The Richland County Land Bank will host a contractor meeting in partnership with the Ohio Department of Development on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m.. Contractors interested in working with the Land Bank on Lead Safe Ohio projects are encouraged to attend. The meeting will take place at 50 Park Ave. East in Mansfield in the Lower Level 1 meeting room.

MANSFIELD Amy Hamrick has spent the last 10 years leading the agency that tears down blighted structures across Richland County.

But the manager of the Richland County Land Bank could hardly contain her enthusiasm talking about the agencys newest projectone she hopes will prevent blight before the need to eliminate it.

The Richland County Land Reutilization Corporation, more commonly known as the Land Bank, has been allocated $1.358 million from the Ohio Department of Developments Lead Safe Ohio Program.

Hamrick said the Land Bank will use the money to fund exterior rehab projects at homes and other facilities across the county. Rehab projects can include replacing siding, windows, exterior doors, roofs, downspouts, gutters, exterior trim, fascia or soffit.

Funding can also be used to repair or replace porches.

But the project isnt a blank check for renovations any work done must mitigate the presence of lead.

Lead-based paint was commonly used in home construction and remodeling until was banned by the U.S. government in 1978 over health and safety concerns. Thus, its likely features like wood siding and windows have been covered with lead-based paint in older homes.

Residential properties, including both owner-occupied and rental units, can have up to $50,000 of lead-safe renovations covered. Childcare centers and congregate care facilities are capped at $100,000.

Theres a huge need for it, Hamrick said. Windows have been described to me as the most dangerous because every time you open and close the window, youre grating that lead paint and turning it into powder.

Hamrick said she hopes the program can help prevent some of Richland Countys older structures from ending up on the Land Banks demolition list.

Theres been a lot of questions, Well, why cant you save more of these houses? Hamrick said. By the time they get to me, theyre so bad they cant be saved.

So it is exciting to think OK, this is our way to do some prevention.'

Owner-occupants and owners of residential rental property, daycare facilities and congregate shelters can apply for the program if their building was constructed before 1978.

The Lead Safe Ohio program requires the Land Bank to prioritize households with an income at or below 80 percent of the average median income.

However, a household with a higher income can be eligible if the owner can document housing insecurity. For the purpose of the Lead Safe Ohio program, housing insecurity is defined as an uncertainty of the homes safety and concern that occupants could be jeopardized due to lead-based paint concerns.

Hamrick said the Land Bank will consider every qualified applicant, but will prioritize households with children. Applicants will also have to demonstrate they are current on their bills.

I know were going to get bombarded with applications, Hamrick said. Were going to look at the same things we look at when transferring land.

You cant have unpaid taxes. Youve got to be current on utilities.

Property owners will have to apply for the program and agree to work with one of the Land Banks pre-approved contractors in order to be accepted. The Land Bank will pay contractors directly for the work.

All contractors will need to be Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) certified.

Hamrick said she is still finalizing the application form, but it will be available soon at the Land Banks website. Paper copies will also be available at the land bank office.

The application period begins Dec. 11. There is no deadline for applications. Hamrick said the Land Bank will accept them on a rolling basis.

Hamrick also said the grant requires the interior and exterior of a property be tested for lead after the project is complete. The cost of testing and pre-cleaning the home, as well as administrative fees from the land bank will be included in the $50,000 and $100,000 limits.

Im going to hire someone to go in and professionally clean the entire house to get it to the standard that it needs to be at (before the testing), Hamrick said.

The Lead Safe Ohio program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. All funds have to be spent by Feb. 28, 2026.

Hamrick said she isnt worried about the deadline.

I think were going to run out of money long before were going to run out of applications, she said.

Lead was a common ingredient in home paint and other home construction materials through the late 1970s. Its now known to have serious health impacts if ingested, especially for children.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, even small amounts of lead can cause learning and behavior problems in children. Lead is most harmful to children under the age of 6 and can also be dangerous to a baby during pregnancy.

The housing study released earlier this year found that Richland County has a disproportionately older housing stock. About 20 percent of the countys housing units were built before 1939 and another 55 percent were constructed between 1940 and 1979.

