Groundbreak Carolinas

GroundBreak Carolinas

Your source for construction industry news in the Carolinas

Helen Johnson

Responding to Growing Demand, Duke Energy, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor Execute Agreements to Accelerate Clean Energy Options

by GroundBreak Carolinas Staff on

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor today announced agreements to explore new and innovative approaches to support carbon-free energy generation and help utilities serve the future energy needs of large businesses in North Carolina and South Carolina. The announcement was made at the White House Summit on Domestic Nuclear Deployment. In memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed…

New BuildStrong Academy Offers Complimentary Carpentry and Electrical Training

by Home Builders Institute (HBI) on

The Home Builders Institute (HBI) in partnership with the Fioretti Family Charitable Fund announced the grand opening of the BuildStrong Academy of Charlotte, a new training facility in the Charlotte region to help address the labor shortage in the residential construction industry. In Charlotte, the skilled construction labor shortage has reached critical levels, posing significant challenges for the…

A Career in Design-Build: From Intern to Project Manager

by Matt Worley, Project Manager, A M King on

Like many college freshmen, I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do with my life, and it wouldn’t have occurred to me at that time to pursue a career in Design-Build. When I was young, growing up in Rock Hill, SC, I do remember liking math and science and thought maybe I could…

ABC Returns to Court To Fight DOL’s New Unlawful Overtime Rule

by Associated Builders and Contractors on

Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the filing of a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, challenging the U.S. Department of Labor’s controversial final rule, Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees, which will change overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. DOL’s new…

Cultivating an Equitable Culture for Remote, In-Office, and Hybrid Workforces

by Sharon Crawford, Workplace Interiors Studio Principal, Little on

The term “culture” is a bit like a chameleon, seamlessly taking on different shades and interpretations. Some distill culture to the daily choices made within a given environment over time. Miriam Webster defines culture as “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an organization.” As an interior designer crafting experiences at…

Advice for New Grads from AEC Leaders in the Carolinas

by Helen Johnson on

GroundBreak Carolinas reached out to a cross section of construction industry leaders in North Carolina and South Carolina to see what advice they might have for new college graduates entering our industry. Check out their “words of wisdom!” IN THEIR OWN WORDS “Always do the right thing. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting your…

CAGC Members Honored for Successful Safety Programs

by Helen Johnson on

Carolinas AGC (CAGC) recently announced 57 company recipients of the association’s 2023 Safety Awards. Each firm entering the program receives a score card detailing how their company compares to other entries from CAGC and nationally. CAGC Safety Award certificates will be distributed at the 2024 CAGC Summit and Expo in Myrtle Beach, SC in August….

FTC Non-Compete Ban: What Employers Need to Know

by Kate Dewberry, Partner, Poyner Spruill, LLP on

The Federal Trade Commission’s new rule banning non-compete clauses is effective September 4, 2024 and will impact those in the construction industry. The ban applies to both employees and independent contractors, and pre-existing non-compete agreements will be void. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Non-Compete Ban: The ban is broad and invalidates any new non-competes entered…

AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index Reflects Another Decline in April

by AIA/Deltek on

Architecture firm billings remained soft in April, with an AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 48.3 for the month. The score rose from 43.6 in March but still indicates that billings continue to decline at most architecture firms. While the value of newly signed design contracts dipped slightly in April, there remains interest from…

NAOIP Commercial Real Estate Sentiment Rebounds

by NAOIP on

The NAIOP CRE Sentiment Index, a key forecast of commercial real estate market conditions over the next 12 months, has increased significantly from the last survey in fall 2023. The Index rose to 52, from 46 in September, indicating that respondents expect conditions for commercial real estate development to be somewhat better over the next year….