Click the image for video of Toll Brothers CEO Robert Toll and Hovnanian CEO Ara Hovnanian discussing possible stimulus plans to boost new home sales with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo. NEW HOME OWNERSHIP STIMULUS PACKAGE PART OF OBAMA'S AGENDA?
There are signs that the Obama team's plans for the economy could include efforts to reignite the new home construction industry. The CEOs of Toll Brothers and Hovnanian spoke with CNBC about the need for the next administration to encourage renewed demand for housing, in addition to immediate plans to address foreclosures. The National Association of Home Builders is actively promoting a demand-side component to the next stimulus legislation. Such a stimulus could take the form of increased tax breaks for home buyers, stronger mortgage backing from the FHA.
Noting that annual new home sales in the US now hover around 450,000, versus 1.2 million just a few years ago, David Lee Smith of Motley Fool predicts that a stimulus for the demand side of the housing market will be part of President Elect Obama's agenda. "The form that this stimulus might take is clearly open to debate, but it seems that the need is unassailable," writes Smith. [To read the full article, click here.
PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA'S AGENDA INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS INVESTMENT
Public works investments in infrastructure like roads, bridges and airports seem all-but-guaranteed to be part of the next president's fiscal planning. CWS believes such programs represent a huge opportunity for its operators over the coming years, as local governments tapping federal funds will need to adhere to all EPA regulations for containing concrete wastewater. (As those of you who participated in our survey know, infrastructure projects have been a key revenue stream for our most successful operators.)
Many news outlets have reported that nationwide investment in infrastructure is expected to increase dramatically under the new president. To read a bit more on the subject at Bloomberg, click here.
REMINDER: SPEC SHEET AVAILABLE FOR YOUR SALES EFFORTS
As mentioned in previous Gazettes, CWS has prepared a sample spec sheet that you can use in your sales efforts. Since the spec was based on a sample from CalTrans, it could be helpful in securing business related to new infrastructure projects in your area. Email us at {encode="gazette@concretewashout.com" title="gazette@concretewashout.com"} if you would like a copy.
MASSACHUSETTS DEVELOPER FACES $157K EPA FINE FOR STORMWATER VIOLATIONS
EPA announced in September that a Massachusetts developer faces a penalty of up to $157,500 for discharging polluted storm water from his construction site. After an inspection, EPA determined that Peter Galuszka had been discharging storm water containing silt and sediment from the Oasis Drive site since construction began there in 2004. The EPA complaint recently issued alleges that Mr. Galuszka did not apply in a timely manner for coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities, as required by the federal Clean Water Act.
To read the complete EPA press release, click here.
NORTH DAKOTA DEVELOPER SETTLES ON $15K FINE WITH EPA; EPA CITES USE OF FINES AS DETERRENT TO VIOLATORS
The EPA announced September 30 that it had reached an agreement with David J. Paulson and the Northeast Ridge Development Company in which the company will pay a $15,000 fine for unauthorized discharges to wetlands adjacent to Lake Elsie, near Hankinson, ND. In addition to the fine, Northeast Ridge is responsible for all costs necessary to restore the impacted wetlands.
“EPA is taking this action to deter future violations of laws that protect North Dakota's water resources,” Michael Gaydosh, EPA's Assistant Regional Administrator in Denver, said in the press release announcing the settlement.
To read the complete EPA press release about the fine, click here.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Can I sell my bins to another CWS operator? How about to a company that hasn't yet started a washout operation?
Because all CWS operating agreements include geographic limitations and other restrictions, it's important to refer to your contract before entering into any agreement to sell your bins. When in doubt, the safest way to ensure a sale is permitted and won't result in a violation of your contract is to contact us before proceeding. For more information on this subject, contact Joe Capko via {encode="joe@concretewashout.com" title="email"} or phone at (916) 607-0005.
QUOTES INSPIRED BY THE SEASON
It often takes more courage to change one's opinion than to stick to it.
- Geoffrey Abert
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
- George Bernard Shaw
Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. - John F. Kennedy
There are signs that the Obama team's plans for the economy could include efforts to reignite the new home construction industry. The CEOs of Toll Brothers and Hovnanian spoke with CNBC about the need for the next administration to encourage renewed demand for housing, in addition to immediate plans to address foreclosures. The National Association of Home Builders is actively promoting a demand-side component to the next stimulus legislation. Such a stimulus could take the form of increased tax breaks for home buyers, stronger mortgage backing from the FHA.
Noting that annual new home sales in the US now hover around 450,000, versus 1.2 million just a few years ago, David Lee Smith of Motley Fool predicts that a stimulus for the demand side of the housing market will be part of President Elect Obama's agenda. "The form that this stimulus might take is clearly open to debate, but it seems that the need is unassailable," writes Smith. [To read the full article, click here.
PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA'S AGENDA INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS INVESTMENT
Public works investments in infrastructure like roads, bridges and airports seem all-but-guaranteed to be part of the next president's fiscal planning. CWS believes such programs represent a huge opportunity for its operators over the coming years, as local governments tapping federal funds will need to adhere to all EPA regulations for containing concrete wastewater. (As those of you who participated in our survey know, infrastructure projects have been a key revenue stream for our most successful operators.)
Many news outlets have reported that nationwide investment in infrastructure is expected to increase dramatically under the new president. To read a bit more on the subject at Bloomberg, click here.
REMINDER: SPEC SHEET AVAILABLE FOR YOUR SALES EFFORTS
As mentioned in previous Gazettes, CWS has prepared a sample spec sheet that you can use in your sales efforts. Since the spec was based on a sample from CalTrans, it could be helpful in securing business related to new infrastructure projects in your area. Email us at {encode="gazette@concretewashout.com" title="gazette@concretewashout.com"} if you would like a copy.
MASSACHUSETTS DEVELOPER FACES $157K EPA FINE FOR STORMWATER VIOLATIONS
EPA announced in September that a Massachusetts developer faces a penalty of up to $157,500 for discharging polluted storm water from his construction site. After an inspection, EPA determined that Peter Galuszka had been discharging storm water containing silt and sediment from the Oasis Drive site since construction began there in 2004. The EPA complaint recently issued alleges that Mr. Galuszka did not apply in a timely manner for coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities, as required by the federal Clean Water Act.
To read the complete EPA press release, click here.
NORTH DAKOTA DEVELOPER SETTLES ON $15K FINE WITH EPA; EPA CITES USE OF FINES AS DETERRENT TO VIOLATORS
The EPA announced September 30 that it had reached an agreement with David J. Paulson and the Northeast Ridge Development Company in which the company will pay a $15,000 fine for unauthorized discharges to wetlands adjacent to Lake Elsie, near Hankinson, ND. In addition to the fine, Northeast Ridge is responsible for all costs necessary to restore the impacted wetlands.
“EPA is taking this action to deter future violations of laws that protect North Dakota's water resources,” Michael Gaydosh, EPA's Assistant Regional Administrator in Denver, said in the press release announcing the settlement.
To read the complete EPA press release about the fine, click here.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Can I sell my bins to another CWS operator? How about to a company that hasn't yet started a washout operation?
Because all CWS operating agreements include geographic limitations and other restrictions, it's important to refer to your contract before entering into any agreement to sell your bins. When in doubt, the safest way to ensure a sale is permitted and won't result in a violation of your contract is to contact us before proceeding. For more information on this subject, contact Joe Capko via {encode="joe@concretewashout.com" title="email"} or phone at (916) 607-0005.
QUOTES INSPIRED BY THE SEASON
It often takes more courage to change one's opinion than to stick to it.
- Geoffrey Abert
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
- George Bernard Shaw
Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. - John F. Kennedy
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