Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) should get a new lease on life in 2020 due to a heavy push for affordable housing perfectly timed with state regulation and advancements in construction technology.

The ADU housing approach is a fast and creative way to address affordable housing. ADUs, which have been around for years, go by a variety of names: casitas, pool homes, in-law suites, granny flats, guesthouses and secondary dwelling units, among them.

They are getting more attention amid the housing crisis as a way to leverage existing city infrastructure preventing urban sprawl and costly system expansions. Construction of ADUs creates jobs as well as additional tax revenue. And since ADUs are typically smaller than a traditional home, they are less costly to build. With so many wins, why havent ADUs gone viral?

Interior of Los Angeles ADU courtesy of Dossier Capital. Converted garage interior post-renovation.

Developers have another name for NIMBYs, or the not-in-my-backyard crowds: theyre BANANAs. The build-absolutely-nothing-anywhere-near-anything movement is real, loud, costly and frustrating for states attempting to address affordable housing. When affordable housing projects land at a city, unhappy citizens protest the elected officials they put in office and projects get nixed.

But, NIMBYs cant take all the credit. Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation produced a report, Residential Impact Fees in California, and found some cities in California were charging upward of $50,000 in impact fees for accessory dwelling units. This is particularly troublesome since ADUs range from 350-1,200 square feet and are placed on existing sites with existing infrastructure. Exorbitant impact, park, utility and school fees are just a few ways cities are stifling the ADU movement in California which has been pushing ADUs since 2017.

In October, the city of Los Angeles released findings on its $1.2 billion affordable housing bond (Proposition HHH) showing since 2016, of the 6,000 housing units in process, the average per unit cost is over $500,000. The mouth-dropping cost combined with news of a 16% increase in LAs homeless population to 36,000 means LA and other California cities need other options.

October 2019 was one for the ADU history books. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 18 real estate related bills including five on ADUs making good on his promise to address Californias serious lack of construction and shortage of affordable housing.

Californias handful of bills addressing ADU issues were far reaching and took away local control from city governments, effectively eliminating NIMBY pushback.

Updates necessitate that cities standardize size requirements, update set back rules, approve permits within 60 days, clarify parking rules and launch a five-year owner-occupancy moratorium. It also drastically cuts impact fees. The goal is to make ADUs cheaper, faster and easier to get through the building-approval process.

Since the state is allowing and recommending ADUs count toward affordable housing numbers which only a small fraction of cities in California are meeting we can expect to measure the impact starting in 2021 after a year of tracking ADU numbers.

Thankfully, two technology trends are gaining traction that will address two key issues for the ADU market: skilled labor shortages and construction costs.

Converted garage in Los Angeles into a one-bedroom ADU around 500 square feet. View from the ... [+] backdoor of main house.

According to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index in 2019, the cost and availability of skilled labor was one of the top challenges builders faced in 2018 and expected to face in 2019. It will likely receive top billing again in 2020. Thats where prefab construction comes in.

Not to be confused with manufactured homes, prefabricated homes are also built in an indoor plant and shipped and erected on site, however, they fall under the same code as stick-build homes. The smaller size of ADUs fits in perfectly with prefab manufacturing and companies are taking notice, including the likes of Amazon.

Amazon announced an investment into Plant Prefab via the Alexa Fund in 2018. Plant Prefab positions itself as a fully integrated architecture firm able to design, build and install the prefab home of your dreams. From the 406 square foot AD1 model to the affordable multifamily Nest model (not to be confused with Alphabets Nest brand), Plant Prefab is making waves in the affordable housing space.

Other prefab manufacturers are also targeting the ADU market including prefabADU, adobu and California Modulars to name a few.

Prefab manufacturers will get additional competition via 3D printed homes in the next few years. Apis Cor, Mighty Buildings, Haus.me and ICON are just a handful of 3D printed home manufacturers. A select few are specifically targeting the affordable housing space.

In 2018, ICON built a 350 square foot home in 48 hours with the printed structure costing $10,000. ICONs stated goal is getting that cost to $4,000. Apis Cor alerted Facebook followers in October to expect news on affordable housing projects in California and Louisiana. Theyve partnered with the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County to create a one-story affordable home prototype.

