Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Dublin, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Manufactured Housing Market by Number of section, by Location, Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global manufactured housing market was valued at $27,188 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $38,848 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 6. 5%. Manufactured housing (MH) is a housing unit which is built partially or fully off-site in factory and is later transported and installed at designated project site. Manufactured homes are constructed as per the strict rules and regulations laid down by the regulatory body. For instance, in the U. S. it is mandatory that manufactured housing units should comply with the federal HUD code, which was laid down by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in June 1976. According to MHI (Manufactured Housing Institute) based in the U,. S., construction cost for per square foot manufactured homes is around 30% to 50% less as compared to on-site build conventional homes.

The rise in demand for manufactured homes can be attributed to the advantages of manufactured housing units such as affordable construction cost, quality control over entire construction process, less lead time of completion of construction, and energy efficiency.

Growth in population and rapid urbanization has resulted into increase in the need for quality and affordable accommodation. This is expected to boost the growth of the manufactured housing market during the forecast period. However, fluctuations in raw material prices such as steel, timber, and concrete affects the profitability of manufacturers, which restraints growth of the manufactured housing market. Moreover, The rise in adoption of technical advancements such as 3D printing, construction robotics, and computer aided manufacturing is expected to offer growth opportunities for the manufactured housing market in the future.

The global manufactured housing market is segmented on the basis of number of section, location, application, and region. Depending on number of section, the market is divided into single section, double section, and multi-section. By location, the market is classified as private property and MH communities. Based on application, the market is bifurcated into residential and non-residential. Region wise, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

The major market participants profiled in this report include Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Cavco Industries Inc., Cumberland Japan Co. Ltd., Domino Homes SIA, Nobility Homes Inc., Omar Park Homes Ltd., Q Prefab OU, Skyline Champion Corporation, The Commodore Corporation, and Wigo Group. Acquisition and partnership are the key strategies being adopted by the key players to remain competitive in the market.

Key Benefits

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1: Introduction1.1. Report Description1.2. Key Benefits for Stakeholders1.3. Key Market Segments1.4. Key Market Players1.4. Research Methodology1.4.1. Primary Research1.4.2. Secondary Research1.4.3. Analyst Tools and Models

Chapter 2: Executive Summary2.1. Key Findings of the Study2.2. Cxo Perspective

Chapter 3: Market Overview3.1. Market Definition and Scope3.2. Key Findings3.2.1. Top Impacting Factors3.2.2. Top Investment Pockets3.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis3.4. Market Dynamics3.4.1. Drivers3.4.1.1. Growth in Population and Rapid Urbanization3.4.1.2. Increase in Government Spending on Residential Construction and Availability of Mortgage Loans3.4.1.3. Surge in Cost of Residential Construction3.4.2. Restraint3.4.2.1. Fluctuations in Price of Raw Material3.4.2.2. Lack of Skilled Manpower3.4.3. Opportunity3.4.3.1. Technological Advancements & Innovations3.5. Covid-19 Impact Analysis

Chapter 4: Manufactured Housing Market, by Number of Sections4.1. Overview4.1.1. Market Size and Forecast, by Number of Sections4.2. Single Section4.2.1. Key Market Trends, Growth Factors, and Opportunities4.2.2. Market Size and Forecast, by Region4.2.3. Market Analysis, by Country4.3. Double Section4.3.1. Key Market Trends, Growth Factors, and Opportunities4.3.2. Market Size and Forecast, by Region4.3.3. Market Analysis, by Country4.4. Multi Section4.4.1. Key Market Trends, Growth Factors, and Opportunities4.4.2. Market Size and Forecast, by Region4.4.3. Market Analysis, by Country

Chapter 5: Manufactured Housing, by Location5.1. Overview5.1.1. Market Size and Forecast, by Location5.2. Private Property5.2.1. Key Market Trends, Growth Factors, and Opportunities5.2.2. Market Size and Forecast, by Region5.2.3. Market Analysis, by Country5.3. Mh Communities5.3.1. Key Market Trends, Growth Factors, and Opportunities5.3.2. Market Size and Forecast, by Region5.3.3. Market Analysis, by Country

Chapter 6: Manufactured Housing Market, by Application6.1. Overview6.1.1. Market Size and Forecast, by Application6.2. Residential6.2.1. Key Market Trends, Growth Factors, and Opportunities6.2.2. Market Size and Forecast, by Region6.2.3. Market Analysis, by Country6.3. Non-Residential6.3.1. Key Market Trends, Growth Factors, and Opportunities6.3.2. Market Size and Forecast, by Region6.3.3. Market Analysis, by Country

Chapter 7: Manufactured Housing Market, by Region7.1. Overview7.2. North America7.3. Europe7.4. Asia-Pacific7.5. LAMEA

Chapter 8: Competitive Landscape8.1. Introduction8.1.1. Market Player Positioning, 20198.2. Top Winning Strategies