Lead wasnt banned from U.S. residential paints until 1978.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, dust from deteriorating lead-based paint is the most common cause of lead exposure for children.

Children can also be exposed by putting pieces of chipped paint in their mouth, as well as licking or chewing on painted surfaces. Lead can also leach into soil or out from lead pipes into drinking water.

Health experts say there is no safe level of lead in a childs blood. Even at low levels, exposure can lower IQ, cause attention disorders, make it difficult for a child to pay attention in school, delay growth, impair hearing, and more.

Richland Public Health offers free lead testing for children 6 months to 6 years old through its public health clinic as part of the Healthy Homes Program.

Click here for more information on lead poisoning in children from Richland Public Health.

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Richland County Land Bank to get $1.35 million in Lead Safe Ohio ... - Richland Source

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON,Nov.16, 2023Today,theAmerican Immigration Counciljoins over100business organizations, including chambers of commerce and trade associationsthroughout the country,tocall on Congress to remove the current barrier to getting asylum seekers work permitsquickly. Thelettercalls for the waiting period to be reduced from the current 180 mandatory days to30 daysandadditionalfunding for United States Citizenship and ImmigrationServices(USCIS) for faster work permitprocessing.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are9.6million job openings, withan estimated6.5million peoplecurrentlylooking for work.Businesses are struggling with unprecedented worker shortages, especially in industries such as durable goods manufacturing, transportation, accommodation and food, wholesale and retail, and leisure and hospitality.

This letter wasorganized in partnership with the Refugee Advocacy Labandwasreleased alongsideagrowingmovementacross the countryledbygroupsincludingthe Asylum Seekers Advocacy Project, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and Refugees Internationalcalling for Congressional solutions to allow asylum seekers to get to work more quickly.

The following is a statement fromRich Andr, Director of State and Local Initiativesat the American Immigration Council:

Across the country, there are too many open jobs without enough workers to fill them. There is a solution in plain sight: let asylum seekers work quickly. The current barrier is statutory,and it requires Congress to act. There are several proposals currently introduced in Congress thatreduce the waiting period for asylum seekers to obtain work permits from180 daysto 30 and fund work permit processing so USCIS can increase its capacity to quickly process employees work permit renewals in the future. We urge Members of Congress to pass legislation that would make these crucial and critical changes that will bolster the workforce, allow businesses to grow, and further strengthen our economy.

The following is a statement from Kate Brick, Director of the Refugee Advocacy Lab at Refugees International:

As local economies face historic labor shortages, there is noreason whypeople seeking asylum must wait six monthsand often longerto access the workforce.Itsa loss for people who want toprovide fortheir families, for their communities, and for the businesses across the country who need their talent. There are clear, straightforward solutions on thetable,and we cannot afford for Congress to waste any more time in getting them across the finish line so people can get to work.

The following is a statement from Misty Chally, Executive Director of the Critical Labor Coalition:

The workplace looksvery differentthan it did pre-pandemic anditsputting an extra strain on business owners in service-related industries. Restaurants,hotelsand convenience stores are just a few of the industries struggling to fill positions which require employees to work in person. Lowering waiting periods for asylum seekers to receive work permits will help fill those positions, lower the demand for state and federalassistanceand strengthen our economy. Employers need workers and asylum seekers want to work thisshouldntbe a political issue.

Letter signatories include:

American Arab Chamber of Commerce

American Hotel and Lodging Association

Asian American Chamber of Commerce Pittsburgh

Austin Chamber of Commerce

Bartell Georgalas & Juarez LPA Co.

Berry, Appleman & Leiden

Biddeford & Saco Chamber of Commerce

Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance

Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut

Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce

Coalition of Franchisee Associations

Critical Labor Coalition

Dallas Regional Chamber

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

Detroit Regional Chamber

EthiopianTewahedoSocial Services

Euclid Chamber of Commerce

Fifth Group Restaurants

Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce

Flint & Genesee Chamber

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce

Greater Houston Partnership

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

Greater Louisville Inc. -The Metro Chamber of Commerce

Greater Phoenix Chamber

Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce

Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA

Holderbaum's Painting Inc.

Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce

Hudson County Chamber of Commerce

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce

Latin American Chamber of Commerce Charlotte

Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Longview TX Chamber of Commerce

Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants

Maine State Chamber of Commerce

Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce

Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce

Minneapolis Regional Chamber

National Restaurant Association

National Retail Federation

New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition

New Mexico Chamber of Commerce

Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC)

Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association

Ohio Lawn Care Association

Ohio Life Sciences Association

Ohio Turfgrass Foundation

Opelika Chamber of Commerce

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce

Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association

San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

Sandusky County Share and Care

State Business Executives

Texas Association of Business

Texas Business Leadership Council

Texas International Produce Association

The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Gallegos Corporation

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce

Vail Valley Partnership

Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber

The American Immigration Council has a range of research and other resources, including legal and policy experts available to speak on the subject.

For more information, contact:

Brianna Dimas at the American Immigration Council,[emailprotected]or 202-507-7557.

TheAmerican Immigration Councilworks to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. The Council brings together problem solvers and employs four coordinated approaches to advance changelitigation, research, legislative and administrative advocacy, and communications. In January 2022, the Council and New American Economymergedto combine a broad suite of advocacy tools to better expand and protect the rights of immigrants, more fully ensure immigrants ability to succeed economically, and help make the communities they settle in more welcoming. Follow the latest Council news and information onImmigrationImpact.comand Twitter@immcouncil.

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More than 100 Business Organizations Sign Onto Council Letter ... - American Immigration Council |

Does your home need life brought back into it? A fresh coat of paint can take an old, stale-looking house and completely rejuvenate its curb appeal, making you fall in love all over again.

When it comes to house painting, the professional name residents have come to know and trust is Five Star Painting.

Our residential painting company can take even the most worn-out exterior and bring it back to life with a fresh coat of high-quality outdoor paint, applied using professional tools and experienced techniques to ensure a quality finish each and every time.

Our residential painting services include:Interior house paintingExterior home paintingCabinet paintingDeck & fence paintingDrywall repairPressure washingCarpentry services

From crisp and straight lines to a clean and organized work area, our team completes projects on time and on budget with minimal disturbance to your business.

Our commercial painting company will source exactly what your business needs. Whether its applying anti-bacterial paint in a hospital or elastomeric paint on masonry walls, weve got you covered.

We begin with a free estimate to address any questions or concerns you may have. We then patch, prep, and repair every surface before painting for a long-lasting finish.

Our commercial building painting services include:

Medical facilities

Hospitality

Industrial

Education centers

Property management

Religious institutions

Gyms and fitness centers

Link:
Five Star Painting: Residential and Commercial Painting Company

SOUTH BRUNSWICK An Ohio painter is on the run after police say he stole $24,000 worth of tools from contractors remodeling a Route 1 hotel.

Staff at the Sonesta Suites on Thursday morning found a large number of tools in the room being used by Travis Mollett, 33, who works for a commercial painting contractor, according to South Brunswick police. The tools had been stored in several shipping containers.

Two vehicles had also been broken into and items were stolen. Over $24,000 in tools were reported to police as stolen earlier Thursday morning, police said.

When the contractors whose tools were missing confronted Mollett, he ran off as police arrived.

Travis Mollett

Officers set up a perimeter around the hotel and two K9 dogs tracked Mollett's scent heading south on Route 1 but lost it. The search was ended around 3:30 p.m. Mollett remained missing as of Friday morning, according to police.

Police and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office obtained a warrant and entered the room and recovered the stolen tools and equipment. Mollett will be charged in connection with the thefts when he is found, according to police.

South Brunswick Police asked anyone with information about Mollett's location to call them at 732- 329-4646.

Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

10 years later Sandy makes landfall in New Jersey

Tis the season for Jersey Long Hot Peppers

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On the run: Man steals $24000 worth of tools in South Brunswick, NJ - New Jersey 101.5 FM

When you decide to renovate your home, painting is a major factor to give more attention.

When you decide to renovate your home, painting is a major factor to give more attention. Because if you choose the wrong service provider, the whole point of renovation will be collapsed. So, to help you make the right choice here are a few factors you can check on while hiring an interior painter.