Prefabricated and 3D printed home technology are gaining momentum at a time when skilled labor and affordable housing shortages are forcing state legislators to look at all options. If California successfully pushes ADUs into the mainstream, other states will follow. 2020 will likely be the year of the ADU.

View original post here:

2020: The Year Of The ADU - Forbes

Multifamily development presents a significant gap. The U.S. needs to build an average of 328,000 new units every year through 2030, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council. Yet the nation has produced that many apartments only once since 1989. Major tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Google have collectively pledged billions for affordable housing initiatives on the West Coast, but that commitment addresses only one aspect of a national crisis.

READ THE GUIDE

To explore the causes and potential solutions of this critical issue, Multi-Housing News invited four multifamily leaders to participate in a roundtable: Christopher Ptomey, executive director of the Terwilliger Center for Housing at the Urban Land Institute; Inna Khidekel, partner at Bridge Investment Group; Jeffery Hayward, executive vice president & head of multifamily at Fannie Mae and Richard Burns, president & CEO of The NHP Foundation.

What do you see as the major threats to the affordable housing supply?

Ptomey: The major challenge is that in many areas of the country you see household formation and job creation at a faster rate than the housing that is being produced. Since we have substantial shortages, supply continuing to lag and not meeting demand forces prices to go higher and higher. Getting cities to plan to produce the amount of housing they need is a continuing challenge and a big driver of challenge in many parts of the country. In many higher-cost cities, a need to preserve any affordable housing that is currently there is a challenge, as well. Having sufficient production to meet demand is most important. Needs to be forward looking.

Khidekel: There are a lot of structural issues prohibiting supply. The cost of construction is up around 81 percent this cycle relative to the last. Class B construction has declined from 61 percent to less than 20 percent of new supply. There is an oversupply on the high end of the housing spectrum, despite the fact that over two thirds of the U.S. workforce earns under 80 percent of the Area Median Income. (Meanwhile,) 96 percent of whats being built requires an income of $75,000 annually.

Hayward: The first threat is that there wont be enough apartments for people of modest (means). Everything getting built is Class A, high-rent, in major cities. If youre (willing) to pay high rents, youll have an apartment, but (who) is left behind is the local (firefighter), barber, cook, police officer. For them, there are not as many apartments.

Part of that is (the combination of) things happening in the marketplace: the three Ls. First land is really expensive. The cost of labor is the next issue, where there isnt an ample supply of labor and the labor in place is aging. Last thing is lawwhat it takes to get something new built out of the ground. We have to solve those three problems. There are programs in place trying, but thats not for the middle income. There isnt a place for them, and thats the biggest threat.

Burns: A rise in interest rates. In September, we saw overnight short-term rates briefly spike to over 10 percent. This was due to a temporary lack of liquidity and has since been addressed by the Federal Reserve.

Diminished supply of soft money; most affordable housing transactions have multiple sources of funds in the capital stack. Failure of Congress to pass all or part of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Improvement Act; the bill would expand the housing credit by 50 percent and increase existing incentives to encourage developers to build rental homes affordable to extremely low-income households and to families in underserved rural and tribal communities.

Lastly, new Community Reinvestment Act regulations that affect the amount of capital available for preservation and development. Because bank investors in Low Income Housing transactions can receive the added benefit of meeting their obligations, they will pay a premium for these CRA area LIHTC credits and add much-needed equity to the sources of funds. Any effort to relax the CRA standards would tend to evaporate the premium banks pay for the CRA credits.

What encouraging signs of progress do you see in the private and public sectors?

Ptomey: I think whats most encouraging in the public sector is the level of attention housing is getting these days, (from) mayors and city council members, even in the recent Democratic (presidential candidate) debates. It certainly hasnt been an issue that got attention in the past. Its encouraging to discuss it more, but whats behind that is a larger challenge. Public policy changes over time will address these housing needs, like zoning changes. From a development perspective, we see them adjusting to provide product at a lower price point to repair the housing ladder.

Burns: There is a greater interest by institutional investors in affordable housing. For example, technology companies Apple, Google and Facebook have each announced large financial commitments to expand the inventory of affordable housing by direct investment outside of making LIHTC investments. (Another sign is) renewed allocations for affordable housing at Fannie & Freddie. To ensure a strong focus on affordable housing and traditionally underserved markets, FHFA directed that at least 37.5 percent of the Fannie and Freddie multifamily business be mission-driven, affordable housing. More emphasis on health and housingsome truly encouraging and positive steps are that major businesses and healthcare providers such as Kaiser (Permanente) and UnitedHealthcare are eager to help provide additional housing by providing capital apart from investing in LIHTC. These are most welcome investments as they may pair well with our usual capital sources to expand and grow the housing stock.

