City a leader on clean water
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Nearly every time it rains, water pollution problems follow. That's because the impenetrable surfaces of our cityscapes - buildings, sidewalks, roads - repel rainwater directly into storm drains and, ultimately, our waterways. Along the way, the water collects a toxic soup of oil, chemicals, animal waste, and trash.More

Grant allows Penfield upgrade, flood prevention in beach area in Connecticut
Minuteman News Center
A $400,000 STEAP grant will allow Fairfield, Conn., to build a parking lot at Penfield Pavilion, sidewalks nearby, and use the money saved by accepting the grant, to build a bulkhead that will alleviate flooding in the beach area. More

NAHB Remodeling Market Index increases in the 4th quarter
NAHB Eye on Housing
NAHB's Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased to 46.6 from 41.7 in the third quarter. At 46.6, the overall RMI is now as close to the break-even point of 50 as it has been since 2006. An RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher (compared to the prior quarter) than report it is lower. More

Longmont, Colo.'s Alleyscape on the way
Longmont Times-Call
The makeover of historic downtown Longmont, Colo., is about to begin. The long-awaited Alleyscape project will begin with the removal of Los Arcos de Longmont, the public art pieces at either end of the three breezeways connecting Main Street to the parking lots to the east along Kimbark Street. More

PCA's Sullivan tells builders: Normal housing activity resumes 2016
Concrete Products
Home foreclosures decreased dramatically in 2011, but industry experts caution that instead of a housing market improvement indicator, they reflect legal, process and "robo-signing" issues. Addressing the 2012 International Builders' Show in Orlando, PCA Chief Economist Ed Sullivan said that the 1.9 million foreclosures reported in 2011 is understated by more than one million due to processing delays. "Despite small improvements to the economy, the underlying fundamentals of the mortgage market have not improved," he noted. "Instead we are seeing bank processing delays that are pushing foreclosures into 2012 and maybe even 2013. This is resulting in excess housing inventories and continues to drag down housing starts."More

Which proposed stadium will score in Los Angeles?
Construction Digital
It's been nearly 17 years since the City of Angels enjoyed a home NFL team, and developers are looking to bring the game back to the region by wooing teams with a brand new football stadium. There are two major competitors for the rights to build the new sporting complex - Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and billionaire Edward P. Roski, both of whom have set forward multiple proposals to the City and surrounding communities. With heavy proponents and staunch critics for each project, it is not altogether clear which bid - if either - will gain the public and political support needed to break ground. With the promise of construction and retail jobs plus millions in tax revenue, though, city officials are eager to see the bright stadium lights illuminate the Los Angeles skyline. More

Changes coming for the Paver Express
ICPI
On March 1, the ICPI Paver Express will be adopting a fresh new look. Also, rather than receiving a news brief every week, the Paver Express will be adopting a bi-weekly format. So after March 1, look for your news brief every other week.More

ICPI 2011 Annual Report
ICPI
We are pleased to present the ICPI 2011 Annual Report. The Annual Report is to provides members, prospective members, design professionals and government officials an overview of the accomplishments of ICPI for 2011. The Annual Report gives a snap shot of these vital industry and association areas: Transforming the Market, Building Broader Awareness, Setting Industry Standards through Research and Development, Government Affairs and Association Financial Activities. More

ICPI is now accepting Volunteer Committee Interest Applications
ICPI
The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) is very fortunate to have many members participating in task groups, subcommittees, committees and the Board of Directors. Most recently there has been a waiting list of members who would like to participate on many of ICPI's Standing Committees. As a result, the ICPI Executive Committee has agreed to formalize the committee appointment process for committee participation on ICPI Committees. To appoint the most qualified candidates to committees, we ask that current committee members with terms expiring in winter 2012 and prospective committee members complete and return the Volunteer Committee Interest Form. Committee members with terms expiring in winter 2012 are included in the attached document. Based on the responses, ICPI staff liaisons, committee chairman and the chairman-elect will review the forms and the chairman-elect will make committee appointments prior to the Summer Meeting in August 2012. Please submit your Volunteer Committee Interest Form by Monday, April 2, 2012.  More

