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SUBCONTRACTORS USA W W W . S U B C U S A . C O M T E X A S J O U R N A L
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November 2020 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 56th Edition
Sowells Consulting Engineers Celebrates 10 Years...And Many More
INSIDE
16-17
Keith "MR. D-MARS" Davis, Sr.
The Subcontractors US Texas Journal 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 highlights Sowells Consulting Engineers, LLC (SCE). This award-winning, minority-owned company is celebrating 10 years of leadership, completion of major projects, client and revenue growth, and its progress opening doors for the underrepresented to have opportunities and advancement in construction and engineering. Developing a core team of professional design engineers, construction managers,
“A business absolutely devoted to service will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.” —Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motor Company and inspectors providing high-quality services, SCE’s experience includes large diameter waterlines, underground utilities, highways, bridges, streets and sidewalks, water and wastewater treatment plants, and public and private facilities. The exceptional quality of service delivered on these projects enables them to develop and maintain deep-rooted client relationships. We congratulate SCE on 10 years, and wish them great success in the years to come!
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Subcontractors US Texas Journal. 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.
COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla
ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa
PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard
DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Helen Callier Subcontractors USA News Provider
CONTENTS
04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Only Eight States Top February Peak In Construction Employment Despite Gains In 32 States Last Month; More Losses Loom Without Loan Renewal
06 CONSTRUCTION 06 Ti Cold Development Announces New State-of-the Art 303,920-Square-Foot Cold Storage Facility Located in Houston, Texas. East Hardy Commerce Park Just Got Cooler 08 Could Long-Term Blackouts and Outages Become the New Normal?
12 IT & TECHNOLOGY 12 Combatting Cybersecurity Threats of the COVID-19 Era
14 LEGAL 14 National Recycling Strategy and Framework for Advancing the U.S. Recycling System
14 MANUFACTURING 14 Navistar Virtually Breaks Ground on San Antonio Manufacturing Facility, Slated to Begin Vehicle Production Early 2022
16-17 COVER STORY 16-17 Sowells Consulting Engineers: Established in 2010 & Standing Strong for Many Years to Come
20 OIL AND GAS 20 Darren Woods Discusses Future of Industry and Company With Employees
24 PERMITS 24 11 Tips To Prepare To Pull A Building Permit During Hurricane Season
26 SAFETY 26 OSHA’s COVID-19 Guidance for the Workforce
28 TRANSPORTATION 28 DART Brings GoLink On-Demand Service to Irving and Garland 28 VIA’s Transit Community Council Active and Seeking New Members 28 Kerrick Henny Joins Port Houston Leadership Team
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CONSTRUCTION
California and Vermont Post Worst Losses since February as Virginia and South Dakota Add the Most;Illinois and Iowa Have Worst OneMonth Job Losses, While New York and Vermont Post Biggest Gains
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
Only eight states and the District of Columbia have recouped the severe pandemic-induced losses of construction jobs that occurred last spring, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials warned that job losses will become even more widespread unless lawmakers promptly renew and expand the loan program that enabled firms to temporarily retain and rehire many workers.
“New spikes in coronavirus cases, along with ongoing pandemic-related costs and revenue losses, are causing ever more private owners, developers, and public agencies to delay and cancel projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Although single-family homebuilding is gathering steam, multifamily and nonresidential construction activity has stalled, leaving large numbers of workers at risk of losing their jobs as current projects finish up with nothing on the horizon.”
Seasonally adjusted construction employment in September was lower than in February—the last month before the pandemic forced many contractors to suspend work—in 42 states, Simonson added. California lost the most construction jobs over that span (-54,900 jobs, -6.1 percent), followed by Texas (51,800 jobs, -6.5 percent). Vermont had the largest percentage loss (-24.5 percent, -3,600 jobs), followed by Iowa (-14.6 percent, -11,400 jobs).
Of the eight states added construction jobs from February to September, Virginia added the most (4,300 jobs, 2.1 percent), followed by Utah (3,800 jobs, 3.3 percent). South Dakota posted the largest percentage gain (9.4 percent, 2,300 jobs), followed by Utah.
Construction employment decreased from August to September in 17 states, increased in 32 states, and was unchanged in Arkansas and D.C. Illinois shed the most construction jobs from August to September (-3,000 jobs or -1.4 percent), followed by Oregon (-2,600 jobs, -2.4 percent) and Iowa (-2,500 jobs, -3.6 percent). Iowa had the largest percentage decrease, followed by Oregon and New Mexico (-2.0 percent, -1,000 jobs).
New York added the most construction jobs over the month (5,300 jobs, 1.5 percent), followed by Louisiana (5,000 jobs, 4.1 percent) and Washington (4,200 jobs, 2.0 percent). Vermont had the largest percentage gain for the month (500 jobs, 4.7 percent), followed by Louisiana and New Hampshire (800 jobs, 3.0 percent).
Association officials warned that project cancellations are on the rise as new outbreaks of coronavirus across many states force many private owners and public officials to postpone or cancel planned starts. Association officials noted that the rapid adoption of Paycheck Protection Program loans last spring had enabled construction to bounce back quickly from the first round of project shutdowns and delays, and they urged lawmakers in
Washington to act swiftly to extend and expand the program.
“The loans that were issued last spring saved tens of thousands of construction workers from unemployment but those funds are rapidly running out,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Renewal of the loan program should be a top priority for any policy maker who cares about keeping the economy from backsliding.”
For more on state employment February-September data and rankings; August-September rankings; highs and lows, please visit www.agc.org.
Source: The Associated General Contractors of America