What more needs to be done?

Khidekel: There needs to be more institutional equity capital. There are lots of lending solutions, like the Community Development Financial Institutions and nonprofits stepping in to provide incentives, but thats focused on the lowest end of the population from an income perspective. The biggest need is in the missing middle. We need more focus on the preservation and rehabilitation of housing, which is the bread and butter of the U.S. workforce. Lastly, we need more capital focused on this space, as opposed to debt.

Hayward: Im a big believer in public-private partnerships. Lets deal with major cities, with more cooperation between local governments and business. If cities can think about costs of land and get that out of the way so developers can make more units, they can still make a profit. For the existing stock, its trying to stave off existing stock from obsolescence. Owners need to rehab properties to keep the supply online. More owners need to do this, and they have to do it in a green way. Be cognizant of energy savings and conserving water to keep costs down so rents dont go high.

Are there currently significant incentives for private developers to build and preserve affordable housing?

Ptomey: I dont know about incentives. There is opportunity in building affordable and workforce housing right now. What weve seen is diminishing returns on luxury in certain parts of the country, but you wont get same level of return if building affordable/workforce.

Khidekel: No. When you just provide one incentive but not others for developers, its mathematically impossible to make that housing work. Opportunity zone legislation hasnt done anything to help the market. When there is affordable associated, its a small component, usually under 30 percent. Its so hard and expensive to build today that you cant make the numbers work.

Hayward: The most successful is the LIHTC program. You get the benefit of a tax code. Some of the other things are more local, such as states issuing bonds, but in my view its all about tackling the three Ls (land, labor and law).

Burns: If were considering the incentives for non-LIHTC private developer, these are presently limited only to economic incentives. In the affordable housing space, we automatically default to 60 percent of the Area Median Income as affordable as thats where the incentive lies. A private, non-LIHTC developer might do a fantastic job of providing affordable housing by renovating a Class C apartment and renting it to tenants at or below 60 percent of AMI without ever looking at the maximum LIHTC rents.

Apple is the latest in a series of giant tech companies that have made a major financial commitment to affordable housing. Do you think these private sector initiatives make a difference?

Ptomey: I think well see more in the future as long as there is the substantial undersupply we see today. Companies want to ensure employees have access to adequate housing. Its helpful to a company to retain its workforce, and if you get to benefit from that, then its great at the household level. But unfortunately, the scale of the affordability challenge right now is (such) that these investments wont make a dent in the overall (deficit). Its a great impact, but at the end of the day policies need to be in place, paperwork needs to be done. If regulations are not in place to enable investments to have the greatest impact, we wont have a good opportunity.

Khidekel: We will see more of it happening. Its promising because its adding appropriate attention to the crisis. There needs to be recognition in order that having a sustainable business is having a sustainable workforce. In California, there is a huge issue. The problem with this is 1) its localized to specific areas for them, which is not a scalable solution; and 2) in order to make this work, theyd need to partner with nonprofits and municipalities to focus on the lowest segment, but the most at-risk workforce wont qualify for that type of housing.

What are some of the out-of-the-box solutions that you would like to see the private and public sectors pursue?

Ptomey: Not sure there are any approaches at this point. Where progress can be made is where citizens and developers can address (the obstacles) blocking what makes these properties affordable. Enable more housing on available land, looking at ways to reduce construction costs, manufacturing products, get economies of scale at work, addressing labor costs, anywhere you can get technological changes to reduce the cost around the edges will be great. You have to really look at a policy level: What is the entitlement process, can it be compressed, being able to know quicker if you can make that development or not.

Khidekel: One is construction methodologies. The U.S. is behind Europe and Asia for modular construction. Materials are either constructed in Poland or China, but less than 4 percent (of those materials) are modular. We need to take these concepts and apply them to the problem. Manufactured housing is another potential solution. The difficulty is zoning and entitlement, but there are ways to partner with local governments to create more.