65 representatives file challenge to NLRB's Ambush Election Rule
Education & the Workforce Committee
House Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline, R-Minn., joined Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., and Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., to introduce a resolution (H.J. Res. 103) under the Congressional Review Act that will block the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) December ambush election rule. Sixty-five representatives supported the resolution upon introduction. A companion resolution (S. J. Res. 63) was introduced in the United States Senate, under the leadership of Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. S. J. Res. 63 has received support from 44 senators, including Senators Enzi and Isakson. More

Obama advisers see US economy gaining strength in 2012
Bloomberg
President Barack Obama's advisers expect the U.S. economy will gain strength this year and add 2 million jobs, according to an annual White House report to Congress. Though the economy is hampered by lingering impediments from the collapse in housing prices and the 2008 financial crisis, the report forecasts "an upturn in economic growth" this year as the recovery "will continue to gain strength."More

Alberta to lead Canada in economic and employment growth
Calgary Herald
Alberta will outpace the rest of the country in economic and employment growth for the next two years, says a new report. According to the BMO Blue Book released by BMO Capital Markets Economics and BMO Commercial Banking, GDP growth in Alberta will be 3.0 percent this year followed by 3.1 percent in 2013. Employment growth is forecast for 2.7 percent this year and 1.8 percent in 2013. More

NAM Economic Report
National Association of Manufacturers
The U.S. economy continues to expand, with last week's manufacturing and housing indicators showing progress. While the top-line industrial production figure was unchanged, manufacturing production rose a healthy 0.7 percent in January, led by strong growth in the durable goods sectors. Manufacturers are producing 4.7 percent more than one year ago, and capacity utilization rates also are up significantly. Similar findings were observed in the New York and Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank regions, which showed expanding activity and mostly positive trends moving forward. More

Small business is big business
Forbes
Micro businesses in the United States represent an important economic segment and will be an important factor in our economy. They are major contributors to job growth and form a huge block of the total outstanding business community and tax base.More

Canadian manufacturing sales almost back to pre-downturn levels
The Canadian Press via The Toronto Star
Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 0.6 percent to $49.9 billion in December, the fifth increase in six months. The agency says manufacturing now has rebounded close to the $50.2 billion recorded in October 2008, when the economic downturn began. Monthly sales for seven of 21 manufacturing industries have reached or surpassed levels recorded in 2008. More

US manufacturing, housing data flag underlying strength
Reuters
U.S. manufacturing output rose in January and a gauge of factory activity in New York state hit a 1-1/2-year high in February, showing a solid underpinning for the economic recovery. The firmer tone was also in evidence in another report that showed optimism among home builders approached a five-year high this month, a good omen for the struggling housing market. More

Senior US management changes at CRH
Aggregate Research
CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces a number of changes within its management team in the United States, effective from Feb. 20, 2012. Doug Black, currently Chief Executive of CRH's Americas Materials Division, is appointed to the newly created position of President and Chief Operating Officer, Oldcastle, Inc. (the holding company for CRH's operations in the Americas) and will report to Mark Towe, Chief Executive Officer of Oldcastle.  Doug joined Oldcastle in 1995 and has held a series of key leadership positions at Oldcastle and in our Precast, Architectural Products (APG) and Materials operations.
More

New section for member news in the Paver Express
ICPI
ICPI wants to share what's happening with your company and business.  Have you opened a new plant, hired new staff, expanded your product line, bought a new machine, been recognized with any awards or anything thing else you might want to share with the rest of the ICPI membership?  Please submit your company news to jchase@icpi.org to let us know what's going on with your business.   

Please note all submissions are subject to the ICPI Literature Review Committee and may be edited to meet space requirements of the Paver Express.  More