While many parts of Texas have been greatly affected by various types of disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey and now the COVID-19 pandemic, rural areas experience a more long-term hurt than urban areas. But, thanks to Prairie View A&M University’s new Rural Workforce Academy, change and opportunity have arrived.The Rural Workforce Academy, a collaboration of…
A new study looking at construction near Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail stations shows just how productive and important it is to the overall North Texas economy, generating billions of dollars in revenue, taxes and jobs. Researchers from the Economics Research Group at the University of North Texas (UNT), led by Michael Carroll,…
The VIA Board of Trustees took action Tuesday to create a path toward addressing VIA’s history of underfunding and redesign the regional transit system for a post-COVID-19 future. Advanced Transportation District Board members, who also serve as the VIA Board, agreed to table the notice to the City of San Antonio and Bexar County of…
Three years ago, one of the most devastating storms to hit the Texas Gulf Coast caused over $125 billion in damage and made a horrendous impact in the Houston area. Today, the PermitUsNow continues to receive phone calls from Contractors, Architects, and property owners with pleas for assistance in obtaining building permits to restore and…
Railroad Commission of Texas commissioners today voted to approve draft changes to the Application for Exception to Statewide Rule 32. The changes play a large role in ongoing efforts at the Commission to reduce the amount of flaring in the oil and gas industry in the state. At today’s Conference, Railroad Commission staff also discussed a…
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced today that it is offering online seminars in September to provide compliance assistance on the legal requirements to pay prevailing wages on federal and federally funded contracts for contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders. The events are part of an ongoing effort…
Mayor Sylvester Turner and the City of Houston’s Office of Sustainability today announced a new partnership with bp that will help advance major goals in the City’s recently launched Houston Climate Action Plan (CAP). Visit www.greenhoustontx.gov for more information on the CAP. Under the agreement, bp will serve as the City’s strategic planning and technical partner on…
The City of Fort Worth made history this month with their Professional Engineering Design and Consultant Services RFQ. The objective of the RFQ was to identify the most competent and qualified firms from which the City may negotiate contracts for professional design services that will be necessary to complete various TPW Capital Delivery Division (CDD)…
Historically, companies will do two things when times get tough: They will curtail their training departments and sales departments. The world was not prepared for the coronavirus, and there is no denying companies are facing hard decisions. Some companies have been required to do reduction in workforce because projects have been delayed. Although halting training…
The HEALS Act Includes Essential Liability, Workforce, Financial & Unemployment Reforms, But Association Will Work to Get Needed Infrastructure Investments Included in Final Relief Measure The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the release today of Senate Republican’s latest coronavirus relief…
Since affirming AIA’s commitment to contributing to solutions that foster equity and justice in the built environment, the Board of Directors has met regularly to identify next steps for translating our ideals into meaningful action and progress.
TLC Engineering, Inc. has provided exponential aid in every presidentially declared disaster to hit the City of Houston since Hurricane Ike in 2008. As a City of Houston-certified Minority, Small, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and state of Texas registered Historically Underutilized Business, they specialize in customized services in the areas of engineering, environmental services, construction management…
Applications for the 8th Annual Liftoff Houston, the City of Houston’s yearly business plan competition sponsored by Capital One Bank and administered by the Houston Public Library and the Office of Business Opportunity, are now live. This competition, launched on July 8th and active through November 7th, grants participants access to tools, resources and support…
July 2020
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
August 3 – 5, 2020
On May 29, 2020, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Texas High-Speed Train project, a regulatory milestone that ensures the state-of-the-art system will be built in a way that minimizes impacts to landowners and the environment along the 240-mile alignment. The release of this more than 10,000-page…
Standing for Social Justice, Economic Equality, Community Partnerships The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met in virtual session Tuesday for its regular monthly meeting. Port Chairman Ric Campo opened his remarks by declaring that events surrounding the pandemic and social injustice were a “wake up call,” and committed Port Houston to “double…
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced the availability of $11.5 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants for nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian tribes, and colleges and universities. The Harwood Training Grant program supports in-person, hands-on training for workers and employers…
While any face covering will help contain the usual droplets that come from coughing, sneezing and even speaking, there are things to look for in a face covering to maximize jobsite safety from the coronavirus. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, using flow visualization testing in a laboratory equipped with…