Burns: Crafting creative public-private partnerships to shoulder the affordable housing burden is a solution rooted in past success and primed for the future. The industry currently benefits from the capital provided by a number of institutional investors. We recently partnered with Kingsley Associates to interview decision-makers in institutional investment on barriers to increased investment in affordable housing and some possible solutions. Takeaways included the discussion around government barriers providing the industry with an opportunity to work with top housing advocacy groups to lobby Congress to simplify the rules and look for a different set of benefits to encourage more pension fund investment; the affordable housing ecosystem needs to develop more tools to communicate accurate information and create more opportunities to present the data; those in affordable housing need to use creative and thoughtful storytellingin addition to financial returnsto engage investors; less restrictive zoning, and zoning bonuses and tax abatements for meaningful commitment to affordable housing development; and (fewer) delays getting permits and approvals.

How will rent control impact the future of affordable housing? Will it help or hurt the situation?

Khidekel: It hurts affordable housing because it reduces the incentive to do business in that area for developers and general investors, (which focus) on income levels that are too high relative to where the biggest help needs to be. Rather than helping population at risk, it forces real estate participants to exit the market. Its putting people out of business in the industry.

Burns: I think it will hurt. Under rent control, many fewer units will be built increasing, the demand for apartments, with more Class B properties being upgraded to get higher rents.

What are some solutions for affordable senior housing?

Ptomey: There are a variety of things. ULIs Emerging Trends looked at senior housing, and one (finding) is that many more Baby Boomers want to age in place, so there are a variety of ways to help make that happen. One (solution) suggested was accessory apartments. If youre living in a larger home, and at some point you want to make part of it into an apartment, you could have someone live in the home with you if you need care, or rent out the space for additional (income). A certain number (of seniors) do want to downsize and that (creates) some competition with younger, growing families looking for bigger homes. Having the missing middle typology is also messing with the need.

Hayward: Two things. 1) The LIHTC program has some age restrictions for developments. Looking at that would be a good idea for single-family seniors wanting to stay in their homes. 2) There are a ton of seniors buildings out there, but they are not part of developments where mostly seniors live. They should be more cognizant of how those buildings are financed and help with that.

Burns: HUD needs to reinstate payments for services to seniors. For (Section 202 properties), the rents must be escalated to current market rates to support preservation.

Read the CPE-MHN Guide to 2020.

Original post:

Housing Leaders on Solutions for the Missing Middle - Multi-Housing News

Progressive (NYSE:PGR) and Maiden (NASDAQ:MHLD) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership and earnings.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

78.6% of Progressive shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 29.9% of Maiden shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Progressive shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 11.2% of Maiden shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This table compares Progressive and Maidens top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Progressive has higher revenue and earnings than Maiden.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Progressive and Maiden, as reported by MarketBeat.

Progressive presently has a consensus target price of $81.17, indicating a potential upside of 12.50%. Maiden has a consensus target price of $1.00, indicating a potential upside of 23.02%. Given Maidens higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Maiden is more favorable than Progressive.

Profitability

This table compares Progressive and Maidens net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Volatility and Risk

Progressive has a beta of 0.66, suggesting that its share price is 34% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Maiden has a beta of 0.92, suggesting that its share price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Progressive beats Maiden on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

Progressive Company Profile

The Progressive Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides personal and commercial auto insurance, residential property insurance, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and related services primarily in the United States. Its Personal Lines segment writes insurance for personal autos, and recreational and other vehicles. This segment's products include personal auto insurance; and special lines products, including insurance for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, watercrafts, and snowmobiles. The company's Commercial Lines segment provides primary liability, physical damage, and other auto-related insurance for autos, vans, pick-up trucks, and dump trucks used by small businesses; tractors, trailers, and straight trucks primarily used by regional general freight and expeditor-type businesses, and non-fleet long-haul operators; dump trucks, log trucks, and garbage trucks used by dirt, sand and gravel, logging, and coal-type businesses; tow trucks and wreckers used in towing services and gas/service station businesses; and non-fleet taxis, black-car services, and airport taxis. Its Property segment provides residential property insurance for homes, condos, manufactured homes, and renters, as well as offers personal umbrella insurance, and primary and excess flood insurance. The company also offers policy issuance and claims adjusting services; home, condominium, renters, and other insurance; and general liability and business owner's policies, and workers' compensation insurance. In addition, it offers reinsurance services. The Progressive Corporation sells its products and services through independent insurance agencies, as well as directly on Internet, and mobile devices, and over the phone. The company was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio.

