sucujovide.wordpress.com
The standard brick veneer and tranquill parking lot give away nothing of the actual activity inside oneof Manassas’ newest On one end, investigatorw and scientists pore over hair and tissued DNA of some of the state’as most dangerous criminals to learn what they did, while at the other, they pry open the dead bodiess of society’s latest victims to learn what was done to The lab is located on a 10-acrer spot across from ’s campus in the massivw maze of the Innovation@Prince William County Technologt Park. The 114,000-square-foot building will replaces thestate 30,000-square-foot headquarters in Fairfax, wheres officials say the space was burstingt at the seams.
“When we movex into the old lab [in we outgrew it in a year,” said Amy Wong, lab director for the Northerm Virginiaforensics lab, one of four branchews statewide. “Coming here, we can go back to beinvg full-service.” Now, the combined space for the Northernm Virginia branch of the Department of Forensic whichclaims 60,000 square and the Office of the Chief Medicak Examiner, claiming 26,000 square is intended to offer room to grow througj at least the next decade.
With 46 employeese there now, the building has a capacity of 110 The new building also houses anew 26,000-square-footg training suite, an improvement from the old where class attendees would have to sit or stane in the back of employee In addition, the evidence vault for the forensiczs lab, which oversees roughly 10,000 cases at any givenm time, is up to four times the size of the old, and a largetr firearms and ballistics testing area allowsd investigators to test more powerful weaponws than before.
Plus, the new medical examiner’s officd space allows for storage of as many as 200 bodie ina morgue, as well as a new biosafeth lab where examiners can test potentially contagious bacteria or viruses, includingb anthrax. The project, which has applied for the silver level of Leadershipo in Energy and Environmental Design green building was built asa public-private partnership deal that Prince William County officials hope will also boostg its biotech portfolio. The state footed the bill, but awarded the overalkl development contractto Rockville-based , which transferrer the project to McLean-basede LLC months later when the latter’s founder s split off from Scheer in 2007.
was the genera contractor, with MWL Architects and McKinnegyand Co. serving as the principa designersand engineers. The building’s hosted by Appian, comes days after the Districf pulled backa $133 millionm construction contract to build its own consolidaterd forensics lab in Southwest D.C. because of concernsx that competingbids weren’t properly D.C. leaders are planning to erect a $220 million buildingv on the site of the former Metropolitan Police Department First District Headquarters at 4154th St. SW.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Dublin, Columbus schools get grants for diesel-cutting - Birmingham Business Journal:
kittredgeihuhyla1951.blogspot.com
million is headed to Dublin and under a secondr round of state grantsx aimed at cutting diese lengine emissions. The on Mondau announced recipients of the second and finalk round of Diesel EmissionsReduction grants, a $19.98 million program created in 2008. The first round sent nearly $7.3 million to 10 organizations, includingv the , operator of the region’s bus system. In the winneras disclosed Monday, Dublin was cleared for $464,658 while the Columbusd school system receiveda $918,020 grant. Officials from Dublin and the schoo l district told thestate they’re using the money to replacs vehicles with lower-emission alternatives.
Dublin planse to replace eight 1999- or 2000-model short-haupl diesel trucks, while the school districr is using its grant to replace 15 buse producedin 1990. Projects that received awards are requiredc to put up at least 20 percent of the cost inmatchinh funds. The grant prograkm looks specifically at public and privatr diesel equipment owners in Ohio countiex that fall short of air quality The largest grant among the 16 went to the and to refitf four locomotives withnew engines. That Cincinnati-area projec was awarded $4.6 million.
million is headed to Dublin and under a secondr round of state grantsx aimed at cutting diese lengine emissions. The on Mondau announced recipients of the second and finalk round of Diesel EmissionsReduction grants, a $19.98 million program created in 2008. The first round sent nearly $7.3 million to 10 organizations, includingv the , operator of the region’s bus system. In the winneras disclosed Monday, Dublin was cleared for $464,658 while the Columbusd school system receiveda $918,020 grant. Officials from Dublin and the schoo l district told thestate they’re using the money to replacs vehicles with lower-emission alternatives.
Dublin planse to replace eight 1999- or 2000-model short-haupl diesel trucks, while the school districr is using its grant to replace 15 buse producedin 1990. Projects that received awards are requiredc to put up at least 20 percent of the cost inmatchinh funds. The grant prograkm looks specifically at public and privatr diesel equipment owners in Ohio countiex that fall short of air quality The largest grant among the 16 went to the and to refitf four locomotives withnew engines. That Cincinnati-area projec was awarded $4.6 million.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Egyptian Activists Call For Fresh Rally - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
http://xpresssurveys.com/home-insurance-plans.html
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty | Egyptian Activists C » |
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Critics call out Cincinnati Yellow Pages deal - San Antonio Business Journal:
viningocouqyl1601.blogspot.com
, a Denver company that has ownedf the rights tothe region’s largest Yellow Pages producy since 2002, blames the delay on printefr changes and organizational About 140 of its 900 directories are being delayedd nationwide. Cincinnati is the largest market “It’s a stinking deal,” said Brends Hacker, controller for in Clermonyt County. Hacker was planninb to downsizeher company’s ad in a directoryu she thought would be published in June. When she called the company in May to confirm the she was told it was exercising its contractual right to extenrdlast year’s publication. Hacker said it will cost her compangy anextra $700 each month.
