Masonry Magazine October 2007 Page. 64
News
doors for many future masons to further their educations.
If you are interested in purchasing MCAA's "Masonry Training Series Vol., 3 - Spanish Edition" or additional titles in MCAA's Masonry Training Series, visit the online bookstore at www.masoncontractors.org, or call the national headquarters at 800-536-2225.
Bonsal American Acquires Amerimix Industries
Charlotte, N.C.-based Bonsal American Inc. acquired Amerimix Industries Inc., a manufacturer of bagged and bulk mortar and stucco mixes for commercial contractors and distributors in St. Petersburg, Fla. Amerimix is a major supplier to Home Depot with bagged mortars, stuccos, portland and masonry cements.
"Amerimix is an excellent strategic fit with Bonsal American's existing operations in Florida and will enhance Bonsal American's position with Home Depot in the state," says David Maske, president of Bonsal American, one of the largest producers of packaged building material products in the United States, including cement mixes, concrete repair and restoration products and tile setting products.
Amerimix will continue to operate as a separate entity under Bonsal American. Jorge G. Chiappo, president of Amerimix, will remain with Bonsal American after closing and will continue in his current role.
Nonresidential Construction Strong
The credit and housing markets aren't contagion for nonresidential construction. "Nonresidential construction shrugged off the turmoil in homebuilding and credit markets in July to post another solid gain," Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) said regarding a Sept. 4 construction spending report from the Census Bureau.
"Although total construction spending slipped 0.4 percent in July, seasonally adjusted; and residential fell 1.4 percent, nonresidential spending climbed 0.6 percent, the 10th-consecutive monthly gain," Simonson said. "For the first seven months of 2007 combined, total construction was down 3.4 percent and residential plummeted 18 percent compared to the same period in 2006. Those figures obscure the 15 percent jump in nonresidential spending"
Simonson said private, nonresidential construction rose 0.4 percent in July and 17 percent year-to-date, and that the three most speculative components, commercial, office and lodging, advanced. Commercial construction was up 0.6 percent for the month and 15 percent year-to-date. The two biggest commercial subcomponents, multi-retail and warehouses, leaped 4 percent in July and 28 percent year-to-date. Private office construction climbed 0.6 percent and 22 percent, and lodging shot up 0.8 percent and 60 percent.
"Other strong gainers included power, up 0.5 percent and 19 percent, and private health care (principally hospitals), up 1.3 percent and 13 percent," Simonson said. "I anticipate these categories will remain vigorous, but I expect credit-sensitive types such as office, warehouse, retail and lodging to slow soon." Simonson said public construction was up 0.7 percent in July and 11 percent year-to-date. "The biggest component, education, rose 1.9 percent and 12 percent," he said. "But highway and street construction, which received a big boost in late-2005 and early-2006, was down 0.8 percent for the month and was only 5 percent higher year-to-date. Partly, that reflects lower prices for diesel and asphalt, but it also shows states are running short of highway funds as gas tax receipts slow,
Hopkins House Near Completion
The new Hopkins House Fairfax County Child and Family Learning Center has been funded through donations of time, services and funds. This facility was built with more than $1 million in donated architectural and construction services from D.C.- area organizations, and coordinated through the Virginia Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC-VA). An additional $1 million in funding
Johnson-Bennett Visits Raleigh Chapter of NCMCA
MCAA Washington lobbyist Jessica Johnson-Bennett visited the Raleigh Chapter of the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association for the chapter's monthly meeting in September. Johnson-Bennett spoke to the chapter about her concerns about new regulations from the Department of Homeland Security concerning Social Security Administration "no-match" letters and other immigration issues presently on Capitol Hill. The NCMCA members pictured provided a combined MAC PAC contribution of $1,450 at the conclusion of her presentation.
Shown left to right are Danks Burton, Pinnacle Masonry, Frank Werner, Adams Products/Oldcastle; Melvin Hinton, Bat Masonry; Chapter President Ron Williams, CityLink Construction; Doug Burton, Whitman Masonry; Johnson-Bennett; Mike Simmons, LPS Enterprises, Gary Joyner, Joyner Masonry Works; Smitty Smith, William E. Smith Masonry; Calvin Brodie, Brodie Contractors; and Shannon Simmons, LPS Enterprises.