Maiden Company Profile

Maiden Holdings, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance solutions to regional and specialty insurers primarily in Europe and internationally. The company writes treaties on a quota share basis and excess of loss basis. It also offers auto and credit life insurance products through its insurer partners to retail clients. Maiden Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.

Receive News & Ratings for Progressive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Progressive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Read the original post:

Maiden (NASDAQ:MHLD) and Progressive (NASDAQ:PGR) Head to Head Survey - Slater Sentinel

Full disclosure: I am a closet fan of the Bravo cable series, Million Dollar Listing. I wont comment if Ive ever tuned into Real Housewives, but why wouldnt I watch a show about luxury real estate? Thats my business, its what Im selling, and Im always eager to gain new insight and perspective. But when I first tuned in, as fascinating and engaging as I found the subject matter, I was curious as to why anyone else would be interested.

In hindsight, the answer is as obvious as the ridiculousness of the question. For the most part, the rest of the world doesnt get to see whats behind those gilded doors high on the hill. Not to mention, viewers get a glimpse of where the 1% of the 1% kick off their shoes, crash and use the bathroom. At its core, its a harmless escape and as entertaining as it is addictive.

But here in the rarified air of Aspen Snowmass, where dirt goes for millions and a home can set you back eight figures, that kind of attention can spawn inaccurate speculation and confusion.

Case in point; a recent article by Hugo Cox that appeared in last months issue of Financial Times entitled, A chill wind blows through Aspens property market, indicated local values are cooling and in a tumble. Needless to say, the missive got more than a few views and shares around here after painting a grim picture of unsold homes piling up.

Local agents Andrew Ernemann and Chris Klug, colleagues of mine at Aspen Snowmass Sothebys, and both of whom recently bought ownership stakes in the firm, were aligned in their criticism of what they saw as the authors myopic view.

Safely in my top three worst articles of all time when it comes to an accurate portrayal, Ernemann wrote to his clients. The 2019 market has continued to thrive, with strong sales at all price points, and particularly in areas where sales have lagged over the past several years. East Aspen, West Aspen and areas further outside of town are posting solid stats. Snowmass Village is finally full steam ahead with impressive price gains this year, he continued.

The forward-looking Klug put it this way: I think were all a little apprehensive about the upcoming election year, but the economy remains strong and Im very optimistic.

For those keeping score at home, real estate sales in Pitkin County are on pace to meet or exceed the $1.8 billion mark set in 2018. In some cases recorded transactions simply defy reason; a tear-down on Lake Avenue in the West End closed last fall for nearly $16 million, two townhomes near Lift 1A sold just shy of $2,500 a square foot and a fully entitled lot on Red Mountain broke all previous records at $5 million an acre.

That said, both experts acknowledge a bloated inventory of homes in the upper strata of the market as an emerging problem. According to the MLS, there are currently 34 homes priced over $20M with at least 10 more under construction.

The challenge is that the Aspen real estate market has pushed up and up for several years and now there are too many high-end spec homes and other sellers trying to cash in at prices that attract only a handful of buyers a year, observes Ernemann.

Klug sees the picture in terms of expectations and value: Not all sellers are realistic and not all homes check all the boxes. But those properties that do in terms of location, floor plan, finishes, views, convenience and amenity are moving.

The data clearly present a bit of a conundrum for developers and recently has resulted in some significant price reductions. There now exists a bit of a race to the finish line for these experienced players who bet on the market years ago, with the anticipation of big returns down the road. The good news is, if you are active in this arena, it might be good time to negotiate.

The coming year is sure to be a bit of an amalgam; presidential election, China, stocks and who knows what else (i.e. North Korea). Any crystal ball predictions are sure to remain elusive. But for those who have had their run in Aspen and are considering cashing in their chips, the market remains favorable. And similarly, those who have dreamed of owning a second home here might be hard-pressed to find any reason to delay reaping the rewards of securing their little corner of mountain paradise and be certain they have the next decade or two to enjoy it.

Scott Bayens (GRI, ABR, CNE) is a realtor and top producer with Aspen Snowmass Sothebys International Realty. Learn more by visiting his website at http://www.aspendreamhome.com.