“It’s just not what they’re doing to people,” she said. Local Insight spokeswoman Pat Nichols said 75 percent ofits 10,0090 local customers will be unaffected by the delay. Those are companie that plan to maintain the same ads they had last year or Local Insight CEO Scott Pomeroy is asking business owners angered by the delay to callthe company’es customer service line, (888) 237-8570, althoughu it’s not clear what stepxs the company will take to address concerns. “If the product’xs not delivering value to them, our customer serviced department is prepared to talk tothose folks,” Pomerou said.
“I think it’s evaluated on a case-by-casr basis.” The directory delay comees at a time of turmoil for Yellow Pagezspublishers nationwide. The recession is acceleratinb a trend that has long threatened the industry the shiftof so-called “directional advertising” from prinr publications to online search engines and mobilwe phones. The , a subsidiary of , is projectinyg total revenue will shrinkto $11 billion for Yellow Pageas publishers by 2013, down from $14.34 billion in 2008. A year ago, the Kelseh Group was forecasting a compound annual growth rate for the industrytof 4.5 percent.
Now, it’s minus 5 “The recession has driven printt sodeeply negative,” said Charles senior vice president and progranm director of the Kelsey Report. Laughlin said growtuh in digital revenue might never make up for sales lost inpringt publications. “Those who downsize, will they start spending again once thesmoke clears? It’sw probably next year before we he said. Laughlin said most of the nation’s largestr Yellow Pages markets are seeing revenu e dips of more than 20 percent this Pomeroy declined to reveal numbers for Cincinnatij but said the revenue dropis “nowherw near” 20 percent here.
He said companywide revenued was flatin 2008, standing at roughlhy $700 million. Laughlin declined to reveal Kelsey’s future outlook for Cincinnati, which is dominated by Local Insight but includes a second theYellow Book, publishedf by of Berkshire, England. The industry’s major including spinoff Idearc andthe better-known , are struggling through the recessiobn with heavy debt loads. Locall Insight also has leverage issues, but its focuw on smaller markets has helpedx temper the impact of the recessiohn onthe company, said Emile Courtney, a credir analyst for ’s.
“Idearc has filex for bankruptcy, and Donnelley has missed interesyt payments on debt withvarious entities. Locak Insight has not. From a strict financial-metrics point of they’re the healthier of the Courtney said. S&P revised to “negative” its outlook on Locaol Insight but retaineda “B” rating on its corporatwe debt in a March 31 report. At leastr one of the company’s locao customers has a less positive outlook. “jI think they’re really in trouble.
The phone book is a and nobody’s using it any said Vicky Bezak, exclusive marketing agent for Bezak estimated the directory delay woulrd cost hercompany $300 a month if she pays it. “I’m going to call Cincinnatii Bell and tell them that my contractwith (Local Insight) terminates on June 1, and I’ m not paying the ad costs listed on my currengt bill because I didn’t renea it,” she said. Cincinnati Bell serves as the billing agen t for Local Insight and permits the use of its branxd name as part of a rights agreementf signed when it sold its YelloPages company, , in 2002.
But Cincinnatk Bell is not involved inthe company’sw operations otherwise, according to Lisa a public relations consultant for Bell.
, a Denver company that has ownedf the rights tothe region’s largest Yellow Pages producy since 2002, blames the delay on printefr changes and organizational About 140 of its 900 directories are being delayedd nationwide. Cincinnati is the largest market “It’s a stinking deal,” said Brends Hacker, controller for in Clermonyt County. Hacker was planninb to downsizeher company’s ad in a directoryu she thought would be published in June. When she called the company in May to confirm the she was told it was exercising its contractual right to extenrdlast year’s publication. Hacker said it will cost her compangy anextra $700 each month.
“It’s just not what they’re doing to people,” she said. Local Insight spokeswoman Pat Nichols said 75 percent ofits 10,0090 local customers will be unaffected by the delay. Those are companie that plan to maintain the same ads they had last year or Local Insight CEO Scott Pomeroy is asking business owners angered by the delay to callthe company’es customer service line, (888) 237-8570, althoughu it’s not clear what stepxs the company will take to address concerns. “If the product’xs not delivering value to them, our customer serviced department is prepared to talk tothose folks,” Pomerou said.
“I think it’s evaluated on a case-by-casr basis.” The directory delay comees at a time of turmoil for Yellow Pagezspublishers nationwide. The recession is acceleratinb a trend that has long threatened the industry the shiftof so-called “directional advertising” from prinr publications to online search engines and mobilwe phones. The , a subsidiary of , is projectinyg total revenue will shrinkto $11 billion for Yellow Pageas publishers by 2013, down from $14.34 billion in 2008. A year ago, the Kelseh Group was forecasting a compound annual growth rate for the industrytof 4.5 percent.
Now, it’s minus 5 “The recession has driven printt sodeeply negative,” said Charles senior vice president and progranm director of the Kelsey Report. Laughlin said growtuh in digital revenue might never make up for sales lost inpringt publications. “Those who downsize, will they start spending again once thesmoke clears? It’sw probably next year before we he said. Laughlin said most of the nation’s largestr Yellow Pages markets are seeing revenu e dips of more than 20 percent this Pomeroy declined to reveal numbers for Cincinnatij but said the revenue dropis “nowherw near” 20 percent here.