Chapter 8: Company Profiles8.1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.8.1.1. Company Overview8.1.2. Key Executive8.1.3. Company Snapshot8.1.4. Operating Business Segments8.1.5. Product Portfolio8.1.6. Business Performance8.1.7. Key Strategic Moves and Developments8.2. Cavco Industries, Inc.8.2.1. Company Overview8.2.2. Key Executive8.2.3. Company Snapshot8.2.4. Operating Business Segments8.2.5. Product Portfolio8.2.6. Business Performance8.2.7. Key Strategic Moves and Developments8.3. Cumberland Japan Co. Ltd.8.3.1. Company Overview8.3.2. Key Executive8.3.3. Company Snapshot8.3.4. Product Portfolio8.4. Domino Homes Sia8.4.1. Company Overview8.4.2. Key Executive8.4.3. Company Snapshot8.4.4. Product Portfolio8.5. Nobility Homes, Inc.8.5.1. Company Overview8.5.2. Key Executive8.5.3. Company Snapshot8.5.4. Operating Business Segments8.5.5. Product Portfolio8.5.6. Business Performance8.6. Omar Park Homes Limited8.6.1. Company Overview8.6.2. Key Executive8.6.3. Company Snapshot8.6.4. Product Portfolio8.6.5. Key Strategic Moves and Developments8.7. Q Prefab Ou8.7.1. Company Overview8.7.2. Key Executive8.7.3. Company Snapshot8.7.4. Product Portfolio8.8. Skyline Champion Corporation8.9.1. Company Overview8.9.2. Key Executive8.9.3. Company Snapshot8.9.4. Operating Business Segments8.9.5. Product Portfolio8.9.6. Business Performance8.9.7. Key Strategic Moves and Developments8.9. The Commodore Corporation8.9.1. Company Overview8.9.2. Company Snapshot8.9.3. Product Portfolio8.10. Wigo Group8.10.1. Company Overview8.10.2. Company Snapshot8.10.3. Product Portfolio

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6t0fj9

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Go here to see the original:
Global Manufactured Housing Market (2020 to 2027) - by Number of Section, Location and Application - GlobeNewswire

Firefighters at structure fire off Spears Avenue east of Eureka. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

On 01/19/2021 at 10:43 P.M. Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 2700 block of Spears Road. The first arriving unit reported two fully involved single-wide manufactured homes with an additional partially involved recreational vehicle next to it. The occupants of the manufactured homes and recreational vehicle told fire personnel that all people and animals had been evacuated.

Humboldt Bay Fire units had extreme difficulty accessing the long, steep, muddy driveway. Personnel began extending several hundred feet of hose up the driveway by hand to fight the fire. Additional units had to hand-lay 350 feet of supply line to a hydrant as an unattended pickup obstructed the roadway that lead to the closest hydrant.

Fire personnel encountered multiple explosions from propane tanks during the incident. At one-point personnel were advised by the occupants that several propane tanks, including a 200-gallon tank, had recently been filled. Personnel saw several tanks venting with fire shooting in to the air. Personnel pulled back to a safer distance but continued to fight the fire. A large propane tank exploded causing a nearby Redwood tree to become involved in fire.

After approximately one hour of firefighting, personnel gained fire control. Even after the fire was controlled, several more explosions occurred causing firefighters to back out. Due to the large amount of burning materials on the property fire crews will be on scene to mop-up for several hours.

Humboldt Bay Fire had four engines on scene. City Ambulance was also on scene as a precautionary measure. Cal Fire responded a duty officer at the request of Humboldt Bay Fire as this incident occurred on the joint response area between Humboldt Bay Fire and Cal Fire. Pacific Gas and Electric responded and secured the electrical to the property.

At the time of this news release, fire personnel were still mopping up and unable to investigate the cause of the fire. The estimated loss is $200,000.

Earlier: Structure Fire off of Spears Road East of Eureka

Originally posted here:
Two Manufactured Homes and an RV Destroyed in Fire - Redheaded Blackbelt

The Skanner News Published: 23 January 2021

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has begun moving manufactured housing units onto a newly constructed site in Mill City that will provide temporary housing to qualified Oregon wildfire survivors and their families.

Construction on the new Mill City site began earlier this month, with work completed ahead of schedule. The site is currently scheduled to house 13 manufactured housing units and can accommodate up to 16 units, providing necessary temporary housing for the qualified residents of both Linn and Marion counties.

As soon as all manufactured housing units are delivered and placed on site, each unit will be given a final inspection ensuring they are ready for occupancy, and families can be scheduled to be licensed into their temporary homes.

To date, 85 families whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed by this years wildfires have been licensed-in to temporary housing units from FEMA. These units are placed in established RV parks or in FEMA constructed group sites.

In addition to Linn and Marion counties, FEMAs Direct Housing mission is establishing temporary housing for qualified disaster survivors in Jackson and Lincoln counties in sites like the one in Mill City.

Housing units are chosen by FEMA based on the survivor family composition and needs, as well as to ensure that requirements for access or functional needs are met.

Currently, 240qualified families are scheduled to receive FEMA Direct Temporary Housing in the four counties.

The current number of qualified families has fallen as many households that qualified for this assistance have located alternate temporary or permanent housing on their own.

Continued here:
FEMA Site Will House Survivors of Wildfires - The Skanner

5 killed in 3 fires in 1 day in Wisconsin; 3 of them children

Three separate fatal fires in the state Saturday resulted in five people being killed; three of them children.

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. - Three separate fatal fires in the state Saturday resulted in five people being killed; three of them children.

The first fire happened around 3:20 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 in Fort Atkinson. Firefighters were called out to a home on Milo Street near 5th Street, where they found a two-story home with heavy fire throughout.

Fire officials said "two young family members" were reported trapped and died.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android

The cause is under investigation.

Minutes later, around 3:30 a.m., firefighters in Grant County were on scene at a home in Blue River, whereofficials said a 12-year-old boy was among two who died in the blaze. A 33-year-old man also died.

A 14-year-old girl was flown to Milwaukee to be treated for injuries, and a 15-year-old boy was flown to UW Health in Madison.