License

Choose painting service technicians who are licensed. A license is issued by the regulating authorities to ensure that the painting service technician abides by the rules. This permit allows an expert to offer their services legally. Therefore, if the specialist does not have a license, the project can be interrupted, which will result in the end of the contract. Make sure that the license is updated and that it comes from an accredited authority. In addition, a permit can also be proof that the painting service technician is indeed a professional in the service delivery. This is because licenses are only issued to professionals.

Insurance Coverage

When painting, many risks or dangers may happen like accidents, loss, or damage. Therefore, there is a need for the contractors to ensure the workers and the clients that the company is serving. For instance, workmens compensation is meant to protect the workers and the clients from being liable in case of a risk. Therefore, if there is any injury, an insurance company will be responsible for financing the medical bills. Any damaged property will be compensated. Make sure that you ask with company, which company is insured.It is a well-known company and a company that is known for compensating its clients.

Experience

Experience is one of the primary qualifications that you must consider when hiring a painting service technician. An experienced contractor will determine how great the project will be. Make sure that the contractor has worked with other clients before you. If you are their first client, look for another option. A qualified painting service technician will not hesitate to give you contacts of some clients they have served. This is because they know that the clients will review it positively.

In addition, you can determine whether a professional service provider is experienced or not by checking the number of years that they have been in service. If the interior painter has been in service for more than three years, they have acquired all the required skills. This is because he has overseen many projects, and hence your project will not be any different.

Service Cost

Different painting companies will charge their clients differently. The cost can be determined by the size of the project, quality of service, number of workers on-site as well as the location of the site. However, there is a standard cost for painting services. Hence you can tell when you are being overcharged. Look for more than one service provider. Once you have found several select ones based on the quality of service and the cost of service. However, do not go for lower prices without considering the quality. This is because you will incur maintenance costs in the future.

The above-mentioned points would have showered you with great ideas on how to hire the right painting service.

Press Release Distributed by The Express Wire

To view the original version on The Express Wire visit Check for These Things While Choosing a Painting Service

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Check for These Things While Choosing a Painting Service - Digital Journal

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On a Sunday in May, 70-year-old pastor Joe Mlaker presided over his last service. After nearly 40 years, he was retiring and moving to Florida with his wife.

But just two weeks later, he decided to start aninterior painting business.

He began taking on work in July and generated more than $7,000 in revenues andnearly $3,000in profit through the month of September, according to documents verified by Insider. With his $2,600 in start-up costs now out of the way, he says he expects to take home roughly $2,000 in monthly income from his new gig going forward.

While Mlaker, a self-described "Type A personality," initially started the business because he was restless and looking for "something to do," he says it's become a more important source of supplemental income for him in recent months as the stock market tanks. In late September, the S&P 500 reached a new low for the year, and signs are pointing to further pain in the months ahead.

"The money really becomes important, especially when I look at what's happened with my retirement accounts how quickly we've all lost 10% to 15% in the last year," Mlaker told Insider. His estimate of his losses might even be a bit conservative. Bloomberg estimated that as of June 30, the average 401k balance was 20% lower than the year prior.

Along with being a "hedge" against the markets, he hopes his business income will help him and his wife travel the way they envisioned during their retirement.

Early retirements have been on the rise in recent years due to rising wealth values, COVID concerns, and layoffs. But high inflation and a struggling stock market are now causing some retirees to consider re-entering the workforce. A June CNBC survey, for instance, found that 68% of workers that retired during the pandemic would consider coming back to work. If they do return in high numbers, it could help ease the ongoing labor shortage, and reduce wage pressures that are among the reasons the Fed is grinding the economy to a halt.

But while the rate of retired workers returning to the workforce has returned to pre-pandemic levels roughly 3% growth has stalled in recent months. It remains to be seen whether economic conditions will eventually nudge more to do so.

Serving four different churches across Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin during his time as a pastor, Mlaker "always had a lot of things on his plate." Upon moving to a 2,500-home in a gated community in the Naples area, he says he grew restless almost immediately.

"My whole life, I've always had something to do, an office to go to," he said. "Even during COVID, I would go to the church every day, I would tape a service. Coming down to Florida, I didn't have that routine."