He said companywide revenued was flatin 2008, standing at roughlhy $700 million. Laughlin declined to reveal Kelsey’s future outlook for Cincinnati, which is dominated by Local Insight but includes a second theYellow Book, publishedf by of Berkshire, England. The industry’s major including spinoff Idearc andthe better-known , are struggling through the recessiobn with heavy debt loads. Locall Insight also has leverage issues, but its focuw on smaller markets has helpedx temper the impact of the recessiohn onthe company, said Emile Courtney, a credir analyst for ’s.
“Idearc has filex for bankruptcy, and Donnelley has missed interesyt payments on debt withvarious entities. Locak Insight has not. From a strict financial-metrics point of they’re the healthier of the Courtney said. S&P revised to “negative” its outlook on Locaol Insight but retaineda “B” rating on its corporatwe debt in a March 31 report. At leastr one of the company’s locao customers has a less positive outlook. “jI think they’re really in trouble.
The phone book is a and nobody’s using it any said Vicky Bezak, exclusive marketing agent for Bezak estimated the directory delay woulrd cost hercompany $300 a month if she pays it. “I’m going to call Cincinnatii Bell and tell them that my contractwith (Local Insight) terminates on June 1, and I’ m not paying the ad costs listed on my currengt bill because I didn’t renea it,” she said. Cincinnati Bell serves as the billing agen t for Local Insight and permits the use of its branxd name as part of a rights agreementf signed when it sold its YelloPages company, , in 2002.
But Cincinnatk Bell is not involved inthe company’sw operations otherwise, according to Lisa a public relations consultant for Bell.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
PM posits Innovation as a solution to poverty - Northern Voices Online
asafevboriegum.blogspot.com
PM posits Innovation as a solution to poverty Northern Voices Online The way to eradicate poverty is not through removing corruption, nor is it through equitable distribution, it does not rely on proactive action to on the farm sector. What it needs, according to the Prime Minister, is innovation. ... |
Friday, November 18, 2011
Winn handing over reins of his company - Business First of Columbus:
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This week Winn, who will be 70 in August, officiallgy handed the reins over tohis son, Gilbert, 31, who has been workingg for his father for six The handoff comes at a time when Winn has endure d intense scrutiny for his involvement with the now-stalled Columbus Centere air-rights project and a donation to former state Sen. Diann e Wilkerson, who was arrested afteer allegedly being caught on tapeaccepting bribes. Winn made a $10,000 donation to a fund Wilkerson had legally set up to help with herpersonakl finances. Two years latee she sought $4.
3 million in help for the Columbus Center He said the only feeling he has abouy theWilkerson matter, for whicj he received a subpoena, is “great While the public subsidies tied to the private Columbuws Center caused outrage and damaged Winn’e reputation, the elder statesman of the local real estate communityy said this week he wanted to step down not because of the mediz attention but before a stroke, or worse, forced him to transitiobn the company under duress. Long ago, Winn heard a statistifc that entrepreneurs often change the direction of the companyu only after a chaotic situationor life-alteriny event.
One could say spending 11 years and endurint 120 public meetings to get Columbus Centee approved qualifies as a chaoticor life-changiny event. When asked about Columbus Center and whethef he regretsthe endeavor, he motionds to a white leather couch in his office as if he’ll need therapy to get over it. “Ther episodic nature of it I couldnot anticipate,” he “I did not anticipate the controversh and probably should have.” The proposed developmentg would have spanned the Massachusetts Turnpike and linked the neighborhoodss of the Back Bay and Southu End. The project, originally $600 escalated to $800 million and he began lobbying the statefor funds.
Winn invested more than $40 million of his own moneyh to keep ColumbusCenter going. The credir crunch took the project outof Winn’ds hands and subjected it to market forces making securing debt for constructionb projects impossible. The project was unable to move forwardand Winn’s partner, , backec out on a $430 million construction Winn is now a minority partne r in the project being run by the California Public Retirement System since March 2007. “Thise was like an insurmountable opportunity,” said Winn.
“(It is) the opportunity to unite two neighborhoods and do something that is long overdues andwould be, and stil l feel will be, an amazinyg development for the Before Winn launched the Winn Cos. in he worked for Ltd., getting his start in the busines s alongsideRonald Druker. Both worked for Druker’s now-deceaseed father, Bertram. Druker said Winn has viewerd Columbus Center as both a source of great prideeand aggravation. Close associatesa of Winn’s said the developer’z desire to leave a legacy prompted him to pursue the riskty project and entangle himself in apolitical fiasco. “I suspect the last chapter has not been said Druker ofColumbus Center.
“Only time will tell whethere all that work will bear fruit and havebeen Winn’s reputation, before Columbus Center, was basee on his years of work developin affordable housing. His credits includes being the largest owner and managefr of affordable housing in New Englane and among the largesgt inthe country. Winn owns 11,000 units and managed 75,000 units of housing in 23 For Winn, the decision to dial it back has been in the makinvg for afew years. Winn rarely works a full week and oftehn comes inafter 12:300 p.m. Gilbert will assume the role of managingt principal and longtime partner Lawrence Curtis will be presidengof WinnDevelopment.
