AIA Report Estimates up To 270,000 Construction Industry Jobs Could be Created if American Clean Energy Security Act is Passed

Building-related provisions in act have environmental and economic benefits Washington, D.C. — With the encouragement of Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) conducted a study to determine how many jobs in the design and construction industry could be created if the American Clean Energy Security Act (H.R. 2454; also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill) is enacted. The study analyzes two provisions included in the House-passed Act, the State Energy and Environment Development (SEED) program and the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) program. Using studies that measure the extent of job creation in … Read more

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ABC Receives Apprenticeship Training Grant from Department of Labor

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Washington, D.C. — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) announced on August 12 that it received a $624,300 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for construction apprenticeship training. The money, from DOL's Advancing Registered Apprenticeship into the 21st Century program, was awarded to ABC's Trimmer Education Foundation and will be divided among six ABC chapters and partnerships to expand employment opportunities for those interested in pursing a career in construction, including minorities, women and displaced workers.   “Despite the economic downturn, we are still facing a severe shortage of construction … Read more

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The New RIDGID 2-in-1 Close Quarters AUTOFEEDTM Cutter Allows for Cutting in Tight and Restricted Spaces

ELYRIA, Ohio — August 2009 — The RIDGID 2-in-1 Close Quarters AUTOFEEDTM Cutter combines the RIDGID Model 118 Close Quarters AUTOFEED Cutter with a ratchet handle that allows for easier cutting in tight, restricted spaces. The cutter can be used alone or with the ratchet handle. The handle, a light and ergonomic accessory, can be attached to the cutter and operated in ratchet steps as small as 10 degrees, allowing for fine indexing of the cutter to operate in tight spaces where the cutter cannot be rotated by hand. The RIDGID Model 118 Close Quarters AUTOFEED Cutter requires the operator … Read more

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OSHA Establishes ‘Watch List’ to Strengthen Integrity of Outreach Training Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is continuing to strengthen the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by publishing an “Outreach Trainer Watch List” of those who have had their trainer authorizations either revoked or suspended. OSHA recently conducted an undercover investigation as part of its heightened effort to address fraudulent activity by trainers authorized through the OSHA Outreach Training Program. The investigation of a 10-hour course conducted by Don Barker, environmental health and safety director for Thor Construction in Las Vegas, … Read more

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GSA Invests $1B in Recovery Act Construction Projects Nationwide

GSA Projects Will Yield Higher-Performing, Money-Saving, Greener Federal Buildings WASHINGTON — The U.S. General Services Administration marked a major milestone in its implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as it brought its total investments in construction projects to more than $1 billion. “Given the intent of the Recovery Act to stimulate the economy and put people back to work, we set a very aggressive goal to obligate our first $1 billion by the end of July,” said GSA Acting Administrator Paul Prouty. “With that goal met, our focus now is to continue to get shovels in the ground … Read more

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