Two other adults who were in the house at the time of thefirewere treated at hospitals and released.

On Saturday evening, shortly before 6 p.m., a duplex trailer burned on Lenwood Drive in the Town of Barton in Washington County.

Officials said a neighbor saw smoke and active flames and tried to get in touch with the tenant, but didn't get a response at the locked door. The neighbor called 911.

The victim, a 48-year-old Town of Barton man, was found unresponsive in the home, pronounced dead at the scene.

The fire was contained to the "manufactured home,"and the cause is under investigation.

"To have five in the state also seems like an unreasonable number to me, but every one of those deaths is a tragedy for the families involvedand is a tragedy certainly for us in the fire community," said West Bend Fire Battalion Chief Robert Schafer. "Over the course of my 20-year career, it has been the same -- fires related to kitchens and cooking; mainly unintended cooking operations that turn into fires."

Schafer said when temperatures drop during winter,people must remain vigilant when it comes to the heat sources around them.

"What they dont realize is that you need to maintain a fireplace," said Schafer. "You need to do more than clean the chimney. You have to actually inspect the chimney -- make sure the fire bricks are good."

That goes beyondjust the fireplace.

"If people would maintain those areas, keep them neat, cleanand clutter-free, and turn their attention towards what theyre doing while they have those fires going," said Schafer.

Space heaters, candlesand even cluttered kitchensall increase the likelihood of something going wrong.

"Those are the types of things that are getting people hurt, that are getting people killedand that are getting homes burned down," said Schafer.

To stay safe, make sure your smoke detectors are workingand keep an eye on the heat.

See the original post here:
5 killed in 3 fires in 1 day in Wisconsin; 3 of them children - FOX 6 Milwaukee

Local residents, environmental advocates and officials are united in their demand for the U.S. Navy to pay the cost of bringing public water to homes near the the former Grumman Aerospace manufacturing plant in Calverton

The Navy, however, is unimpressed.

Rep. Lee Zeldin and other officials made the demand for the Navy to act at a news conference this morning outside the home of Kelly and Pete McClinchy, located in a remote area of Manorville south of the former Grumman site, where some private wells are contaminated by toxins that environmental advocates believe originated on the Grumman site.

Afterward, a Navy spokesperson doubled down on the departments position that it is not bound by New York States recently adopted drinking water standards for a class of emerging contaminants known as PFAS.

The spokesperson today also repeated the Navys assertion that the homes in the area of Manorville where the McClinchys live is not downgradient of the former Grumman site. The Navy maintains that the groundwater flows to the southeast and the homes where PFAS levels were in some cases 10 times the state drinking water limit are to the south or southwest of the site. The private wells found to be contaminated by PFAS are too far to the southwest, therefore well outside the path of the south-east groundwater flow from NWIRP Calverton releases, the spokesperson said.

PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries since the 1940s. The chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body meaning they dont break down and they can accumulate over time, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. There are many potential sources of the same chemicals in groundwater.

The Calverton Naval Industrial Weapons Reserve Plant, as it is formally known, was owned by the the Navy for decades and leased to Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman Aerospace) until 1996. Grumman built and tested military aircraft there for decades. It also tested fire suppression methods and trained personnel in jet crash firefighting techniques at the site, using firefighting foam known to contain PFAS.

A map and data released by the Navy in November show detections of PFAS chemicals at the Navys fence line treatment system on the southern border of the former Grumman site, along Grumman Boulevard.

But the Navy and Grumman knew, as far back as the mid-1980s, that the companys operations on the site had contaminated groundwater, according to court documents in an insurance case between Northrop Grumman and its liability insurance companies. A 2013 federal court decision, first reported by Newsday last month, revealed that Grumman knew that groundwater contamination resulting from its operations could migrate off-site and threatened drinking water as well as the Peconic River estuary.

It was three decades ago that the Navy first did their assessment if the Calverton site, said resident Kelly McClinchy today. For 30 years they have known there has been contamination on that site, she said. Yet, she said, the Navy refused to test residents private wells.

The sampling conducted last year by the Suffolk County Water Authority and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services confirmed residents worst fears, McClinchy said. Poisons dumped on the land have made it to our wells, she said.Manorville resident Kelly McClinchy, who has organized community members to demand public water, speaking at a news conference outside her home today. Photo: Denise Civiletti

The results werent shocking to anyone, Zeldin said. No longer area able to deny these facts and the reality of this dire situation, the Navy must immediately remediate this situation and also must undertake the expense to make sure these residents have access to clean and safe drinking water.

He said the Navy must compensate any resident who wants bottled water.

Were not ready to back down until they remediate this, Zeldin said.

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, praised local residents for their courage in standing up to the Navy. Its not easy to go against the Navy, she said.

But residents in the area get up every morning and make a pot of coffee or a cup of tea and take a shower and they worry: Is it safe? Is my water contaminated? Esposito said. And thats wrong.

The Navy must clean up their own mess, she said. The Navy is a government agency whose mission is to protect us.And were calling on the Navy to do that here, in this community, and its been falling on deaf ears.

Zeldin said the Navy has money in its budget to remediate the groundwater contamination affecting private wells in Manorville/Calverton, which affects as many as 150 homes in both Riverhead and Brookhaven towns. The estimated cost to bring public water to all the homes is insignificant to a federal agency with a $161 billion dollar budget the Navys funding level for fiscal year 2021.

The congressman said he believes the Navy is treating small issues like the one in Calverton the same as much larger remediation needs scattered across the country,

They have the funds to do this, Zeldin said. They dont have the funds to do everything nationally.