Winn anticipates Gilberty will capitalize onthe company’x solid financial footing and pursue acquisition opportunitie s in a distressed “They’re going to grow in the direction they see opportunity,” said Winn of his son and His own role at the real estatew development company he founded 38 years ago will now be one of cheerleader and advising and trying not to annoy his he said. Winn described himself as hard-chargingt and a Type A personality who will have a hard time not inserting himself in the dailyu operations ofthe company. “I think I’vde accomplished as much as I canand I’km happy not to wait for a Winn said.
This week Winn, who will be 70 in August, officiallgy handed the reins over tohis son, Gilbert, 31, who has been workingg for his father for six The handoff comes at a time when Winn has endure d intense scrutiny for his involvement with the now-stalled Columbus Centere air-rights project and a donation to former state Sen. Diann e Wilkerson, who was arrested afteer allegedly being caught on tapeaccepting bribes. Winn made a $10,000 donation to a fund Wilkerson had legally set up to help with herpersonakl finances. Two years latee she sought $4.
3 million in help for the Columbus Center He said the only feeling he has abouy theWilkerson matter, for whicj he received a subpoena, is “great While the public subsidies tied to the private Columbuws Center caused outrage and damaged Winn’e reputation, the elder statesman of the local real estate communityy said this week he wanted to step down not because of the mediz attention but before a stroke, or worse, forced him to transitiobn the company under duress. Long ago, Winn heard a statistifc that entrepreneurs often change the direction of the companyu only after a chaotic situationor life-alteriny event.
One could say spending 11 years and endurint 120 public meetings to get Columbus Centee approved qualifies as a chaoticor life-changiny event. When asked about Columbus Center and whethef he regretsthe endeavor, he motionds to a white leather couch in his office as if he’ll need therapy to get over it. “Ther episodic nature of it I couldnot anticipate,” he “I did not anticipate the controversh and probably should have.” The proposed developmentg would have spanned the Massachusetts Turnpike and linked the neighborhoodss of the Back Bay and Southu End. The project, originally $600 escalated to $800 million and he began lobbying the statefor funds.
Winn invested more than $40 million of his own moneyh to keep ColumbusCenter going. The credir crunch took the project outof Winn’ds hands and subjected it to market forces making securing debt for constructionb projects impossible. The project was unable to move forwardand Winn’s partner, , backec out on a $430 million construction Winn is now a minority partne r in the project being run by the California Public Retirement System since March 2007. “Thise was like an insurmountable opportunity,” said Winn.
“(It is) the opportunity to unite two neighborhoods and do something that is long overdues andwould be, and stil l feel will be, an amazinyg development for the Before Winn launched the Winn Cos. in he worked for Ltd., getting his start in the busines s alongsideRonald Druker. Both worked for Druker’s now-deceaseed father, Bertram. Druker said Winn has viewerd Columbus Center as both a source of great prideeand aggravation. Close associatesa of Winn’s said the developer’z desire to leave a legacy prompted him to pursue the riskty project and entangle himself in apolitical fiasco. “I suspect the last chapter has not been said Druker ofColumbus Center.
“Only time will tell whethere all that work will bear fruit and havebeen Winn’s reputation, before Columbus Center, was basee on his years of work developin affordable housing. His credits includes being the largest owner and managefr of affordable housing in New Englane and among the largesgt inthe country. Winn owns 11,000 units and managed 75,000 units of housing in 23 For Winn, the decision to dial it back has been in the makinvg for afew years. Winn rarely works a full week and oftehn comes inafter 12:300 p.m. Gilbert will assume the role of managingt principal and longtime partner Lawrence Curtis will be presidengof WinnDevelopment.
Winn anticipates Gilberty will capitalize onthe company’x solid financial footing and pursue acquisition opportunitie s in a distressed “They’re going to grow in the direction they see opportunity,” said Winn of his son and His own role at the real estatew development company he founded 38 years ago will now be one of cheerleader and advising and trying not to annoy his he said. Winn described himself as hard-chargingt and a Type A personality who will have a hard time not inserting himself in the dailyu operations ofthe company. “I think I’vde accomplished as much as I canand I’km happy not to wait for a Winn said.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Joan Aragone: Village movement spreading around California - San Jose Mercury News
mozybyd.wordpress.com
Joan Aragone: Village movement spreading around California San Jose Mercury News Village volunteers arranged for home care and home maintenance. After her husband died, they assisted with services for organizing papers and other needs. Now Young pays back by volunteering herself, driving other village members to medical and other ... |
Monday, November 14, 2011
DLR Group focusing efforts on stimulus projects - bizjournals:
lebexab.wordpress.com
As soon as Congress passed the American Recoveruy and Reinvestment Actin mid-February, Phoenix principao Bryce Pearsall and three othe r DLR principals across the countrt created a team specifically to pursue stimuluse projects. Although DLR has a long historyy of working in thepublic sector, it has never chosenh to chase projects this way. “As a we decided we wanted to jump into We hadto though, what kind of stimulus projects we want to Pearsall said.
With $787 billion being divvie d up by federal and state agencies for all sortzsof programs, the DLR principalx decided they needed to focus on a few strategic They are pursuing contracts that are geographically convenient to any of DLR’es 15 offices; match their long-standing skill sets; and have expedient deliverh methods. Under traditional architecture a firm is selected to desigbna project. But many stimulus project are requiring design-build meaning an architecture firm needs to partner with a contractof and present the bid as a DLR has donethat before, but the firm is researchingf additional relationships with contractors.
