On April 28, 2021 WBC hosted the Economic Update & Forecast presented by Dr. Anirban Basu, Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore. Dr. Basu serves as chief economist to the Associated Builders and Contractors and as chief economic adviser to the Construction Financial Management Association. He holds four graduate degrees, including a JD and a PhD.
News At A Glance
News At A Glance
Author: matrixsuperadmin
WBC Foundation is organizing a jobsite food drive supporting the Capital Area Food Bank on April 26-30.
Is your jobsite registered?
Contact us today to participate:
Vanessa Carrion, Mike Holland or Steve Kenton
On April 22, WBC member BALA Consulting Engineers presented the Office to Lab Conversion webinar. The webinar was presented by Charles Kensky, Scott Davis and Steven Anastasio of Bala Consulting Engineers. The presentation discussed how to evaluate current assets to determine if they have the potential for lab conversion and the various MEP/FP and structural systems that will need to be adjusted or supplemented to accommodate future life science requirements.
With an increase in demand for lab ready spaces, developers and asset managers are looking to reposition their properties to accommodate life science end user requirements. There are several factors that need to be considered when evaluating if an existing building can accommodate life science requirements. These range from the layout of the building and its core, the structure of the building and of course the infrastructure systems that support the building use. The requirements for lab space vastly differ from traditional office space. Certain assets may be better positioned than others for conversion to lab ready use based on existing infrastructure, property agencies and construction type.
WBC is providing 10 volunteers on March 28, April 18 and May 16 to sort and pack food at the Capital Area Food Bank’s DC distribution center. The volunteer community is one of the charitable organization’s most important resources. Each year, volunteers save the food bank millions of dollars while helping to feed the DMV community. The WBC Community Services Committee is coordinating this outstanding monthly volunteer opportunity.
Capital Food Bank
DC Distribution Center
4900 Puerto Rico Avenue, NE
Washington, DC, 20017
OPEN TO MEMBERS ONLY
We are looking for volunteers (limit to 10 volunteers per month) to help on the following dates:
March 28 – 9:00 am to Noon – No space available
April 18 – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
May 16 – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – No space available
Volunteers must be at least 12 years old!
About Capital Area Food Bank
The Capital Area Food Bank leads our region’s efforts to provide good, healthy food to people struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Each year, we source and distribute the food for over 45 million meals.
Introducting the WBC Hammerheads Newsletter
by Stacy Chu (AISC) and Nathan Tegarden (R.W. Murray Co.)
A brief forward by your editors…
Hello WBC! Welcome to the very first rendition of the Hammerheads Quarterly Newsletter. In each issue, we will feature one HH Committee member as well as showcasing exciting project updates from HH members, celebrating job promotions, and providing a list of job openings and upcoming events. Many thanks for those who contributed to this first issue! Want to be featured or share your news?
On February 10, 2021 WBC hosted the PPP Update and Small Business Guidance webinar. The webinar was presented by William Foote and Chris Vasquez of Aronson LLC. This session covered the ins and outs of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness and other important information for our industry. The PPP is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll. First Draw PPP Loans could be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits, and could also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations. SBA, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, reopened the Paycheck Protection Program for First Draw Loans the week of January 11, 2021.
Help Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church
Make Health and Safety Repairs for Low-Income Homeowners
Each year Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church makes critical home repairs at no charge for about 100 low-income homeowners. RT-AFF relies mostly on individual volunteers with a range of remodeling skills, but some more extensive and challenging repairs require a contractor with professional skills.
RT-AFF is hoping that some of WBC member companies will step up to tackle repairs that are a good fit with your group. Over the coming months, RT-AFF will periodically be identifying projects they need help with, and WBC will alert its members to these community service opportunities. Because of the pandemic, Rebuilding Together is focusing on projects that require no more than 4-5 people.
RT-AFF’S PROJECTS
- A family in Arlington with two disabled children needs bathroom modifications for accessibility including: convert a walk-in shower to zero threshold roll-in shower, widen the bathroom doorway and convert to barn door design, and replace the vanity with an accessible wall-mounted sink. This one-story home is wood frame construction with a crawl space.
- A widow in Alexandria apparently has a dead electrical circuit with no ceiling lights in three rooms. A professional electrician needs to diagnose the problem and make the repair.
- A low-income homeowner of a townhouse in Springfield has a 6’ wooden fence that’s leaning over due to three 4×4 posts that need to be reset vertically. The homeowner is anxious to correct this problem and respond to a complaint from her homeowner association.
- A disabled homeowner in Springfield needs to have a bathtub converted to walk-in shower. The current tub and vinyl surround is 29” x 59”. This repair will greatly reduce the homeowner’s risk of falling.
- RT-AFF has two clients, one in Reston and one in Springfield, that need roof and/or gutter repairs to stop leaks showing water damage inside their townhouses.
- A low-income widow in Falls Church needs a complete roof replacement for her 1,200 square foot one-story home in Falls Church.
- A homeowner in Vienna needs a garage door opener installed plus repairs to her garage door and asphalt driveway.
CONTACT
If your company is willing to take on any of these repairs, please contact:
 | Andrew Tomlinson G&M Services WBC Community Services Committee Chair |
On February 20, 2021, the WBC Small Business Committee hosted a Navigating CBE & First Source event featuring Loretta Caldwell of L.S. Caldwell & Associates, Inc. The program provided an excellent opportunity to learn about small business compliance issues.
Ms. Caldwell’s outstanding presentation addressed:
– CBE Certification, Reporting and Enforcement
– First Source Program and Major Differences in Old First Source vs. New Law
– Issues and Challenges Working Under the New First Source Law
Become a WBC member
Unlike other associations that represent only one facet of the industry, the WBC represents everyone – owners, developers, architects, builders, subcontractors, suppliers and professional service firms. This is the only local association where you can meet with your clients, contractors and peers in one setting.