Esposito agreed. The Navy can fix this tomorrow, she said, then reconsidered. They can fix it this afternoon.

The Riverhead Water District and the Suffolk County Water Authority are at odds over which entity has the right to serve the affected homes in Riverhead Town 66 of the homes are in Brookhaven Town, which is served by SCWA.

The water authority maintains that any area not within an existing water district is in the SCWA service area as a matter of law. Riverhead maintains it has the right to serve any area within the geographic boundaries of the Town of Riverhead.

Today, Supervisor Yvette Aguiar and SCWA general counsel Tim Hopkins agreed: the residents of the are need public water as soon as possible.

The Suffolk County Water Authority has already drawn up plans to provide safe drinking water to everyone in the area, Hopkins said. SCWA sent the plans to the Navy, he said. We have plenty of supply. We are ready, willing and able to serve the area in question.

Aguiar said the Riverhead Water District has capacity to serve the area.

Every individual in the U.S. deserves to have clean water,Aguiar said. We are here together as one.

We need your help.Now more than ever, the survival of quality local journalism depends on your support. Our community faces unprecedented economic disruption, and the future of many small businesses are under threat, including our own. It takes time and resources to provide this service. We are a small family-owned operation, and we will do everything in our power to keep it going. But today more than ever before, we will depend on your support to continue. Support RiverheadLOCAL today. You rely on us to stay informed and we depend on you to make our work possible.

More here:
A united community demands public water in area near former Grumman site but Navy shows no sign of budging - RiverheadLOCAL

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (Skyward Specialty or the Company), a leader in the specialty Property and Casualty market, announced today the acquisition of Aegis Surety and the simultaneous sale of XPro (solutions for the Pest Control industry). K2 Insurance Services is both the seller of Aegis Surety and the buyer of XPro.

Combining Aegis Surety into Skyward Surety vaults us into a leadership position in our target surety markets, said Skyward Specialty CEO Andrew Robinson. Above all else it is about great talent. The Aegis Surety transaction effectively doubles our underwriting and leadership team, ensuring we have the exceptional talent to deliver the value and service our customers expect while further positioning the business for profitable growth.

We have great admiration for Bob Kimmel and the leadership team at K2, and we view the sale of our market leading XPro business as an excellent opportunity to work with a world-class organization. Skyward will continue to be the insurer in partnership with K2 as the managing general agent (MGA) for this program. These transactions, taken together, illustrate our commitment to be a top-tier specialty insurer with strong defensible positions and an aim to rule our niche; The transactions are also accretive, added Robinson.

Aegis Surety Senior Vice President Trevor Hash will become the Head of Contract Surety, reporting to Skyward Specialtys Head of Surety, Matthew Semeraro. Along with our entire team, I am excited to join Skyward Specialty and support the growth and development of this business, said Hash. Skyward Specialty is building a world-class specialty insurance company with incredible talent. We are all proud to join this team.

Aegis Surety offers surety bonds to a broad range of contractors in addition to commercial surety, specializing in underwriting bid, performance, payment, supply and maintenance bonds. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Aegis Surety supports businesses in 45 states and the District of Columbia with offices in Syracuse, New York; Wayne, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; and Charleston, South Carolina.

About Skyward Specialty

Skyward Specialty is a property and casualty insurance holding company with nearly a billion dollars in premium and $2BN in assets. The company has highly respected businesses in specialty lines including management and professional liability, medical stop loss, surety, E&S property and liability, and large commercial property, programs, as well as multi-line solutions for the energy, trucking and construction industries.

Skyward Specialtys subsidiary insurance companies consist of Houston Specialty Insurance Company; Imperium Insurance Company; Great Midwest Insurance Company; Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company; and Boston Indemnity Company, Inc. These insurance companies are rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Skyward Specialty was formerly known as Houston International Insurance Group (HIIG). For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people and products, please visit http://www.skywardinsurance.com.

About K2 Insurance Services

K2 Insurance Services (K2) is an insurance services holding company, which owns and controls a diverse set of specialty program administrators. Through its MGAs, K2 markets, underwrites and services over $1 billion annually in niche commercial and personal insurance premiums. From workers compensation for high hazard exposures such as commercial transportation to personal lines coverage for manufactured homes, K2 helps insure clients across a diverse array of risks and industries. K2 is headquartered in San Diego, California and is a privately held company. For more information about K2, its people and products, please visit http://www.k2ins.com.

See more here:
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group Announces the Acquisition of Aegis Surety and Sale of Its XPro Business, Both With K2 Insurance Services - Business...

CLEVELAND, Ohio Clevelands health department is developing plans for vaccinating people against COVID-19 coronavirus on the fly as it gets doses from the state, interim Health Director Brian Kimball said Monday.

But Kimball told City Councils Health and Human Services Committee that widespread vaccination is a long way off because the supply of vaccine being made available to health departments and others is nowhere near enough to meet demands.

At this point, the city as well as hospitals, health centers and pharmacies that also are providing vaccinations dont know from week to week how many new doses they can expect to receive.

Because of the limited supply and the limited doses weve been receiving on a weekly basis, we have to be strategic as to how and where we administer the vaccine, Kimball said. We dont want to cause a panic and cause individuals to travel to a location and get there and theres no doses there for them.

People age 65 and older are included in state guidelines for Phase 1B, with those 80 and older targeted first.

About 15,000 Cleveland residents are age 80 and older, but only about 5,000 doses of vaccine for that group were received among the 30 organizations in Cleveland providing vaccinations, said Tracy Martin-Thompson, whose duties include overseeing the Health Department for Mayor Frank Jacksons administration.