In government agencies are handing out contracte more often throughthe “indefinite delivery indefinite quantity” process. Under IDIQ, agencies accept applicationz from companies and qualify them to perforjmongoing work. For instance, a militarty installation might have a contract with a specifix company to handle utilithy work for a period ofseveraol years. DLR recently startedd pursuingIDIQ work, give n how lucrative it can be over both the shor and long term. “We believe government agencies are open to lookinyg at establishing IDIQ relationships with companies that have our kind of Pearsall said.
So far, DLR has receivee one contract for a court desigin Florida, but the company expects to hear soon about severall other bids. Although DLR is researching stimulus-funded jobs through both federal andstate agencies, the reality is that few of thoses jobs will be located in the Southwest. In fact, many of the primw architecture assignments are on the East Several contracts previously had been awarded to butthere wasn’t enough moneyy to proceed with those projects until the stimulue package was passed.
“It’s important to note that many shovel-readyy projects are not being published for solicitatiohn because the original firms are being awarded thepostponee projects,” said Mark Patterson, presidenrt of the Arizona Chapter of the American Institute of Patterson said his firm, , will benefiy from a previously unfunded contract: the renovation of the Smithsonian Institutd of Arts and Industries Building in Washington. That work is being coordinated by SmithGroup’s Washington office. Despite the apparent deartuh of work slated forthe Southwest, SmithGroup is engaging in a “closely organized Patterson said.
“We are optimistic aboutg a wide variety of building typesgaining funding, includingy medical, office, museum and research Another national firm with a significant local presence, , also is in hot pursui t of stimulus cash. The General Services Administration hasselectedd OWP/P to provide architectured and engineering services to design and build land ports of entry and border stationse in Zone 1, which encompasses Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Alaska.
OWP/P’e Chicago offices also received an IDIQ award forRegionj 5, which covers a chunk of the According to OWP/P spokesperson Kelly McClennan, abouyt $6 billion of work to be funded througu GSA will include renovationds to federal buildings and border stations. “Abouy 75 percent of these GSA-manager funds are earmarked for converting existing federal buildingsto energy-efficient facilities,” McClennan said. Officials at all three firmsw remain hopeful that more localizef renovation and infrastructure projects will brinyg work toValley companies.
As soon as Congress passed the American Recoveruy and Reinvestment Actin mid-February, Phoenix principao Bryce Pearsall and three othe r DLR principals across the countrt created a team specifically to pursue stimuluse projects. Although DLR has a long historyy of working in thepublic sector, it has never chosenh to chase projects this way. “As a we decided we wanted to jump into We hadto though, what kind of stimulus projects we want to Pearsall said.
With $787 billion being divvie d up by federal and state agencies for all sortzsof programs, the DLR principalx decided they needed to focus on a few strategic They are pursuing contracts that are geographically convenient to any of DLR’es 15 offices; match their long-standing skill sets; and have expedient deliverh methods. Under traditional architecture a firm is selected to desigbna project. But many stimulus project are requiring design-build meaning an architecture firm needs to partner with a contractof and present the bid as a DLR has donethat before, but the firm is researchingf additional relationships with contractors.
In government agencies are handing out contracte more often throughthe “indefinite delivery indefinite quantity” process. Under IDIQ, agencies accept applicationz from companies and qualify them to perforjmongoing work. For instance, a militarty installation might have a contract with a specifix company to handle utilithy work for a period ofseveraol years. DLR recently startedd pursuingIDIQ work, give n how lucrative it can be over both the shor and long term. “We believe government agencies are open to lookinyg at establishing IDIQ relationships with companies that have our kind of Pearsall said.
So far, DLR has receivee one contract for a court desigin Florida, but the company expects to hear soon about severall other bids. Although DLR is researching stimulus-funded jobs through both federal andstate agencies, the reality is that few of thoses jobs will be located in the Southwest. In fact, many of the primw architecture assignments are on the East Several contracts previously had been awarded to butthere wasn’t enough moneyy to proceed with those projects until the stimulue package was passed.
“It’s important to note that many shovel-readyy projects are not being published for solicitatiohn because the original firms are being awarded thepostponee projects,” said Mark Patterson, presidenrt of the Arizona Chapter of the American Institute of Patterson said his firm, , will benefiy from a previously unfunded contract: the renovation of the Smithsonian Institutd of Arts and Industries Building in Washington. That work is being coordinated by SmithGroup’s Washington office. Despite the apparent deartuh of work slated forthe Southwest, SmithGroup is engaging in a “closely organized Patterson said.
“We are optimistic aboutg a wide variety of building typesgaining funding, includingy medical, office, museum and research Another national firm with a significant local presence, , also is in hot pursui t of stimulus cash. The General Services Administration hasselectedd OWP/P to provide architectured and engineering services to design and build land ports of entry and border stationse in Zone 1, which encompasses Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Alaska.