After Mlaker noticed that there was a lot of paint work being done in his community, he spoke with a handyman friend, who told him he could "pick up any side job" if he wanted to. Since he'd run a small painting business for nearly three years in his 20s, it seemed like a natural fit.

He jumped at the opportunity, applying for an LLC, designing business cards, and buying a pickup truck. His start-up expenses included $250 for a Sherwin Williams open contractors account, $22 for a web domain, $145 for business liability insurance, $126 for a storage locker, and $117 for magnetic truck decals, per documents provided to Insider.

Once everything was sorted, he began posting about his business on the local networking service Nextdoor, as well as community Facebook groups.

"I said, "Hey, I'm new in the community. I'm retired. If you're looking for a small paint job, here you go," Mlaker recalls.

This helped him picked up a few jobs, and then it "became word of mouth" he says.

Mlaker tries to not work more than three days per week. The typical job takes four to five hours and generates about $275 in profit, while the biggest require three 8-hour days and bring in roughly $1,400 in profit equivalent to approximately $55 in profitper hour worked.

He charges customers roughly $1 per square foot of wall painted he says $1-2 is the typical rate which translates to roughly $350 for one typical room. He reduces the cost by 75% for a second coat of paint, which he says customers typically desire.

The business' ongoing costs include tape, plastic covering, roller covers, and paint tray covers, as well as new brushes after about every four jobs. He receives a 35-40% discount when he buys paint, one he says he passes along to his customers. Operating costs include gas, insurance, storage rental, and bank fees.

There has been plenty of demand for his business right in his neighborhood. In fact, Mlaker says he hasn't left his gated community once for a job, which "fits perfectly" for his lifestyle.

In terms of business competition, he says the major painting companies typically pursue bigger assignments like a whole home but there's less competition for painting just a bedroom for instance. Given he's just a one-man team and wants to limit his hours, these smaller jobs are exactly what he's looking for.

And a small job can lead to more work. He recalls earning $2,000 to paint half of a client's home, and then was called back to paint the other half. Another client had him paint a bedroom, and then he ended up doing their kitchen as well.

Mlaker picks the days he works and loves the flexibility his business provides. He recalls running out of paint on a job one morning, going to the paint store near the beach, relaxing at the beach for two hours, then heading back and finishing up his work.

While Mlaker believes others his age can have similar success, he acknowledges that he's blessed to be in strong physical shape something that makes his active work life easier. He's an avid road cyclist that rides "thousands of miles" per year and even says he still plays ice hockey.

"Being active is a part of my life," Mlaker said. The more I can engage in different activities, the better I actually do it all with them."

Mlaker worked with many people during his time as a pastor, but says he rarely had the opportunity to see the "end results," as life pushed them in different directions. But with painting, he can step back after a hard day's work and be proud of the finished product.

For people in his generation considering starting a business or going back to work, he advises asking oneself, "What do you like to do?, "What are some of your life skills that you can maybe turn into some income?" and "What fits your physical nature?"

Moving forward, Mlaker intends to continue working on his business only part-time but is considering taking on some additional work outside of his community. He lives approximately eight miles from the ocean and suffered wind damage and temporary loss of power and water during Hurricane Ian, though he was not in an evacuation zone.

In Fort Meyers, however, a few miles west, there is "major damage." As the area rebuilds, he expects there to be plenty of job opportunities if he chooses to pursue them.

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How a 70-year-old unretired to start painting business as stock hedge - Business Insider

NEWBURY Starting next week, contractors will begin extending the Clipper City Rail Trail from the Parker Street trailhead to the Route 1 rotary, the town announced.

On Thursday, J.J Phelan & Son Co. Inc. workers were spotted prepping the worksite by installing a temporary crosswalk and removing a fence that separates Parker Street from Oak Hill Cemetery.

Newbury Town Planner Martha Taylor said work is expected to begin Monday and be completed by the first week of November.

If all goes well, she said. Its exciting to be at this stage.

The project is being paid for with a $252,500 Shared Streets and Spaces grant awarded to the town over the summer.

