Construction Spending Dips in July, Shows Mixed Year-to-Year Change

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Construction spending continued to show a mixed and volatile pattern in July as large monthly declines in public spending, residential improvements and factory construction exceeded increases in other private nonresidential, home and apartment construction, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of new Census Bureau data. Association officials said the data reflects continued weakness in the overall construction market. “The construction spending pendulum is likely to keep swinging between gains and losses, given the spotty increases that are occurring in private investment and sharp declines in federal, state and local construction budgets,” the association's chief economist, Ken … Read more

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Construction, Architecture Groups Urge President, Congress to Adopt Measures to Boost Work

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute of Architects, the Associated General Contractors of America and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a joint statement urging policymakers to take immediate steps to create jobs in the design and construction industry. On the eve of the Obama Administration's major jobs initiative, the AIA and AGC, which together represent nearly 110,000 architects and general contractors, said the effort is designed to highlight how vital the design and construction industry is to the health of the entire economy. The industry employs more than 5 million people and has suffered from unemployment of one and … Read more

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New Advertising Campaign Celebrates LEED APs, LEED Green Associate Credential Holders

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GBCI Seeking User-Generated Videos on Experience with LEED Credential WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Green Building Certification Institute has launched a new campaign to recognize meaningful achievements by green building professionals with LEED Professional Credentials. The print and online advertisements and online videos for the campaign feature professionals who describe how holding a LEED Credential has benefited their career. The videos can be viewed at www.gbci.org/stories. All of the professionals featured are employed by companies who are members of the U.S. Green Building Council. The videos have given them an opportunity to speak about the meaningful green work accomplished for clients … Read more

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U.S. Construction Machinery Exports up 48% at Mid-Year 2011

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U.S. exports of construction equipment continued to grow in 2011 and ended the first half of the year up 48 percent compared to January-June of 2010. Total construction machinery exports at midyear were $11 billion, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The off-road equipment manufacturing trade group consolidates U.S. Commerce Dept. data with other sources into member global trend reports. “Exports remain a bright spot for the U.S. construction machinery manufacturing industry with continued weakness in the domestic marketplace. Pro-American export policies such as free trade agreements are proven to spur economic growth, which means manufacturers can provide more … Read more

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Turner School of Construction Management Graduates 59 Minority, Women-Owned Businesses from Training Program in Chicago

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CHICAGO, Ill. — Turner Construction Company’s Chicago office recently held a graduation ceremony for 59 graduates of the firm’s 23rd Turner School of Construction Management Program for minority and women-owned business enterprises. Sponsors of the program this year included Exelon Corporation, Federation of Women Contractors, Roosevelt University’s Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate, Construction Materials and Supply Resources, and endorsements from The City of Chicago’s Department of Procurement, Chicago Minority Business Development Council, Westwood College, the Women’s Business Development Center and the U.S. Green Building Council. “Another successful year of making a significant impact to the minority and women owned … Read more

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