Site Selection Ranks North Carolina as the Top Business Climate for 2020
North Carolina ranks as the nation’s top state business climate in 2020 in a two-way tie with Georgia, according to Site Selection magazine. North Carolina held the No. 2 spot in the magazine’s annual business climates study for five straight years before rising to the top spot this year. North Carolina enjoyed a six-year run in the…
What I Learned about Business in Glacier National Park
Last week I solo hiked 55 of the 700 miles of trails in Glacier National Park in Montana. The backcountry is wild, unpredictable, and beautiful. It always occurs to me that there are many parallels to how the wild open spaces relate to the nature of business. Below are some of the take-aways I can…
FMI Releases Fourth Quarter Heavy Civil Construction Index
FMI Corporation, the leading provider of consulting and investment banking services to the Built Environment, is pleased to announce the release of the fourth quarter 2020 Heavy Civil Construction Index (HCCI) report, which presents construction spending forecasts for transportation, highway and street construction segments. This quarter’s questions polled participants on trends affecting the competitive landscape, revenue expectations…
Celebrating Safety: ABC Carolinas Announces 2020 STEP Award Recipients
Sending workers home safely every night is a common goal among construction firms. Founded in 1989 as a safety benchmarking and improvement tool, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) STEP program has evolved into a world-class safety management system that dramatically improves safety performance among participants regardless of company size or type of work. Participating…
Insights on Construction Logistics with ATS’ Scott Cromer
“Construction projects may be complex, but your logistics shouldn’t be,” says Scott Cromer of ATS Logistics, a national transportation provider with an established presence in our region. As Southeast Regional Manager, Cromer oversees the South Carolina sales and operations office in Greenville, along with warehouse operations in Charleston, S.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio. GroundBreak Carolinas recently…
2020 Presidential Candidates’ Tax Proposals
Election Day is less than a month away. Will there be a “blue wave?” Will Republicans maintain control of the Presidency and the Senate? Who knows? But, at a high level, we can compare what tax policies may be implemented in 2021 (or shortly thereafter) based on the 2020 election results. President Trump’s tax policies…
Cape Fear Community College Starts Plumbing and Pipefitting Apprenticeship Program
North Carolina is facing a serious shortage of plumbers. In fact, WRAL TV reported that in 2019, only 3 percent of the 5,500 licensed plumbers in North Carolina were under the age of 30. To address the shortage and meet the demands of local employers in the coastal region, Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) is…
NAIOP Coronavirus Impact Survey: Deal Activity Increases but Rent Relief Requests Also Rise
In NAIOP’s sixth monthly survey tracking the effects of the pandemic on the commercial real estate industry, respondents reported continued gradual improvement in deal activity, but also reported more tenants seeking rent relief, particularly in the office sector. The survey was completed by 203 NAIOP members between September 15 – 18, 2020. Respondents represent a…
Interior Construction Guidance for Healthy Space Designs
When it comes to the interior construction work that you do for your clients, the top concerns that you are likely to get are related to cost, aesthetics, and speed. This makes a lot of sense on paper. After all, some of your customers may need their spaces made on a tight timeline. Of course,…
AIA Healthcare Design Awards Include Two Projects in the Carolinas
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) is recognizing eight projects with its 2020 Healthcare Design Awards. This year’s best healing spaces include two projects located in the Carolinas. Award-Winners – South Carolina and North Carolina Hampton County Health Clinic, Varnville, South Carolina | Liollio Architecture – Built: Less than $25 million…