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From Hoodline:  The Community Development Administration (CDA) of St. Louis has officially opened a public comment period for the draft 2025 Neighborhood Transformation Grants Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs), which aims to give community initiatives the push they need with a new injection of funding targeted at fostering development in Qualified Census Tracts and Economic […]

From St. Louis Business Journal: The federal government said Tuesday that the massive federal office building in downtown St. Louis is one of four local “non-core” federal properties that could be closed and sold, along with more than 440 federal buildings nationwide. The Robert A. Young Federal Building, a 20-story, nearly 1 million-square-foot brick building at […]

From PHCP Pros:  Skilled trades play a vital role in maintaining the essential systems that support our daily lives. From HVAC technicians to plumbers, these professionals work behind the scenes, often in physically and emotionally demanding environments. The urgent and fast-paced nature of trades work can significantly impact mental health. In addition, the mental health […]

From First Alert 4:  It’s a problem in St. Louis and across the country, there’s a shortage of skilled workers in industries like construction and manufacturing. South Tech High School is trying to help fill that gap. The school held an apprenticeship showcase over the weekend to encourage students to take a closer look into […]

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch:  The company remaking downtown’s Millennium Hotel may build a bridge across Interstate 44 to better connect to the Gateway Arch grounds. The Cordish Cos. on Tuesday shared more details about its $670 million mixed-use plan for the 4-acre site just off the riverfront. The company is eyeing an extension of Clark […]

From First Alert 4:  A St. Louis County program is helping families stay in their homes by making critical repairs and safety upgrades. The Healthy Homes Program, funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is providing thousands of dollars in assistance to residents facing hazardous living conditions. “This […]

From Construction Business Owner: The IRS made headlines three years ago when they threatened to go “beast mode.” While that might sound dramatic, it’s not far from the truth. The IRS went on a hiring spree, rapidly increasing its workforce to ramp up enforcement activities. This has led to some improvements in customer service — fewer […]

From Webster-Kirkwood Times: In between the rumble of passing locomotives Tuesday afternoon, officials and dignitaries broke ground on the multi-million dollar renovation of Kirkwood’s iconic train station. The public gathering, attended by dozens of eager onlookers, allowed local leaders to symbolically turn dirt on a $5.7 million project to restore the 132-year-old station located at 110 […]

From Area Development: When companies look to expand or relocate, workforce development is no longer an afterthought—it’s a primary factor in site selection. The days of simply considering grants or tax breaks are gone. For many businesses, especially in sectors like manufacturing and advanced technologies, the question is: Can you provide the skilled workers I need […]

From The St. Louis Post Dispatch:  Woodworking is not a path many women pursue. In fact, only 4.2 percent of carpenters working in the United States today are women according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the category of woodworkers the number is so insignificant statistically it doesn’t register. Luckily, when wood spoke to […]

From Infrastructure Report Card:  This week, the American Society of Civil Engineers released a new paper, Measuring the Benefits and Burdens of Infrastructure in Disadvantaged Communities. The report looks at how several communities across the country consider equity when investing infrastructure funds, and the impact of those projects on lower-income communities. Read the report: ASCE Benefits and […]

From The St. Louis Post Dispatch: A new bill introduced in the St. Louis Board of Aldermen seeks to regulate mold in rental housing, aiming to protect tenants from the health risks associated with hazardous mold exposure. The proposed Board Bill Number 223, sponsored by Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, would require inspections, tenant notifications, and remediation […]

From Lowes: As the skilled trades industry continues to evolve to address labor shortages, women in the trades are becoming increasingly critical to bridging the gap. Still, women make up only 11% of construction workers and 4% of the skilled trades workforce. Elizabeth Silva, a plumbing apprentice in Denver, is one of those women. Through […]

From The Missouri Independent: The Senate Committee on Government Efficiency heard a bill Monday that would ban state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Sponsored by state Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican from Neosho, the bill would also bar state departments from mandating a DEI program in contracts with private organizations. “The bottom line is […]

by Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum “Masonry Madness” might sound like a strange new online game. But it’s actually a showcase for the talents of the next generation of bricklayers and laborers. Rolla Technical Institute’s masonry program hosted its 8th annual Masonry Madness competition on Friday, February 28th. Students had just a few hours […]

Brinkmann Constructors, a national general contractor, in partnership with Coastal Cold Storage, a Troy, Missouri-based warehouse and distribution company, recently completed a state-of-the-art 127,000-square-foot industrial cold storage distribution center. The facility, located in Foristell, is the first of three planned phases. It was completed in nine months, setting the stage for continued expansion. “We are […]

ConstructConnect is offering a free webcast on market conditions going into this year’s construction season on May 8, 2025, from noon to 1:30PM CT. The program is designed to help construction professionals better understand and take action around the 2025 economic forecast. ConstructConnect is a  provider of construction IT solutions, including pre-con, project management, and […]

From SupplyChainBrain:  Gen Z workers are increasingly exploring skilled trades as a career option, recognizing that these positions offer a secure future with strong earning potential. This interest couldn’t happen at a more critical time for the supply chain industry. While the C-Suite is hyper-focused on maximizing productivity, there’s a real struggle to hire enough […]

From First Alert 4:  Mercy Hospital South announced it’s expanding and redesigning its entire emergency department, with the $75 million project kicking off in September 2025. According to a release, the redesign will expand the existing emergency department from 39,000 square feet to 65,000 square feet. The additional space will include: 73 patient beds, up […]

From Contracting Business:  The skilled trades have historically been male industries, often perceived as inaccessible or unwelcoming to women. However, the tides are shifting. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that the number of women working as tradespeople reached its highest level ever in 2021 with more than 314,000 female workers. Innovation is creating new […]