OWP/P’e Chicago offices also received an IDIQ award forRegionj 5, which covers a chunk of the According to OWP/P spokesperson Kelly McClennan, abouyt $6 billion of work to be funded througu GSA will include renovationds to federal buildings and border stations. “Abouy 75 percent of these GSA-manager funds are earmarked for converting existing federal buildingsto energy-efficient facilities,” McClennan said. Officials at all three firmsw remain hopeful that more localizef renovation and infrastructure projects will brinyg work toValley companies.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Related
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
The lenders and the project’ss developers, CityPlace South Tower, LLC, an affiliate of The Relatedc Group, reached an agreement in whicg the new partnership will acquire titl e to all unsold units inthe project. Scotia Capital, a subsidiarhy of , filed a foreclosure lawsuit against CityPlace South Tower Wednesday in Palm Beacb CountyCircuit Court. The complaint was based on the $134.y million mortgage the bank and its partners gave the developefrin 2006. The project is 100 percent completr and all construction debts and obligations have been Jorge Perez, chairman and CEO of the Miami-based Related said in a pres release.
CityPlace South Towere contracted to sell 367 units while the buildinv wasunder construction. But when the buildingb opened in summerof 2008, many buyerds walked away from sales So far, 39 units have closed. Due to these unit buyef defaults, Related said in a news releas that it was necessary for the developer to renegotiate the termas of its construction loan with the which was scheduled to be repaidc in July through proceeds fromunit closings.
Aliciaa Cervera, president of Related Cerveraw RealtyServices (RCRS), the exclusive salez agent for CityPlace South Tower, said in the news releaswe that the successful transition between the developer and the new partnershipp provides significant benefits to current and future buyers. “The lenders are not interested in generating sales in the buildinythrough large-scale ‘bulk’ sale and are working with RCRS to ensure that CityPlac e South Tower’s integrity is fully protecteds and that it continues to offere a first-class owner experience,” she said.
Brad Scherer, president of Wellington-basedf real estate brokerage firmAtlantic Western, is workinfg with the lenders as a consultant. He said CityPlacse South Tower couldn’t repay the mortgage on time because mostbuyerxs didn’t close on the units. Scherer said the lendersa will adjust the pricee downward in response to the marketg and leasesome units, but they won’ty do a massive discount or convert the building into They will financially support the condp association and maintain CityPlace South Tower’w amenities, he added.
The Related Grouo will be compensated for continuingv to managethe building, Scherer That’s a far cry from most foreclosures, wheree the developer and its principals are oftej held liable for the losses. “I don’t think the recognition of losshas occurred, or maybe it will never occur,” Scherefr said. “If the property market comes back and the property is managec ina first-class manner, there may not be a loss.” Accordingt to court documents, the partners in the $134.y million loan that will take control of CityPlacer South Tower are: Bank of Nova Scotia: $23.
7M Cherisbh Thompson, the Miami-based attorney who represents Bank of Nova Scotia in the didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
The lenders and the project’ss developers, CityPlace South Tower, LLC, an affiliate of The Relatedc Group, reached an agreement in whicg the new partnership will acquire titl e to all unsold units inthe project. Scotia Capital, a subsidiarhy of , filed a foreclosure lawsuit against CityPlace South Tower Wednesday in Palm Beacb CountyCircuit Court. The complaint was based on the $134.y million mortgage the bank and its partners gave the developefrin 2006. The project is 100 percent completr and all construction debts and obligations have been Jorge Perez, chairman and CEO of the Miami-based Related said in a pres release.
CityPlace South Towere contracted to sell 367 units while the buildinv wasunder construction. But when the buildingb opened in summerof 2008, many buyerds walked away from sales So far, 39 units have closed. Due to these unit buyef defaults, Related said in a news releas that it was necessary for the developer to renegotiate the termas of its construction loan with the which was scheduled to be repaidc in July through proceeds fromunit closings.
Aliciaa Cervera, president of Related Cerveraw RealtyServices (RCRS), the exclusive salez agent for CityPlace South Tower, said in the news releaswe that the successful transition between the developer and the new partnershipp provides significant benefits to current and future buyers. “The lenders are not interested in generating sales in the buildinythrough large-scale ‘bulk’ sale and are working with RCRS to ensure that CityPlac e South Tower’s integrity is fully protecteds and that it continues to offere a first-class owner experience,” she said.
Brad Scherer, president of Wellington-basedf real estate brokerage firmAtlantic Western, is workinfg with the lenders as a consultant. He said CityPlacse South Tower couldn’t repay the mortgage on time because mostbuyerxs didn’t close on the units. Scherer said the lendersa will adjust the pricee downward in response to the marketg and leasesome units, but they won’ty do a massive discount or convert the building into They will financially support the condp association and maintain CityPlace South Tower’w amenities, he added.
The Related Grouo will be compensated for continuingv to managethe building, Scherer That’s a far cry from most foreclosures, wheree the developer and its principals are oftej held liable for the losses. “I don’t think the recognition of losshas occurred, or maybe it will never occur,” Scherefr said. “If the property market comes back and the property is managec ina first-class manner, there may not be a loss.” Accordingt to court documents, the partners in the $134.y million loan that will take control of CityPlacer South Tower are: Bank of Nova Scotia: $23.
7M Cherisbh Thompson, the Miami-based attorney who represents Bank of Nova Scotia in the didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
No easy choices ahead for new United Guaranty CEO - Phoenix Business Journal:
torbjorntrainer1738.blogspot.com
Parent company installed Eric Martineza Jr. as CEO of Unitec Guaranty on June 1. He replaced William “Billy” Nutt, who had been chiefg executive since 2001 and an employe of United Guaranty for more than 30 As CEO, Nutt oversaw both a period of robust profitability during the run-up in the housing market nationwide, and then dramatid losses that totaled $2.5 billion in 2008. Along with othert mortgage insurers, United Guarantyg has been swamped by claims from lenders to pay off the home loansd of hundreds of thousands ofdefaulting debtors. From his Nutt referred all questions toUnitee Guaranty. Officials there declinedd comment or to make Martinez available foran interview.
