FMI Releases Q4-2013 Construction Outlook Report

RALEIGH, N.C. (January 31, 2014) – FMI, a provider of management consulting and investment banking* to the engineering and construction industry, has released its Q4-2013 Construction Outlook. The forecast predicts 2013 to end with 7 percent growth for the construction industry as a whole. Final statistics for construction-put-in-place will be available April 2014.

Select market predictions include the following:

Construction Employment Increases in 34 States from a Year Ago
Mississippi and California Rack up the Largest 12-Month Gains; D.C. and Pennsylvania Have Biggest Declines

(Jan. 28, 2014) - Construction firms added jobs in 34 states over the past 12 months, but construction employment declined in 32 states and the District of Columbia between November and December as many parts of the country coped with weather, according to an analysis released by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data.

Architects Issue 2014 “Punch List” for Congress
Six Key Legislative Priorities Focus on Creating Jobs, Growing the Economy and Saving Energy

Washington, D.C. (January 13, 2014) – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced its “punch list” for Congress that, if completed, will ignite the construction economy by spurring much needed improvements in energy efficiency, infrastructure and resiliency and create jobs for small business

Brasfield & Gorrie Receives Honors for Excellence in Construction
Raytheon Redstone Missile Integration Facility and Galveston Causeway Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge projects earn honors from Contractors Association

Birmingham, Ala. (Jan. 13, 2014) – Brasfield & Gorrie announced that the company received honors from the Alabama Associated General Contractors (AGC) during a recent awards ceremony. AGC presented BuildSouth awards in 13 categories, of which two projects constructed by Brasfield & Gorrie were cited for excellence.

Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Announces Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2014
Economic improvement and favorable financing conditions will drive capital spending this year.

WASHINGTON (January 13, 2014) — The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) which represents the $827 billion equipment finance sector, revealed its Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2014. Given U.S. businesses, nonprofits and government agencies will spend in excess of $1.5 trillion in capital goods or fixed business investment (including software) this year, financing more than half of those assets, these trends impact a significant portion of the U.S. economy.

Construction Employment Declined by 16,000 Jobs Amid Cold Winter Weather in December
Sector's unemployment rate hits 11.4 percent.

(January 10, 2014) - Construction employment declined by 16,000 in December, but the industry unemployment rate fell to 11.4 percent, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the new employment data was likely impacted by cold weather but also reflects underlying weakness in the construction sector.

Intertek Acquires Architectural Testing, Inc.
Leading Building Products Testing Companies Merge to Form Comprehensive Agency

Arlington Heights, IL – Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries worldwide, has completed its acquisition of Architectural Testing, Inc. (ATI), one of the largest building products testing and certification companies in North America. The acquisition recently gained regulatory approval and the transaction was finalized on December 24, 2013.

Allmand Employee Wins STEP Award

Washington, D.C. -(January 6, 2014) - The Manufacturing Institute announced they will award Afton Hollertz with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production) Award. The STEP Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry.