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From KHQA:  Illinois lands a $1.35 million federal grant from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) and Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) accepted the grant Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 at a Press Conference alongside Governor JB Pritzker and Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su. The federal grant hopes to […]

From Lincoln News Now:  “New Beginnings” describes the groundbreaking ceremony and mission of the pregnancy and early childhood organization Oasis. The ceremony was in celebration of Oasis’ new building, next to the future site of the Bridge of Hope Homeless Shelter. Members of the board, their family and guests were there to join in the […]

From Construction Dive:  Thirty-six percent of all U.S. bridges, more than 222,000 spans, require major repair work or replacement, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s 2023 analysis of the U.S. DOT’s National Bridge Inventory database. Based on average cost data that states submitted to the DOT, ARTBA estimates it would cost over $319 […]

Clayco will break ground tomorrow on a $1.5B plant in Terre Haute, IN for ENTEK Lithium Separators. Entek is the only producer of “wet-process” lithium-ion battery separator materials owned and based in the United States. Clayco will serve as its design-build contractor for the new facility in Indiana. Clayco’s services will include design, engineering, procurement, […]

by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum carries the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular feature. The […]

The renovation of the atrium at 100 N. Broadway in downtown St. Louis by local architecture, planning, urban design and interiors firm Trivers was recently named a winner of retrofit magazine’s 2023 Metamorphosis Awards. Now in its fifth year, the Metamorphosis Awards recognize architects, designers and contractors from across the United States for outstanding work […]

St. Louis-based real estate developer Mia Rose Holdings (MRH) has added Ryan Spinner of Oakville, Missouri as Business & Financial Analyst. He was promoted after completing two internships with the firm. In his role, Spinner is responsible for studying financial data to spot trends and make forecasts that will help the developer determine viable locations […]

From BELT Magazine:  St. Louis is startling in its brickwork. Every home, it seems, is built from similar rust-colored bricks. Sometimes I wonder if, just as you can see the lights of New York and Chicago from the International Space Station, if you’d also be able to make out St. Louis’ distinct red-hue. Despite the […]

Governor JB Pritzker joined local and state leaders today to announce the grand opening of the South Central Illinois (SCI) Training & Innovation Center – bolstered by $8.6 million in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The regional training center will provide career and technical training for school districts […]

After 11 years in their downtown brewery, 4 Hands Brewing Company has announced that 4 Hands at The District, a satellite tasting room, will open in The District of St. Louis in Chesterfield, Missouri, on Thursday, August 31. The District is a dynamic entertainment destination that already boasts a live music venue in The Factory, […]

From St. Louis Public Radio:  Three municipalities in St. Louis County will receive about $7.4 million to reduce the impacts of future floods, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Monday. The money goes to buy out 11 properties in University City, Webster Groves and Ladue. These include projects to purchase properties damaged by flash flooding […]

From KMOV:  The start of the new school year is a moment to celebrate for St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School in Dutchtown. The South City staple with a new name now operates as an independent Catholic institution and is no longer affiliated with the Archdiocese of St. Louis. School leaders, alumni, and other […]

From NCCER:  No matter the industry sector or size of the job, project success often depends more on the construction superintendent than on any other individual. Their multi-disciplined role is critical to a project’s safety, schedule, quality and ultimately its profitability. While it’s well-known that the industry is facing a serious shortage of craft professionals, […]

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch:  The more than $200 million expansion of the downtown convention center is on track to open in 2024, leaders said Tuesday, promising a new era of business and tourism. Crews have been building out the 23 loading docks, more than double what exists now, and 73,000 square feet of additional exhibit […]

From West Newsmagazine:  Matt Pfund, of Jack Matthews Development, representing 10300 Olive, LLC, has submitted a rezoning application to the city of Creve Coeur to change the zoning of the former 96-acre Bayer West campus from RO research office to PMD planned mixed use development district referred to as Olia Village. A Phase 1 site […]

From St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune:  Ray Reasons, president and business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 36, has been named the 11th general vice president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). Reasons took the oath of office at the 2023 SMART Leadership Conference held earlier this month […]

From St. Louis Business Journal:  The hotel inside part of a historic downtown building would be revamped as a Sheraton under a $45.9 million plan from a St. Louis-based hotel developer. Midas Hospitality is seeking tax incentives to fund the renovation of the 266-room hotel inside the former Edison Brothers Building at 400 S. 14th […]

For  the past 52 years the Masonry Institute of St. Louis, in its mission to promote the use of masonry, has provided professionals in the St. Louis construction industry with technical information and design inspiration. The institute has announced its 2023-2024 “lunch and learn” seminar series. All events are scheduled from noon to 1PM. They […]

From Construction Dive:  Laura Cosgriff gets daily phone calls from local contractors looking for students to employ — and the frequency of those calls has increased in recent years. The construction technology coordinator for Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, said the volume of calls is so high she’s developed a canned response and […]

O’Toole Design, one of the largest interior design firms in the St. Louis region, recently promoted two integral team members and hired a new interior designer in alignment with the firm’s strategic plan. Debbie Stamer was promoted from Senior Interior Designer II/Project Manager to Principal, Director of Interior Design. With over 30 years of innovative […]