So, for now, the city is relying on its Department of Aging to circulate information to senior high-rise buildings and to the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority as it uses its limited supply of vaccine, Kimball said. That way, the city can register people for vaccinations ahead of time and ensure no vaccine is wasted.

Cleveland did establish a vaccination clinic at Public Auditorium and created a mobile unit to take vaccine to nursing homes. It plans to set up other sites at recreation centers, eventually.

Last week 140 people age 80 and older were vaccinated at the Collinwood Recreation Center. Vaccinations are expected to be set up this week on the citys West Side, tentatively at Estabrook Recreation Center.

Cleveland received 200 doses, most of which were administered last week at Collinwood Recreation Center. Another 100 doses are expected this week, Kimball said.

For Phase 1A frontline health workers, EMTs and staff and residents in nursing homes Cleveland received 6,900 vaccine doses. As of Monday, the city had administered 5,590 doses to people who fit Phase 1A criteria, according to the Jackson administration.

All of the organizations doing vaccinations in Cleveland -- including the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth System -- have been receiving limited amounts of vaccine, Martin-Thompson said.

Kimball said it is unknown how long the limited supply of vaccine will hamper mass vaccinations against the coronavirus.

Vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna are the only two approved by the federal government for use at this point. A vaccine manufactured by Johnson & Johnson is under review and could become available by March, Kimball said.

Meanwhile, Cleveland is working to improve communications with the hospitals and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to bolster vaccine coordination, Martin-Thompson said.

Regular conversations occur among those entities and the city, but an overall plan of attack for coordinating vaccinations throughout Cleveland wasnt developed because of the desire to start vaccines immediately after the state issued eligibility guidelines, she said.

Cleveland residents can get more information about the availability of vaccinations by calling the citys Health Department at 216-664-2222. Other information is available through the countys 211 information line, Kimball said.

More from Cleveland City Hall

Mayor Frank Jackson appoints Martin Keane as Clevelands new director of public utilities

Cleveland City Council OKs hiring Cuyahoga County to replace water main when it replaces Hilliard Road bridge

Cleveland City Council votes to extend program that allows restaurants to add outdoor tables in public spaces

Quicken Loans LLC plans to add 700 jobs in downtown Cleveland, city to offer job creation grant

Read more:
Widespread vaccinations for COVID-19 coronavirus in Cleveland a long way off because of short supplies - cleveland.com

Charles Winokoor|The Herald News

FALL RIVER David Nguyen says hes been courted by no less than the governor of South Carolina to move his US Bedding manufacturing plant out of Fall River.

They have a lower tax rate and cheaper materials, he said, referring to South Carolinas selling points.

But Nguyen says hes developed a fondness for Fall River and its people since 2006, when he relocated his business to the Spindle City from Canton.

I love it here. Its a beautiful city, Nguyen said.

Back then he bought an old mill building at 451 Quarry St. in the Flint. But as his business grew, Nguyen found himself running out of space.

Instead of South Carolina or nearby Rhode Island, which he says was also a relocation option, Nguyen is moving his bedding company into the former Sams Club building less than a mile away in the commercial plaza known as Crossroads at 24.

Nguyen recently paid Walmart, parent company of Sams Club, $5.25 million for the vacant building and parking lot.

The only other tenants of the sprawling, elongated commercial plaza, which sits between Brayton Avenue and Jefferson Street, is a Walmart supercenter store and a McDonalds restaurant.

Nguyen, who says he fled Vietnam in 1979, said hes committed to doing business in the Spindle City.

The first time I come here, I loved it I see all the mill buildings, he said

Its been nearly five years since Walmart closed its Sams Club stores in Fall River, Seekonk and Warwick.

Nguyen says US Bedding should be up and running by late March inside the 140,000-square-foot, single-story structure.

The move, he says, will increase efficiency and allow him to ramp up manufacturing capacity by more than three fold.

More: Fall River company transforms mid-pandemic to fill urgent need

Nguyen says US Bedding, with a current workforce of 36 full- and part-time employees, has been manufacturing and assembling up to 300 mattress units per day.

He expects that daily capacity to increase to 1,000 at the new location, which has an address of 941 Grinnell St.

And hes more than willing to hire the people needed in order to achieve that benchmark.

Nguyen, 58, says he expects to eventually hire as many as 100 additional workers to keep up with demand from his client list of hotels, colleges, nursing homes and mattress and furniture store retailers.

I think I can do a good thing for the community here, and thats the bottom line, he said.

Nguyen credits Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan and Ken Fiola, vice president of Bristol County Economic Development Consultants, for their support.

Fiola says Nguyen paid a fee for his consulting services, which resulted in a $4.5 million loan from Fall Rivers BankFive and a million dollar loan agreement from Bristol County Economic Development Consultants the latter of which obligates Nguyen to create at least 50 new jobs within four years.

He wont need that much time, and I have no doubt hell add 100 jobs, said Fiola, who says that he and Nguyen worked closely on the project during the past eight months.

Nguyen says entry level salary at US Bedding is $14 an hour and can eventually go as high as $35 an hour.

Were willing to train to sew and do other things, he said, adding that its easy if anyone wants a job.

Fiola said he also advised Nguyen on how to go about getting a zoning variance from the city to change the official use of the former Sams Club site from commercial to industrial.

This is a tremendous success story for the city on a couple different fronts, Fiola said.

