MEMBER NEWS
Family First With 6 Generations, Going on 7 for Steves and Sons
Steves and Sons has a lot to be proud of after keeping their doors open for 153 years. Watch video at Kens5.
Plans Approved For Masonite Industrial Building
Project plans have been approved for a manufacturing corporation seeking to construct an industrial building in Genoa Township, MI. Read more at WHMI.
INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC NEWS
Affordability, Wages and Demographics Cause Shifts in Housing Strategy
Of late, home prices have climbed while wages have failed to keep up, leaving a gap between the current housing market and affordability. Read more at DWM.
Creating a Winning Wholesale Distribution Strategy
Disruptive forces—enabled and accelerated by digital—are rapidly reshaping wholesale distribution. These forces are shifting the basis of competition, upending traditional value propositions, enabling new business models, and creating high growth opportunities for those nimble and innovative enough to capitalize on them. Read more at Deloitte.
Fannie HPSI Dips Modestly
The Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Home Purchase Sentiment Index® decreased 0.5 points in June to 91.5 after nearing its survey high last month, up 0.8 points from the same month last year. Read more at Builder.
Fed’s Powell Bolsters Rate Cut View on Trade, Global Growth Concerns
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday set the stage for the first U.S. interest rate cut in a decade later this month, pledging to ‘act as appropriate’ to defend an economic expansion threatened by trade disputes and a global slowdown. Read more at Reuters.
GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE NEWS
White House Official Optimistic on U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Deal
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Tuesday said he was optimistic that U.S. House of Representatives leader Nancy Pelosi would allow a vote on a new North American trade agreement this summer or early fall. Read more at Reuters.
CODES AND STANDARDS NEWS
The International Code Council Goes to Court Over Free Access to Building Codes
Potential productivity benefits for architecture, engineering, and construction may depend on the outcome of copyright litigation by the International Code Council (ICC) against San Francisco-based startup UpCodes. Read More at The Architect’s Newspaper.
New Design Challenges for Impact Windows as ICC Ramps up U-Factors
For the 2021 I-Code updates, U-factors are growing stricter in Climate Zone 2, which encompasses much of Florida except for the very southern tip. Unless there are last-minute modifications, residential fenestration will be required to deliver a U-factor of 0.35. This has some implications for window makers doing business in Florida. Read More at Window and Door.
GREEN BUILDING NEWS
NAHB: Green Building Can Boost Housing Affordability
The National Association of Home Builders reports that green building incentives can provide some relief from the housing affordability struggle, a critical issue nationwide. One piece of the affordability issue in the U.S. is the regulatory burden on builders, currently estimated at 25% for each single-family home built and 30% for every multifamily unit. Read more at LBM Journal.
The U.S. Green Building Council Advances the Future of LEED
July 9, 2019 Today, the US Green Building Council (USGBC) announced a call for proposals to solicit feedback and concepts for the next version of LEED. USGBC created the LEED green building program 20 years ago to measure and define green building and to provide a roadmap for developing sustainable buildings. Read More at USGBC.
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
The Security Implications of IIoT
Michael Rothschild of Indegy explains that insider attacks threaten industrial internet of things technologies slightly more than outsider ones, and companies need to guard against both. He suggests several best practices for reducing cybersecurity risks. Read more at Automation.com.
SAFETY NEWS
It’s Up to You to Train, Evaluate Forklift Drivers
Employees who may operate a forklift must be trained according to OSHA Standard 1910.178. The standard requires employers to develop and implement a training program based on the general principles of safe forklift operation, the types of vehicle(s) being used in the workplace, the hazards of the workplace created by the use of the vehicle(s), and the general safety requirements of the OSHA standard. Trained operators must know how to do their job and operate the forklift properly, and they have to do it safely as demonstrated by a workplace evaluation. Read more at Pallet Enterprise.
Poll: Many Employers Not Ready to Deal with Workers’ Marijuana Use
Rochester, NY — Approximately one-third of business owners with fewer than 500 employees are ill prepared to manage the impact of marijuana use on the workplace, according to the results of a recent poll. Read more at Safety + Health Magazine.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The Problem With Negotiation
“Why do people negotiate constantly with us, but would never expect to negotiate on the price of milk or a stick of butter at a grocery store?” The answer is easy: You tell them to! Read more at LBM Journal.
PODCASTS
From Sales Pro to Custom Builder: Insights From Adam Lingenfelter
Salespeople need to understand that the purchasing agent, project manager, or owner likely feel they do not have time to talk to another vendor or sub-contractor. It will take a compelling statement to keep the home builder contact engaged enough to allow further dialogue. Listen on Behind Your Back Sales Co.