Parent company installed Eric Martineza Jr. as CEO of Unitec Guaranty on June 1. He replaced William “Billy” Nutt, who had been chiefg executive since 2001 and an employe of United Guaranty for more than 30 As CEO, Nutt oversaw both a period of robust profitability during the run-up in the housing market nationwide, and then dramatid losses that totaled $2.5 billion in 2008. Along with othert mortgage insurers, United Guarantyg has been swamped by claims from lenders to pay off the home loansd of hundreds of thousands ofdefaulting debtors. From his Nutt referred all questions toUnitee Guaranty. Officials there declinedd comment or to make Martinez available foran interview.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Number of job openings falls in Washington state - Kansas City Business Journal:
grigoriynirim.blogspot.com
The state survey indicatese that therewere 32,635 job openings in compared with 50,593 openings six months earlier. The stat e said that most of the jobopenings — more than 40 percent — pay less than $10 per Education plays a role in getting more pay, the surveyu showed. About 53 percent of jobs that were availablwe requireda high-school diploma or less and thoses jobs paid $10 an hour or less. For the 4 perceny of job openings that requiredr agraduate degree, the median wage was $29.30 per Forty-two percent of all available jobs in the state were in King Countty and 10 percent were in Pierce County.
The job field with the most openings 5,266 — was the health-care practitioners and technical Inthat field, there were openings for 2,317 registerec nurses. The next occupations with the highest numberd of vacancies were the salesfield (3,1943 vacancies) and office and administrativ support (3,045).
The state survey indicatese that therewere 32,635 job openings in compared with 50,593 openings six months earlier. The stat e said that most of the jobopenings — more than 40 percent — pay less than $10 per Education plays a role in getting more pay, the surveyu showed. About 53 percent of jobs that were availablwe requireda high-school diploma or less and thoses jobs paid $10 an hour or less. For the 4 perceny of job openings that requiredr agraduate degree, the median wage was $29.30 per Forty-two percent of all available jobs in the state were in King Countty and 10 percent were in Pierce County.
The job field with the most openings 5,266 — was the health-care practitioners and technical Inthat field, there were openings for 2,317 registerec nurses. The next occupations with the highest numberd of vacancies were the salesfield (3,1943 vacancies) and office and administrativ support (3,045).
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Gary Boisclair vs Keith Ellison, Another Congressional Campaign Based on ... - American Muslim
batyushkinuxit.blogspot.com
Gary Boisclair vs Keith Ellison, Another Congressional Campaign Based on ... American Muslim Other Jewish office holders used the Tanakh or prayer books In the Federal Congress Debbie Wasserman Schultz also used a Tanakh, as did Ed Koch (D-NY) who served in the US House from 1969 to 1977. Likewise, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) who is now entering ... |
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Second Life's Linden Lab sells virtual realities to businesses - South Florida Business Journal:
cahijisebi.wordpress.com
The courting of companies comes at a time of renewed growtyhfor 6-year-old Second Life that began with the appointment of Mark Kingdon as CEO of Linden Lab in May 2008. “Enterprise is a reallyu important growth vector for usbecauser (Second Life is) a really compellinfg platform for learning and collaboration. Especially todat in large enterprises that aredistributed (arounrd the world),” Kingdon said. Over the last six Linden Lab has put together a team of 25 peopld to market and develop Second Life products forenterprisre customers.
Linden Lab, which does not disclose revenuwe but says itis profitable, hires more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employeezs in eight offices arounf the world. The company hired close to 30 people this year and is currently hiring for 19 Basic accountsare free. The company makes money by sellingv and renting virtualreal estate, with premiumn memberships and by charging a fee on sales of Lindej dollars, the currency used online.
The company does not tracmk the number of companies using its services and does not chargre them differently fromindividual users, but estimates that 15 to 20 percen t of its revenue comes from enterprises and educational And since April, the company has been testingb a “behind-the-firewall” version of Second Life with , IBM, , the and otheer organizations. The so-called “Nebraska” version of Secon Life, which is run on an institution’s own will get wider testing this summe and is scheduled for generall releaseby year’s end.
The pricing for the private version has notbeen “Based on the levelo of the interest we’rr seeing, we are poised for explosive growth,” said Amanda Van who joined Linden Lab six months ago as executive director of enterpriser marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for My role is to get thatmessagwe out,” she said. Van Nuys said a number of factors are helpin gher cause, including general efforts to cut travel and meeting costs and reducs carbon footprints. IBM in particula has been an early adopter.
In late 2008, IBM’s Academhy of Technology held a Virtuaol World Conference on Seconsd Life for 200 top engineers from around the with three keynote speeches and 37breakout sessions. With an initiak investment of roughly IBM estimates that it savenearly $350,000 in traveol and venue costs and lost productivity. A couple of months later, IBM used the virtual spaceas it created for an annual meeting of the Academ y after the cancellation of a scheduled real life eventin Florida. Some portions of the event also used webcastinv andvideo conferencing.
