SUBCONTRACTORS USA November 2021

Keith "MR. D-MARS" Davis, Sr.

Subcontractors USA highlights opportunities and news relevant to the construction, energy, architecture, manufacturing, education, engineering, oil and gas, transportation, and IT industries we serve. We hope you find this issue not only informative, but inspiring and educational as well.

This month's issue of Subcontractors USA highlights Bexar County’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department (SBED). COVID-19 has wrought unprecedented challenges that have and continue to affect us in profoundly different ways. The unforeseen circumstances resulting from the pandemic have been felt by our small business community. Beyond the provision of PPE and essential items, Bexar County’s SBED, under the leadership of Director Renee Watson, continues to make a concerted effort to connect small business with contracting opportunities, regardless of the venue. Though COVID has hurt communities, it didn’t stop commerce. Just as small businesses had to adapt to virtual offerings and venues, so did the SBED mission.

“The American entrepreneurial spirit is a defining quality of our Nation which time and again has lifted us to new heights and carried us through our greatest challenges.”

—46th and current president of the United States, Joe Biden

After nearly two years of virtual programming, SBED plans to return to its annual in-person format for the 2021 SMWVBO Conference on December 8, 2021. The conference will be held at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall located at 3201 E. Houston, San Antonio, Texas 78219. The SBED and its partners are ready to host this annual event that connects small businesses to a platform that has billions of dollars in contract opportunities. With COVID-19 mitigation protocols in place, this will be a safe experience for attendees. SBED is more than just a faceless government department, but they see the small business community as neighbors. And this year’s conference in addition to their other efforts will continue to reflect that.

As always, thank you for your continued support of Subcontractors USA. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

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BEHIND THE JOURNAL

PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr.

CHIEF OF STAFF & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla

ASSISTANT SALES REPRESENTATIVE Tiffany Brown

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Bria Casteel

ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa

DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Erick Fontejon

PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard

DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Stephen Schad Bethany Lundell Garver Destiny Vaquera Dana C. Sotoodeh Helen Callier Subcontractors USA News Provider

CONTENTS

04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Hines College Celebrates Historic 75th Anniversary Gala event remembers Gerald D. Hines and honors the Hines Family 06 National Organization of Minority Architects Hosted 50th AnniversaryOnline Conference and Gala Weekend 06 Habitat Project Receives Texas APA Resilience Award

08 CONSTRUCTION 08 Only 14 States and D.C. Added Construction Jobs Since the Pandemic Began as Supply Problems, Lack of Infrastructure Bill Undermine Recovery 10 Prices for Construction Materials Continue to Outstrip Bid Prices Over 12 Months, Despite Dip in September, Amid Increasing Supply-Chain Problems

12 ENERGY 12 From the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, Reliant and EarthShare of Texas Reach $2 Million Milestone in Protecting the Environment 12 CPS Energy President & CEO Paula Gold-Williams Announces Early 2022 Departure 13 Protect Yourself From Energy Fraud

14 OIL AND GAS 14 RRC Working on Proactive Measures for the Upcoming Winter 14 Texas Drilling Permit and Completion Statistics for September 2021 15 RRC Commissioners Assess Penalties 16-17 COVER STORY 16-17 For More Than 20 Years, Bexar County’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department Connects Small Businesses to Opportunities

18 LEGAL 18 The Associated General Contractors of America Meets With White House on OSHA COVID-19 Testing Mandate 18 Progressives and Conservatives Chose Partisanship Over Progress in Decision To Delay Passage of Much-needed Infrastructure Bill

20 PERMITS 20 The Top 7 Ways To Say Thank You to City Plan Reviewers for Approving Your Plans for Permitting

22 SAFETY 22 US Department of Labor Initiates Rulemaking to Protect Workers, Outdoors and Indoors, From Heat Hazards Amid Rising Temperatures 22 US Department of Labor Sues Austin Luxury Car Dealer That Retaliated Against Employee Who Raised Concerns of Coronavirus Hazards

26 TRANSPORTATION 26 Michele Wong Krause Elected Chair of DART Board of Directors 26 DFW Airport Launches New Security Fast Pass Pilot Program 28 IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program: 'On Time and On Budget'

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