The American Institute of Architects (AIA) commends the Biden Administration for developing the first-ever Federal Building Performance Standard, setting an ambitious goal to cut energy use and electrify equipment and appliances in 30 percent of the building space owned by the Federal government by 2030. “The AIA supports the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Federal…
Construction contractors are less optimistic about many private-sector segments than they were a year ago, but their expectations for the public sector market have remained relatively bullish, according to survey results released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage. The findings are detailed in High Hopes for Public Sector Funding Amid Workforce…
Plunging prices for diesel fuel, lumber, and steel cooled inflation for materials and services used in construction in December, but relief may be short-lived, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials noted that contractors listed material costs as one of their top concerns in…
CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned, fully-integrated electric and natural gas utility in the United States, formally launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) as the company seeks new technology platforms to better serve customers and employees. The RFP seeks vendor(s) to replace its current company-wide Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software platforms, including Software as a…
February 2023
ExxonMobil recently announced the successful startup of one of the largest advanced recycling facilities in North America. The facility at the company’s integrated manufacturing complex in Baytown, Texas, uses proprietary technology to break down hard-to-recycle plastics and transform them into raw materials for new products. It is capable of processing more than 80 million pounds…
Heven Adugna aims high. She aspires to become a pediatrician, and as a seventh-grade student, she knows that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) will help her reach that goal. However, women—and particularly Black, Indigenous, and all girls of color—are largely underrepresented in STEM fields and often marginalized from taking part in STEM education at…
Houston wears the crown of America’s most diverse city, with ties that stretch to all corners of the world. But the international metropolis is on a quest for another title: the country’s most diverse, inclusive, and equitable city for business. Terence Baptiste, supplier diversity advisor at Chevron, is one of the architects of this vision…
The oil and gas industry has changed a lot over the past few decades due to technological developments, changing economic factors, and increased energy demand caused by changing consumer behaviors. All these changes are leading to exciting new opportunities for engineers and technical personnel. So, if you’re interested in a career in Oil and Gas,…
By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer Regardless if the construction market is hot, cold, or lukewarm, what the PermitUsNow team knows for sure is that a building permit is needed in a timely manner. Getting a permit fast helps project owners to become profitable sooner or to begin enjoying their dream. This complex, ever-changing world of…
As part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) focus on improving the safety of public transportation systems, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently announced the appointment of 24 members to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). “At the Department of Transportation, our top priority is ensuring the safety of…
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is seeking nominations to fill six membership vacancies on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. The 12-member group advises the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters related to administering the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA…
METRO’s Office of Economic Business Opportunity is committed to providing a variety of business enterprise programs to ensure equal opportunity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination in all its procurement and contracting matters. Read more on METRO’s Business Enterprise Programs and open procurements. Veteran Owned Business Enterprise Program To be classified as a certified Veteran Owned Business, your…
To create new opportunities for those experiencing poverty, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to help improve transit in areas experiencing long-term economic distress. The $20 million in competitive grant funding through FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) Program provides more resources to…
Recently, Port Houston hosted “Posada With the Port”, its first community event dedicated to bringing resources and information to communities near the Houston Ship Channel. This event was free to attend and hosted at Milby High School in Houston, TX. People wanting information about workforce opportunities, healthcare enrollment, food access, and other services attended the…
San Antonio Airport System (SAAS) is proud to announce a new milestone in the Airport Carbon Accreditation’s (ACA) carbon management certification program through Airports Council International-World. San Antonio International Airport renewed its Level 1 accreditation for Carbon Mapping and Stinson Municipal Airport achieved Level 1 status for the first time. “Through teamwork, we successfully achieved…
Future Architect Fund, a nonprofit organization that helps young people pursue careers in architecture, recently announced its public-facing launch and introduced its first holiday giving campaign. The organization, founded in 2020 by architects and construction industry insiders, is focused on providing support to individuals who may not have the financial means to complete all the…
Construction companies added 20,000 employees in November and continued to raise wages for hourly workers more steeply than other sectors as the industry’s unemployment rate tumbled, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government data. Association officials said the data shows that firms would have added significantly more workers…
The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction continued rising at a double-digit rate in November from a year earlier, propelled by outsized increases in the cost of a variety of building materials, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials noted that…
Enhancing the HAS-OBO’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion According to the latest figures (2022) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are 3,110,293 (3.1 million) small businesses in Texas. Small businesses are looking for lucrative opportunities to grow, expand, and contribute to the stimulation of our local economy. The Office of Business Opportunity…