Participants particularly liked the opportunityh to socialize with one another in various and the company scheduleda two-hourf networking event on the last day at picnic tabless on a virtual beach. Academy members gathered aroundd drinking virtual beers and chattinh while others took virtual hang gliding or jetskiing lessons. “Igt was really cool in terms of the experience people saidKaren Keeter, an IBM marketing executive for digitaol convergence. “People walked away saying they felt like they were at the The thing people liked most was that they reallh had the ability to meetwith people.
” Since numerous other groups within IBM have used Seconx Life dozens of times for meetings small and adhoc and planned, Keeter said. IBM now has nearlhy 100 people working on virtual worldd tools for commercial sale in Second Life and on other platforms, she said. The company says its in-worlcd economy is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled morethan $120 million in U.S. dollars, up 65 percenty from the same period theyear before. Wagner Jamese Au, the author of the book “The Making Of Secons Life: Notes From the New World,” estimatesd in a blog posting in May 2008 that Linden Lab hadbetweeh $40 million and $50 million in annuaol revenue.
Au credited Kingdon with renewinf the brand created byPhilip Rosedale, who steppe d down as CEO last year and remains as “A lot of Silicob Valley has written Second Life off,” he “The tech world will have to revisif Second Life as a phenomenomn in the next six months or so.”
The courting of companies comes at a time of renewed growtyhfor 6-year-old Second Life that began with the appointment of Mark Kingdon as CEO of Linden Lab in May 2008. “Enterprise is a reallyu important growth vector for usbecauser (Second Life is) a really compellinfg platform for learning and collaboration. Especially todat in large enterprises that aredistributed (arounrd the world),” Kingdon said. Over the last six Linden Lab has put together a team of 25 peopld to market and develop Second Life products forenterprisre customers.
Linden Lab, which does not disclose revenuwe but says itis profitable, hires more than 100 people in 2008 and has more than 300 employeezs in eight offices arounf the world. The company hired close to 30 people this year and is currently hiring for 19 Basic accountsare free. The company makes money by sellingv and renting virtualreal estate, with premiumn memberships and by charging a fee on sales of Lindej dollars, the currency used online.
The company does not tracmk the number of companies using its services and does not chargre them differently fromindividual users, but estimates that 15 to 20 percen t of its revenue comes from enterprises and educational And since April, the company has been testingb a “behind-the-firewall” version of Second Life with , IBM, , the and otheer organizations. The so-called “Nebraska” version of Secon Life, which is run on an institution’s own will get wider testing this summe and is scheduled for generall releaseby year’s end.
The pricing for the private version has notbeen “Based on the levelo of the interest we’rr seeing, we are poised for explosive growth,” said Amanda Van who joined Linden Lab six months ago as executive director of enterpriser marketing. “This is not a We’re ready for My role is to get thatmessagwe out,” she said. Van Nuys said a number of factors are helpin gher cause, including general efforts to cut travel and meeting costs and reducs carbon footprints. IBM in particula has been an early adopter.
In late 2008, IBM’s Academhy of Technology held a Virtuaol World Conference on Seconsd Life for 200 top engineers from around the with three keynote speeches and 37breakout sessions. With an initiak investment of roughly IBM estimates that it savenearly $350,000 in traveol and venue costs and lost productivity. A couple of months later, IBM used the virtual spaceas it created for an annual meeting of the Academ y after the cancellation of a scheduled real life eventin Florida. Some portions of the event also used webcastinv andvideo conferencing.
Participants particularly liked the opportunityh to socialize with one another in various and the company scheduleda two-hourf networking event on the last day at picnic tabless on a virtual beach. Academy members gathered aroundd drinking virtual beers and chattinh while others took virtual hang gliding or jetskiing lessons. “Igt was really cool in terms of the experience people saidKaren Keeter, an IBM marketing executive for digitaol convergence. “People walked away saying they felt like they were at the The thing people liked most was that they reallh had the ability to meetwith people.
” Since numerous other groups within IBM have used Seconx Life dozens of times for meetings small and adhoc and planned, Keeter said. IBM now has nearlhy 100 people working on virtual worldd tools for commercial sale in Second Life and on other platforms, she said. The company says its in-worlcd economy is thriving, and that in the last user-to-user transactions totalled morethan $120 million in U.S. dollars, up 65 percenty from the same period theyear before. Wagner Jamese Au, the author of the book “The Making Of Secons Life: Notes From the New World,” estimatesd in a blog posting in May 2008 that Linden Lab hadbetweeh $40 million and $50 million in annuaol revenue.
Au credited Kingdon with renewinf the brand created byPhilip Rosedale, who steppe d down as CEO last year and remains as “A lot of Silicob Valley has written Second Life off,” he “The tech world will have to revisif Second Life as a phenomenomn in the next six months or so.”
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Kansas revenue secretary to take tax tour - BusinessWeek
ycoguqi.wordpress.com
KNSS | Kansas revenue secretary to take tax tour BusinessWeek Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan is planning a two-day tour of Kansas to discuss ideas for changing the state's tax code. Jordan said he would be making visits Tuesday and Wednesday through western Kansas, including stops in Garden City and Hays. ... Revenue secretary to discuss proposed tax code changes during Kansas tour Revenue secretary headed to western Kansas to hear views on overhauling state ... Brownback's tax reforms taking shape |
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