, but implementation was delayed for passage of a national law on management of used nuclear fuel and selection of a site. The law was adopted in 2012, and a 45-hectare site in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was transferred to Energoatom in April, 2014.

Gordian Group Buys RSMeans

The Gordian Group, which specializes in procurement software, has purchased RSMeans from Reed Construction Data for an undisclosed amount. RSMeans provides construction cost information locally across the nation. It also provides construction cost indexes for 30 cities. ENR publishes RSMeans' national average index in its quarterly cost reports.