Ever since the new trailhead opened on Parker Street, pedestrians, bicyclists and others have been forced to travel alongside the busy connecting road between Newbury and Newburyport toward the rotary. During construction, the trail will remain open but trail users will need to cross to the south side of Parker Street and then re-cross the street past the cemetery.

The towns portion will link with another section underway by the developer of an adjacent multifamily complex off Parker Street, she added.

The Clipper City Rail Trail is roughly 3.3 miles long and wends it way through several areas of the city, including the South End, Cashman Park and Marchs Hill. Visitors taking the train to the city can walk the trail from the Newburyport MBTA commuter rail to downtown and beyond. There is, however, a sizable gap at the Route 1 rotary preventing it from becoming a continuous loop.

That portion, according to Taylor, is under the purview of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Newburyport Planning Departments Geordie Vining called the section a vital link to the rest of the rail trail and said he was pleased that another piece of the puzzle was being completed.

We did impress on the contractor they need to route people around the parking area which will be occupied (by the contractors), Vining added.

For years, Vining has been championing the Clipper City Rail Trail and is hopeful that once the state completes planned work on the Route 1 rotary and the surrounding area, the citys dream of having a looped rail trail, a public space used and enjoyed by thousands of people, will come to fruition.

On Thursday morning, Newburyport resident Andrew Morris was rollerblading on the trail when he spotted the contractors painting lines and removing the fence.

Im so glad theyre doing this, Morris said, adding it only takes one distracted driver to cause a tragedy along Parker Street.

Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Clipper City Rail Trail work on Parker St. to begin soon - The Daily News of Newburyport

Building Trade

Chicopee Mayor John Vieau joins, from left, Revitalize CDC Executive Director Colleen Loveless; Director of Programs Ethel Griffin; and Moyah Smith, board clerk.

On Sept. 29, Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) brought its #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild to Chicopee. About 100 volunteers worked on four homes on one block, all in one day. Two of the four homes are owned by U.S. Air Force military veteran families.

We are so grateful to the city of Chicopee for welcoming us with open arms and supporting our initiative to help make homes safe and healthy for those in need, said Colleen Loveless, president and CEO of Revitalize CDC, noting that the work the volunteers and building contractors tackled included replacing rotted porches and steps; repairing accessible ramps, roofs, and decks; installing a new shed, windows, storm doors, and gutters; power washing; painting; and yardwork.

Contractors and volunteers get to work.

The work was supported financially and with volunteers from American Red Cross and the Chicopee Fire Department, the city of Chicopee, Baystate Health, Berkshire Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Center for Human Development, Country Bank, Go Graphix, the MassMutual Foundation, M&T Bank, Ondrick Natural Earth, PeoplesBank, Rockys Ace Hardware, TD Bank, and Westfield Bank.

Our #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild goal is to work on hundreds of homes in targeted neighborhoods, clean up vacant lots, improve playgrounds, and create community gardens, Loveless said. Revitalize CDC focuses on making meaningful improvements on homes to help reduce energy use, save money, and create a safe, healthy, and sustainable living environment for our residents and the community.

Improvements have included installing or retrofitting HVAC systems to allow for oil-to-natural-gas heat and solar conversions; new roofs; energy-efficient windows, doors, and appliances; water-saving plumbing fixtures; electrical upgrades; mold remediation, lead abatement, and pest control; interior and exterior painting; and modifying homes for aging or disabled homeowners, such as building exterior access ramps.

Since Revitalize CDCs inception in 1992, the organization has repaired and rehabilitated more than 1,100 homes with the help of 10,000 volunteers, investing $42 million into Western Mass. In the past year, Revitalize CDC completed 72 home-repair projects on the homes of low-income families with children, elderly citizens, military veterans, and people with disabilities.

The organiations JoinedForces, in partnership with businesses, civic organizations, and other nonprofit agencies, provides veterans and their families with critical repairs and modifications on their homes.

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Improving Homes and Lives in Chicopee - Business West

Wise Home Improvement is a top-rated painting and home improvement company. In a recent update, the agency shared the benefits of hiring professional painting contractors.

Columbia, PA Wise Home Improvement, in a website post, highlighted the importance of hiring professional painting contractors Columbia.

