HCC’s Continuing Education Classes for Oil & Gas Professionals

HCC’s Continuing Education Classes for Oil & Gas Professionals

The Houston Community College School of Continuing Education faculty and staff are committed to providing outstanding instruction and services to the community in areas such as business, languages, industrial technology & energy, information technology, construction, manufacturing, transportation, public safety, and health. HCC is proud of the expertise its faculty brings to the classroom. Whether changing…

Texas Oil and Natural Gas Producers Are Paying Record Amounts in Production Taxes

Texas Oil and Natural Gas Producers Are Paying Record Amounts in Production Taxes

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s recently released tax collections data reveals that Texas oil and natural gas producers are paying record amounts in production taxes to the State of Texas. According to the Comptroller’s data, in April, Texas oil producers paid a record $666 million to the state in oil production taxes, the highest amount in…

New Oil and Gas Monitoring and Enforcement Plan Approved for Fiscal Year 2023

New Oil and Gas Monitoring and Enforcement Plan Approved for Fiscal Year 2023

In the coming fiscal year beginning in September, the Railroad Commission will continue its strong work to improve transparency and build upon efforts that protect public safety and the environment in its oversight of the oil and gas industry. Commissioners recently approved the Fiscal Year 2023 Oil and Gas Monitoring and Enforcement Plan, which outlines…

Permit Stuck in Concrete? 5 Tips to Crack the Permitting Code

Permit Stuck in Concrete? 5 Tips to Crack the Permitting Code

Let’s say that you have a big customer that you have been waiting to work with for a long time.  You finally sold this customer and landed your first project.  You meet with your customer to go over their plans, timeline, budget constraints, etc. and you see that all the documents appear to be acceptable…

US Department of Labor Announces $11.7M Funding Availability of Susan Harwood Training Grants for Workplace Safety, Health Hazards Training

US Department of Labor Announces $11.7M Funding Availability of Susan Harwood Training Grants for Workplace Safety, Health Hazards Training

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a funding opportunity for $11.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support the delivery of training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the grants will target disadvantaged, underserved, low-income,…

Doing Business With CapMetro

Doing Business With CapMetro

CapMetro has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26.  CapMetro’s overall DBE goal for FY2020-22 is 19% of the Federal financial assistance expended in DOT-assisted contracts, exclusive of FTA funds to be used for the purchase of transit vehicles. It…

Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Overall Goal for Federal Fiscal Years 2023 – 2025

Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Overall Goal for Federal Fiscal Years 2023 – 2025

Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) submitted the following Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) overall goal and methodology for Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2023-2025 to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for review in accordance with 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 26.45.  Small businesses should take heed to this information, as it opens doors for contractors…

Current Bidding Opportunities With METRO

Current Bidding Opportunities With METRO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION ANTICIPATED LETTING DATE ANTICIPATED PROJECT VALUE (ESTIMATED) ANTICIPATED SBE % UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR BRT Q3 2024 – Q3 2025 $1.5B – $2B 35% INNER KATY BRT Q3 2024 $350M – $400M  35% WEST BELFORT PARK AND RIDE AND PARKING STRUCTURE Q3 2022 $60M – $70M  35% NORTHLINE TRANSIT CENTER PARKING STRUCTURE Q4 2022  $35M…

Leadership Programs for Architects

Leadership Programs for Architects

To meet the complex demands of this fast-paced environment, leadership is the most critical component for success. Through seminars, workshops, certificate programs, and online resources, the AIA prepares architects and emerging professionals to advance the architecture profession. Whether you are a partner in a large firm, an emerging professional in your first project management role,…

Construction Employment Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Peak in 32 States in April, but Record High Job Openings Threaten Further Job Gains

Construction Employment Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Peak in 32 States in April, but Record High Job Openings Threaten Further Job Gains

Construction employment exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 32 states in April, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned however that record-high job opening levels in the construction sector indicate that many firms are having a hard time finding workers to hire, putting future…

New Report Explores Architect, Contractor Relationship

New Report Explores Architect, Contractor Relationship

A study published recently by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), in partnership with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), sheds new light on the relationship between architects and contractors and the needs of both professions. The fifth edition of The Architect’s Journey to Specification focuses on improving the working relationship between architects and…

API Addresses Economic Club of Colorado, Underscores Importance of American Energy Leadership

API Addresses Economic Club of Colorado, Underscores Importance of American Energy Leadership

American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers recently addressed The Economic Club of Colorado and discussed the importance of American energy security during a critical moment in the nation’s history. Sommers discussed energy markets and offered recommendations to both federal and state policymakers to maintain and strengthen American energy leadership. “If our country…

API: Proposed Offshore Energy Program Shows Disconnect Between Political Rhetoric and Reality

API: Proposed Offshore Energy Program Shows Disconnect Between Political Rhetoric and Reality

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently released the following statement from Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics, and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola in response to the Department of Interior’s (DOI) proposed 5-Year Program for federal offshore leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf: “Today’s announcement from the Department of the Interior confirms they are significantly behind…

Reliant and Houston Texans Award Six Student-Athletes With $10,000 Scholarships

Reliant and Houston Texans Award Six Student-Athletes With $10,000 Scholarships

As the 2021-2022 school year comes to an end for students across the greater Houston area, six student-athletes received the ultimate surprise from Reliant and the Houston Texans: $10,000 college scholarships. The annual Scholarships for Champions program is designed to encourage students to follow their dreams and further their education while never losing sight of…

API, AOPL Report Shows Strengthened Pipeline Safety Performance

API, AOPL Report Shows Strengthened Pipeline Safety Performance

The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines recently released their annual 2021 Pipeline Safety Excellence Performance Report, which found that the safety of liquids pipelines increased across several key indicators. Thanks to an industry culture of “safety first, safety always” and a commitment to zero-incident operations, liquids pipeline incidents impacting…

API Enhances Pipeline Safety With Two Updated Standard

API Enhances Pipeline Safety With Two Updated Standard

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently released two revised liquid pipeline leak detection standards to improve operational integrity and advance operators’ mitigation capabilities. “Leak detection in liquid pipelines enables operators to quickly respond to incidents, minimizing any impact on local communities and the environment,” said Anchal Liddar, senior vice president of API’s Global Industry Services….

5 Key Steps To Keep a Sharp Eye on Your Plans During Permitting

5 Key Steps To Keep a Sharp Eye on Your Plans During Permitting

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer   It can be challenging for some Contractors to keep their focus on what’s happening with their plans while in Permitting. Getting distracted with day-to-day tasks is one factor. When I was waiting for my favorite tacos to go at a local restaurant, I started watching one of the large screen…

Construction Suicide Prevention Week

Construction Suicide Prevention Week

The construction industry has the second-highest rate of suicide in the United States at 53.3 per 100,000 workers according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In the U.S. there are approximately 123 suicides per day that breaks down to one death every 12 minutes (SafeBuild Alliance). In 2020, a mission-driven group of volunteers from…

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction Pulse Survey

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction Pulse Survey

By Cal Beyer, VP of Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing, CSDZ In September 2021, the Center for Workplace Mental Health released the results from the Pulse Survey on Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Industry. This pulse survey focused on opportunities to continue moving forward in effectively addressing worker mental health and wellbeing in…