Paradigm Engineering News 8-20-07

The following is an executive summary of news of Interest to Paradigm Engineering.

Provisioning Paradigm's Passion for Professional Expertise

• In statelinks, North Carolina has a permit fee increase, Washington has a new link that will give you the status of your permit, and Pennsylvania has a new searchable Permit Database.
• It is helpful, in understanding the current industry situation, to understand the difference between construction NAICS Codes . Each code represents a separate category of businesses. Construction alone has many different codes. Some Some Construction NAICS are growing enormously and some are contracting. Here is a definition of construction NAICS Codes.
• I read reports every week about Small construction firms who destroy wetlands out of ignorance. As an Inspector you may see such destruction going on. Having read this EPA Document on best practices for wetland protection could help you give a lead to your are consultant that could result in both saving the Wetland and new business for Paradigm.

Environmental News

• On May 11, 2007, the EPA was asked by FEMA to come into Greenburg Kansas and conduct an environmental assessment after a devastating tornado. I'm sure planning for Hurricane DEAN is underway right now.
• How does it Work? First, a state governor will ask the president to declare his or her state a disaster area. Once that declaration is made, FEMA's disaster relief funding is released to that particular state. Then the state must ask FEMA to fund certain individual tasks—either assigning a federal agency to do them—such as EPA—or giving the funds directly to the state to carry them out. FEMA decides on a task by task basis which ones will get FEMA dollars. -(EPA)
• 4 million children a year die from environmental hazards, most of them under 5 years old, according to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .

Construction News

• Fed cuts the discount Rate. The discount rate is the rate that banks pay to borrow money they use for loans. They borrow the money from the Federal Reserve. This move is designed to get some mortgages moving in the housing Industry. Associated Press/AP Online (August 17, 2007)
• Like Other construction work, hospital construction is beginning to go green
• Housing starts are still declining from 2005 highs, but not as fast as earlier this year. Business Week (August 17, 2007)
• Single family housing starts and building permit requests fall to a 10-Year Low Builder online (August 16, 2007)
• Big Construction projects thrive in smaller markets like Wisconsin, Baltimore.
• Sales of existing homes dip in 41 states.Oakland Tribune (August 16, 2007)
• The construction adjustment continues, and though the confidence of single-family- residential-only builders are at a 26 year low, Network commercial construction firms, who out source most of their work, like Turner, O'neil Industries, and Broe Companies are hiring Contruction Project Managers like crazy.

Opportunities

• New Eastern Region leads there were several EPA enforcements this week in the East.

Paradigm's PIPES: Pioneering Spirit

Pioneer: (Noun) A pioneer (from Old French peon "foot soldier") is one who has travelled from his or her homeland by choice to live in a "new" land or colony, in particular referring to the American Old West. (Wikipedia)

to Pioneer (Verb)
-to be the first to open or prepare (a way, settlement, etc.).
-to take part in the beginnings of; initiate: to pioneer an aid program.
-to lead the way for (a group); guide (Dictionary.com)

Paradigm was, and remains, a pioneer in the Stormwater Industry, having been formed by Johnny and Karen Combs about the same time the 1994 Clean Water Act passed; and though settlers have come behind us to work in the field, we continue to pioneer new environmental business, such as applying Best Practice Methodologies to new areas, like pioneering work going on the Clean air act.

A pioneering spirit unifies us in a fellowship undaunted by what no one has ever done before. A pioneering spirit creates a supportive environment which helps us tackle new work together using positive, practical and creative problem solving. Add perseverance and a willingness to establish systems for our settlers that follow. The Pioneering Spirit is one of the five guiding principles of our Paradigms, one of Paradigm's Pipes.

....So how can this Pioneering Spirit be seen in our work? It shows in how we cross train on each other's customers, in our work assignment flexibility, and in how we see the opportunity on our horizon when settlers are afraid to go.

And so these values do not change for us: Professionalism, Integrity, having a Pioneering Spirit, serving with Excellence, and having a Servant's Heart.

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