He cited the potential for US Bedding to become known as one of the largest mattress manufacturers on the East Coast. Fiola also noted that Nguyens initiative will result in the re-energizing of a previously abandoned piece of property.

Nguyen says the situation at the Quarry Street building in terms of functionality has become untenable.

There is virtually no parking available in front for large truck deliveries and only one loading dock. The Sams Club building, on the other hand, has 10 loading bays and wide-open interior space that can be divided into sections.

Nguyen said hell create a showroom, or design lab, where clients can lie down on mattresses and evaluate how they want their product to be built.

The building also has an array of skylight windows that can produce an abundance of natural light: I dont even have to turn on the lights (during the day), Nguyen said.

He says the Quarry Street buildings wooden floors were never meant to support the weight of a forklift or any other piece of heavy equipment.

Nguyen said that alone creates inefficiency.

He cites the example of truck shipments of heavy rolls of industrial plastic wrap used to protect mattresses. Nguyen says it takes six workers four hours to manually unload half a shipment of rolls per truck.

He said when a full shipment comes to the new site it will take a single worker with a forklift less than 45 minutes to unload a truck.

One of Nguyens major accounts is Houston-based Mattress Firm with its 3,500 retail stores, including one on Mariano Bishop Boulevard, some of which go under the Sleepys brand name.

Its a very important customer, he said. But its almost impossible to keep pace where we are.

Nguyen says two years ago he became franchisee of the New England division of Spring Air International, an Illinois company known for such high-end mattress lines as Four Seasons, Chattam and Wells and Sleep Sense.

Theyre a very important partner, he said.

Nguyen says he also at any given time makes mattresses for six to eight independently owned furniture storesincluding Cardis Furniture, which has a Swansea location.

And he says he sells mattresses to e-commerce bedding businesses such as Casper Sleep and Thuma, the latter of which is known for platform bed frames made in both the U.S. and Vietnam.

Nguyen says he buys his raw materials from domestic companies, some of which are in New England

He also says he has a 40-percent interest in Anchor Uniform Manufacturing LLC, which operates on the fourth floor of the Quarry Street mill building and which for decades has manufactured uniforms for the military, firefighters, police and the airline industry.

Nguyen says if he sells the Quarry Street property there will be enough room inside the former Sams Club for Anchor Uniform.

The second floor of the old building has been used by US Bedding for sewing work to make mattress borders and pillow toppers, while the third floor is used as a warehouse storage area for mattresses.

Nguyen said he had his share of difficulties and challenges in 2020.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last March he saw his orders drop off as businesses across the country, including his clients, figured out how to adjust.

He said he managed to not lay off any workers when he realized he had enough non-woven materials on hand to begin manufacturing face masks.

Nguyen said he was allowed to remain open as an essential business because he sold masks to nursing homes and schools. He said he also donated a few hundred masks to the city.

There was no profit, for more than a couple months, he said.

Later in the year, Nguyen said, one of his workers tested positive for COVID-19. That led to his closing down US Bedding for two weeks until everyone tested negative.

He also had a major problem last year with the Quarry Street buildings sole elevator. Nguyen said it took four months before an elevator part became available to make the repair.

He says during that time his workers had to carry mattresses up the stairs to the third floor storage area.

Nguyen, 58, and his wife have five grown children, none of whom work with him in his bedding business.

He says the capital investment in new equipment and hiring more workers will pay off in the long run, both for him and the city.

I think I can do a good thing for the community here, and thats the bottom line, Nguyensaid.

Go here to read the rest:
US Bedding owner: New site in Fall River Sam's Club could create 100 new jobs - Fall River Herald News

NEW DELHI -- Filled with optimism and anxiety, health care providers lined up to receive the first COVID-19 vaccine injections at a government hospital in the Indian capital on Jan. 16, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a massiveimmunization drive aimed atinoculating300 million people.

"I'm taking the plunge as it provides me with a sense of security," said ananesthetist, 35, who asked that her name not be used. The woman worries about her family as she works in the hospital's COVID-19 intensive care unit and thus remains at high risk for infectionand potentially passing on the coronavirus at home, including to her three-year-old son.

Outside, dozens of governmentsupporters celebrated by distributing laddoo, an Indian sweet, while chanting slogans in Hindi such as "it's possible if Modi is there."

After the U.S., India has the world's second-highest caseload, with more than 10.5 million infections and has reported over 153,000 coronavirus-related deaths. In the first week of the vaccination drive, about 1.3 million people got shots.

India's drug regulator earlier this month granted emergency use approval to the indigenous Covaxin vaccine developed by domestic company Bharat Biotech, and to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which is locally manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under the brand name Covishield. Both are two-dose vaccines administered 28 days apart.

The Serum Institute -- the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold at more than 1.5 billion annually -- has already made about 50 million Covishield doses, while Bharat Biotech has stocked 20 million doses of Covaxin. Four more vaccines are in preparationand expected to be available soon. They are developed by three Indian companies -- Zydus Cadila, Biological E and Gennova--and Russia'sGamaleya National Centerof Epidemiology and Microbiology.TheMoscow-based research institute's Sputnik V will also be manufactured locally.

"As our vaccination campaign progresses, many countries in the world will benefit from our experiences," said Modi, who in a virtual appearance inaugurated the pan-India drive, describingit as "the world's largest."

Indeed, besides the domestic campaign, India has begun shipping its vaccines to neighboring countries withambitions to offer them further afield to both protect its own population and win diplomatic points as regional rival China pursues its version of shot aid. But here are emerging concerns that New Delhi's outreacheffort could strain supplies for the internal one.