Finding a professional interior painter Columbia is never an easy task. At Wise Home Improvement enterprise, they will always stand behind their work wanting the client to feel at ease and be kept informed with timelines and process updates, making sure theyre satisfied with their new look. This makes them highly client-driven leading to them being the best house painters in my area Columbia.

Focusing on the quality of work, the company uses a special method of taking single coat paint and applying it twice to maximize coverage, as well as their special painting method they call, the Wise Guys Method. They are also a fully licensed, bonded, and insured company with a professional staff dedicated to providing reliable and proactive service through strong communication.

About Wise Home Improvement

As a family-owned and operated painting and home improvement company, Wise Home Improvement is confident in providing the best painting solutions in Columbia and the surrounding region. Their goal is to go above and beyond expectations and make sure that the client not only leaves as a satisfied person but as a friend.

Since experience counts, they guarantee their work, and the client can trust that theyll deliver on their promises. Through three decades of contracting experience, they have developed their own Wise methods that ensure a clients contracting job will be done to the highest quality possible.

Media ContactCompany Name: Wise Home ImprovementContact Person: Ian WiseEmail: Send EmailPhone: (717) 572-8955City: ColumbiaState: PACountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.wisehomeimprove.com/

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Wise Home Improvement Highlights the Benefits of Hiring Professional Painting Contractors - Digital Journal

June 17, 2022

The BIL is estimated to create an additional 800,000 jobs. The United States Department of Labor ("DOL") contends that such new jobs will "expand the middle class, revitalize our nation's transportation, communications and utility systems and build a more resilient, reliable, and environmentally sound future." The White House asserts that the BIL will provide protection to "critical labor standards on construction projects," as a substantial portion of the construction projects included in the BIL will be subject to requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act ("DBA" or the "Act").

While the BIL provides new revenue sources and opportunities for construction projects, federal contractors and subcontractors should ensure that their businesses comply with the DBA's prevailing wage rates and labor standards requirements.

In its simplest form, the DBA, enacted in 1931, requires federal contractors and subcontractors to pay prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits to certain construction workers employed on certain federal contracts. The DOL's Wage and Hour Division ("WHD") administers and enforces the Act's requirements on federally funded and assisted construction projects. The DBA applies to contracts:

With respect to the DBA applying to federal contracts above $2,000, this value threshold only applies to the initial federal contract. If the threshold is met, however, then the DBA applies to any lower-tier subcontracts even if the value of the subcontract is less than $2,000.

There are various requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors under the DBA, which the United States Supreme Court has described as "a minimum wage law designed for the benefit of construction workers." The Act was designed to protect construction workers' wage standards from federal contractors who may base their contract bids on wage rates that are lower than the local wage level. Under the DBA, federal contractors and subcontractors are required, among other things, to do the following:

Federal contractors and subcontractors should ensure that covered workers are properly classified for the work such individuals perform and paid in accordance with the prevailing wage rate for their classification.

Employers will often face recordkeeping challenges when they have nonexempt employees who perform covered (manual) work and non-covered (administrative) work in the same workweek.

In such instances, the employer must determine whether the employee is salaried or paid hourly. If the employee is salaried, the employer must determine whether the employee's salary is greater than or equal to the prevailing wage rate for the employee's classification. If not, the employer contractor is required to increase the employee's pay for the week the covered work is performed.

Likewise, if the employee is paid hourly, then the employer must ensure the employee's hourly rate is greater than or equal to the prevailing wage rate for the employee's classification.

Federal contractors and subcontractors could face various consequences due to their failure to comply with the DBA, ranging from termination of the federal contract and debarment to a contracting agency withholding money due to the contractor to cover back wages due to employees as well as criminal prosecution. Accordingly, federal contractors and subcontractors should consult with legal counsel to ensure they comply with the various DBA requirements for any covered contracts.

-- 2022 Ward and Smith, P.A. For further information regarding the issues described above, please contact Xavier D. Lightfoot or Devon D. Williams.

This article is not intended to give, and should not be relied upon for, legal advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. No action should be taken in reliance upon the information contained in this article without obtaining the advice of an attorney.

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The Intersection of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Davis-Bacon Act Requirements for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors - Ward and Smith, PA