Revisiting efforts to funnel federal funds into school construction, the House has approved a measure that would authorize more than $6.5 billion for K-12 public school and community-college projects. The provision is part of a bill, which the House passed on Sept. 17, that would expand the federal loan program for college students and curtail private lending. The measure would authorize $2.02 billion annually for fiscal 2010 and 2011 for modernization, renovation or repair of K-12 public schools. Another $2.5 billion would be available for new construction or modernization of community colleges, starting in fiscal 2011. Groups like the American
A White House meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Obama did not produce an agreement to resolve Canada's concerns over the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Buy American provisions. Photo: Office of Prime Minister Harper Obama and Canada's Harper say issue is minor in overall bilateral trade picture. Related Links: Canadian Leader to Discuss 'Buy American' Issue with Obama Obama did say the two sides are trying to find ways to ease the problem but he and Harper portrayed the issue as minor compared with what Obama termed the "robust" overall U.S.-Canadian trade picture. Canada has said
When Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with President Obama at the White House on Sept. 16, Canada's search for relief from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's Buy American provision will be one of his top priorities. Related Links: 'Buy America' Worries Persist Despite Waivers ARRA 'Buy American' Mandate Draws Flak Canada has objected to the provision for months, saying that its manufacturers are being hurt by ARRA's restrictions on use of non-U.S-made steel and manufactured products in projects funded by the legislation. The Canadians' prime focus is on ARRA-funded projects that are administered by states and localities, in
The industrial and manufacturing sector, already care-worn with decades of ‘hollowing out’ as plants moved overseas, continued its slow spiral downward in the last year. The economic crisis that hit in fall 2008 further sapped capital expenditures across the board, and the bankruptcy of two of America’s Big Three automakers this spring contributed to the decline. Photo: DPR Construction Solar-cell manufacturing facilities, like this 45,000-sq-ft design-build plant for Suniva, are a rare bright spot in manufacturing. Photo: Kia Kia is finishing its first auto-assembly plant in the U.S. There are some bright spots, however. New starts have ramped up for
U.S. construction equipment exports dropped 36% during the first half of 2009, with $6.4 billion shipped to global markets compared to $10.1 billion at midyear 2008, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Milwaukee. Europe showed the largest percentage decline, with a 53% drop to $777 million in exports. Canada remained the largest market for U.S. equipment exports, but even that market was down 45% from a year ago. SOURCE: AEM. Percent change is first half of 2009 versus first half of 2008. Total represents the dollar value of all exports.
Labor Day will be a mixed blessing in U.S. construction this year. Many workers will enjoy the day off, with employment secured by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But others will see the holiday as a reminder of a frustrating job search and economic worry in a battered industry market that billions in federal stimulus may not be able to save. Slide Show Pike Industries Inc. paving crew working on a New Hampshire ARRA-funded highway job; the state mobilized quickly to get projects ready. President Barack Obama’s massive $787-billion stimulus package set an ambitious goal when enacted earlier this
Construction’s unemployment rate jumped from 17.4% in June to 18.2% in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The July rate was 10% above a year ago and well above the average July unemployment rate of 6% between 2004 and 2007. July’s unemployment rate represents 1.687 million blue-collar and white-collar workers who are out of work. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction unemployment rate for July
The value of new construction starts climbed 8% in July, helping to counteract sharp year-to-year declines, according to new statistics released by McGraw-Hill Construction. Through the first seven months of this year, the total dollar value of new construction starts was $236 billion, which was down 35% from the same period a year ago. “Since March, there has been an up-and-down pattern for construction starts, supporting the belief that a leveling-off process is now under way,” Robert Murray, MHC’s chief economist, points out. “Single-family housing, while still at extremely low volume, has shown improvement in five out of the past
As equipment manufacturers stare into the second half of 2009 and see 30% to 50% fewer annual sales, a “Cash for Clunkers”-style program for dozers, backhoes and excavators may be just what the economy ordered. Or is it? Suppliers say they have been kicking the idea around internally since C4C started winding down this month. This year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has done little to shore them up: Peoria, Ill.-based Cat alone has shed 34,000 jobs since late last year, it says. Photo: Tudor Van Hampton / ENR Photo: NADA Equipment makers say infrastructure spending under ARRA has been
Contractor teams vying for the latest round of a long-term National Science Foundation contract—worth at least $2 billion to manage site logistics and science support for its huge polar research program in Antarctica—would like to hear from the agency soon about who the winner will be. But many of the contenders would just like to hear from the agency, period. Photo: National Science Foundation South Pole research facilities have grown since the 1960s, when site construction and logistics contractors were first hired. This photo shows the McMurdo station in Antarctica, but the research facility is on the polar plateau, where