India's vaccinations are taking place in stages, with 10 million health care providers to get themfirst, followed by 20 million other front-line workers including police and army personnel. Phase 2 will cover 270 million people over the age of 50, along with those having co-morbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The government has vowed to vaccinate 300 million people by July or August.

Modi lauded efforts by India's doctors, nurses and other front line workers for "nourishing hope in the atmosphere of despair" during the crisis. "There are hundreds of friends who never made it to their homes [and] sacrificed their lives to save [others]," he said, his voice choked with emotion. The government will pay the cost of inoculating the 30 million health care and front line workers.

Public health experts say about two-thirds of the population of more than 1.3 billion need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, an exercise thatmay take 18 months to two years. "As more and more people are immunized, the chain of transmission will be broken," Rajinder K. Dhamija, head of the neurology department at New Delhi-based Lady Hardinge Medical College, told Nikkei Asia. "Finally, vaccine is the only solution, and in the next 6 to 7 months India will see more vaccines [getting approved] to help it manage its enormous vaccination drive."

Jitender Singh, 36, a security guard at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the heart of New Delhi, felt "absolutely fine" after receiving the vaccine. "I was asked to sit in the waiting area for 30 minutes after being administered the shot to check if I was feeling all right," Singh said. "After that, I was allowed to continue my duty at the hospital."

But not all present at vaccination sites were comfortable. Some doubted the efficacy of Covaxin, which has yet to complete the Phase 3 clinical trials required under normal circumstances. According to official data, seven people across the country required hospitalization in the first three days of vaccinations, though it did not indicatewhich of the two vaccines they received.

Shakti, a nurse who gave only his first name, was one of the fearful. "I was selected randomly for vaccination [and] have some doubt about the efficacy of Covaxin," he said. "I'm not sure about signing the consent form," he added on the first day of the inoculationdrive at a New Delhi hospital,underscoring the challenge ofvaccine hesitancy.

Manish Jangra, founding chairman of the Federation of All India Medical Association, told Nikkei that some doctors and other health workers were not comfortable withCovaxin because of the lack of complete data. "We are not against this vaccination policy of the government [and just want] them to provide us with Covishield," Jangra said.

But the Indian health ministry countersthat side effects were reported in only 0.18% of vaccine recipients and just 0.002% of people had been hospitalized following the first three days. "The data shows that we are in a situation of a lot of comfort," said V.K. Paul, the government's top health adviser, adding that the figures should dispel much anxiety.

The first day saw207,229 people getting shots, one of the highest single-day numbers globally, thoughfallingshort of the government target by 100,000. In comparison, Turkey vaccinated 285,000 people on its first day, while, as per the Indian health ministry, the U.S. immunized 79,458 and the U.K. 19,700.

Vaccinating 300 million people, or a little less than the population of the U.S., within six to seven months is a huge task and,given the current pace, global observers may wonderwhether India can achievethe target.

Immunizing large numbers of people is nothing new for the country. Itruns one of the world's biggest vaccination programs, annually covering around 27 million infants and 29 million pregnant women. Besides, experience with nationwide general elections -- in which about 610 million people voted in seven phases in April and May of 2019 -- helps in organizingmammoth events.

By using domestically produced vaccines Modi's government not only aims to boostpatriotism but also helpitselffinancially. India has bought 11 million Covishield doses at a cost of 200 rupees ($2.73) each, excluding taxes, and procured 5.5 million Covaxin doses from Bharat Biotech. The company made a "special gesture" by waiving the charges on 1.65 million doses while the remaining 3.85 million doses were priced at 295 rupees each.

According to the government, Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine would cost 1,431 rupees per dose, Moderna's would be 2,348 to 2,715 rupees, and Sinovac Biotech of China's 1,027 rupees. Therefore, domestically produced vaccines actually reduce the burden on New Delhi's treasury.

In addition to cost benefits, Covishield and Covaxin are also easy to transport. While Pfizer's vaccine requires storage temperature of minus 70 C, both the domestic vaccines can be stored attemperatures of 2 C to 8 C, which enables nationwide distribution in a country lacking deep-freeze cold chain infrastructure.

Still, experts caution that India's effort will only work if other countries also inoculate 60% to 70% of their people because, as Dhamija says, "even if you control it at home you may get it from outside owing to air travel."

Thus, Indian-made vaccines have already arrived in neighboring Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar; the Indian Ocean nationsof the Seychelles and Mauritius; andBrazil and Morocco. And other countries in South America, Africa and the MiddleEast are trying to procure them from India, which has assured the global community its vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used tofight the crisis.Already, 60% of non-coronavirus vaccines supplied worldwideare of Indian origin.

Analysts feel India's global image will receive a big boost from its COVID-19 diplomacy at a time when China has also deliveredits own vaccinesoverseas. India's commitment to help others "reinforces its role as a responsible global stakeholder," said Harsh V. Pant, head of strategic studies at the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank. "It allows India to punch above its weight in some ways because pharmaceutical is one area where India is seen as a global leader."

But the home situation may not immediately allow Modi's government to press ahead with offering vaccines elsewhereona largescale. A backup plan might be needed to secure additional capacity to produce enough doses forexport. In November, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India may go for joint vaccine productionin some countries if they are willing.

Notwithstanding India's positives, health care system bottlenecks exist. An ORF report this month said 38% of infants in India failed to receive all basic vaccines within a year of birth in 2016 for reasons rangingfrom "non-universality of vaccination coverage to factors like remoteness of large populations in distant towns or villages, lack of physical infrastructure, and the prevalence of misinformation surrounding vaccination."

A Eurasia Group note said that while the government is optimistic, constraints include limited vaccine production capacity even in best-case scenarios and the campaign will heavily rely on state governments with widely varying capacities and expertise. "Furthermore, effective coordination will be needed between the central and state governments, something that has not been Modi's strong point," the note said.

Nevertheless, the pushis crucial to contain the virus. "After a lot of deliberations [these two vaccines] have been put into use," said Vijay Grover, a cardiac surgeon at the RML hospital who is more than willing to receive the shot to protect himself, his family and society at large. "We can't doubt everything that is happening in the country."

Read the original post:
India pushes COVID shots in two-pronged effort at home and abroad - Nikkei Asia

EVERETT General contractor Amy King realized in 2016 that something was missing from the housing market something that would be far cheaper than a mobile home or apartment, yet would offer more dignity and personal space than a traditional homeless shelter.

Her employees, many of whom were once homeless, are filling that gap, she said.

Theyre making low-cost personal shelters of aluminum and insulated panels in a factory near Paine Field.

Each personal, portable pallet shelter is meant to be part of a larger community, where someone who is living on the margins can get the support they need to work toward a more normal life, without having to worry about finding a safe place to sleep every night, said King, whos now CEO of Pallet, the Everett manufacturer.

It allows people to have space, even transitionally or temporarily, while they stabilize, get on their feet, figure out whats next and then move on, she said.

Since its founding in 2016, the company has churned out enough shelter units to house about 1,500 people. In Washington and nearly a dozen other states, Pallet has helped established shelter communities. Theyre run by local social service agencies that provide resources to people residing in the temporary dwellings, each 100 square feet or less.

The Everett City Council will soon consider establishing a similar village with $735,000 in federal grant money.

City officials have proposed a cluster of 20 or so pallet shelters, along with communal bathrooms and showers, overseen by an organization that would ensure the site stays safe and clean. Potential locations for the project have yet to be announced.

King and others at Pallet contend the model is more effective than traditional shelters in providing a pathway to permanent housing. Some agencies that oversee pallet shelter sites have have reported that up to half of the people who enter the communities eventually are placed in permanent housing.

The company is working with service providers across the country to collect more data to illustrate those successes, King said.

A site in Tacoma, which has grown to include nearly 60 of the shelters, has served more than 450 people since it opened in 2017, according to the city, which partners with Catholic Community Services to run the community. Of those people, nearly 400 of them were connected with long-term living arrangements, Tacoma spokeswoman Megan Snow said in an email.

We think of our pallet communities as sort of a trial run of being housed people practicing being housed and practicing that lifestyle and then going on to permanent housing, King said. What were seeing across the board is people staying in pallet communities for about three to six months and then moving on to permanent housing from there.

Theres also evidence that a person whos struggling with homelessness, addiction or mental health issues is more willing to accept services or treatment if pallet shelters are an option, King said.

She credits that advantage to her staff, who drew from their own experiences to help come up with the concept and design for the structures.

The vast majority of the companys some 55 employees were once homeless, grappling with addiction issues, involved in the criminal justice system or some combination.

The team conceived Pallets vision with the knowledge that many people who are homeless refuse offers for shelter not because they dont need it, but because they fear a congregate shelter setting will deprive them of their independence or some other comfort, King said.

The assumption is that they want to be homeless, and thats just a false assumption, she said. The reality is they dont want to accept the services that are currently provided because it doesnt allow them to maintain the dignity of staying with their partner or keeping their pet with them or having their stuff.

The company has marketed its product as one that can rapidly meet the needs of governments and nonprofits tasked with sheltering people.

Each unit can be assembled in less than an hour with just a few basic tools.

Pricing starts at about $4,900 per shelter but varies depending on order size and other details.

Tacoma spent $900,000 to establish its Stability Site, which started in 2017 as a collection of tents under a large, temperature-controlled structure and pallet shelters outside, Snow said.

In the two years that followed, the site cost roughly $250,000 a month to run and staff with case managers.

Last year, all tents were replaced with pallet shelters, and each unit was moved into the structure to help reduce utility costs. In 2021-22, the city expects operation costs will run about $3.6 million, to be paid with money from the general fund and a sales tax that supports mental health and substance abuse programs, Snow said.

About 60 people live there now, along with some of their pets, said Faatima Lawrence, director of homeless adult services for Catholic Community Services in Tacoma. Roughly 70 more people are on a wait list for a spot at the site, Lawrence said.

Each person living on the site is assigned to one of five case managers who can not only assist with housing needs but also help connect an individual with health care, employment, addiction treatment and other services.

Because of how much intense case managing we do, we do house more people at the facility site than we do at our traditional shelters, Lawrence said.

Many people who refuse beds at other shelters have accepted spots at the site because theres no curfew and fewer restrictions, she said. People are generally allowed to stay there as long as they are working with their case managers to take steps to improve their lives even if the steps are small ones.

We are able to meet the person where theyre at, without a lot of rules compared to our other shelters, Lawrence said. Theyre more comfortable. They want to stay.

Rachel Riley: 425-339-3465; rriley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rachel_m_riley.

Gallery

Weatherstripping is installed at Pallet in Everett. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

CEO Amy King at Pallet in Everett. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Shelters await shipping and assembly at Pallet in Everett. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Floors are painted as part of the fabrication process at Pallet in Everett. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Read more here:
Everett-based Pallet offers a novel way to shelter homeless | HeraldNet.com - The Daily Herald