Read this article:

Scott Bayens: The spectacle, speculation and obsession that is the Aspen real estate market - Aspen Times

Central Navy JROTC excels in the Air Rifle Competitions

Article and Photography by Alice Mary Herden

Brooksville, Fla. -- Since the beginning of the 2019 school year at Central High, students from the Navy JROTC program have been competing in air rifle competitions.

Our main job is to instill skills and citizenship values to our young cadets through a tough curriculum and extra-curricular activities, Navy Veteran Commander Christian Cruz said. Its about discipline and giving them the skills that they need so they can be ready for what happens after high school.

On Dec. 14, 2019 Central Navy JROTC won the Civilian Marksmanship Program State of Florida Championship in Jacksonville at the Gateway Rifle Pistol Club, and this is their third year in a row to take home the first-place trophy.

At these competitions, all the students have to be prepared and mentally focused without any outside personal distractions.

When I first joined JROTC I saw they had a rifle team, I really wanted to do that, said Team Commander Lieutenant LeeAnn Wallace. I like that we do this as a team. Its really helped me with my self-discipline because practicing it takes a lot of work and a lot of time to improve.

All of the Navy JROTC students at Central High School have been solid in their performance at each competition. They continue to showcase higher standards of sportsmanship, as well as their commitment to the sport.

That feeling of accomplishment when you break a goal that you didnt think youd be able to break but also all your team members are able to do it too, Brent Howard said. Its a great feeling.

They are absolutely doing amazing, said air rifle coach Master Gunnery Sergeant Arnett. I am so very proud of them foremost. As teachers, we always talk about how to be successful and be resilient in the face of situations that come against you. These kids are all that.

These kids, they challenge me as a coach, and I have to come up with ways to help them be better than they are. When you give your time and effort into the kids, and they grow and learn from what you are trying to teach them and excel at it, as a coach you cant ask for anything better than that, Master Gunnery Sergeant Arnett added.

Previous Shoulder to Shoulder Competitions (A shoulder to shoulder is when the competitors stand side by side during competitions.)

October 12, 2019

Shoulder to Shoulder Competition at Oviedo High School

-Central High School JROTC Navy team placed first out of 23 schools

-Individual First Place, Bailey Birchler out of 93 competitors

November 23, 2019

U.S. Army Junior Air Rifle Championship Sectionals at Sarasota Military Academy

-Central High School Navy JROTC placed first in the State of Florida out of 17 schools

-Individual First Place, Brent Howard out of 77 competitors

-Central High School Navy JROTC came in fourth in the Nation for Army out of 180 schools

-Individual 6th Place, Brent Howard out of 811 competitors

Top forty, Leann Wallace, Bailey Birchler, and Kyle Chilson

December 7, 2019

Area 7 Championship at Oviedo High School

-Central High School Navy JROTC Navy team placed first out of 30 schools

-Individual First Place, Brent Howard out of 112 competitors

December 14, 2019

Civilian Marksmanship Program State Championship at Gateway Pistol Club in Jacksonville, FL

-Central High School Navy JROTC placed first out of 20 schools for the past three years.

-Individual First Place, Bailey Birchler out of 67 competitors. Leann Wallace took first place in 2017.

Up ahead for the team:

The Navy JROTC Nationals in Chandler, Arizona, in February. If in the top twelve Central High School Navy JROTC will move on to the All Services at Camp Perry, Ohio in March to represent the Navy.

Go here to read the rest:
Commitment and Dedication - Hernando Sun

Key Players | Schneider Electric, General Electric, Siemens, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Engie

The research study provides market introduction, AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER market definition, regional market scope, sales and revenue by region, manufacturing cost analysis, Industrial Chain, market effect factors analysis, AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER market size forecast, 100+ market data, Tables, Pie Chart, Graphs and Figures, and many more for business intelligence.

The global automated turf harvesters market size is expected to reach $155,947.8 thousand in 2026, from $62,151.5 thousand in 2018, growing at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2019 to 2026.

Access Report: http://www.reportocean.com/industr_id=AMR152

In the AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market, some of the major companies are:

- FireFly Automatix, Inc.- Kesmac Inc.- KWMI Equipment- MAGNUM ENP- Trebro Manufacturing, Inc.- Turf Tick Products B.V.

The report consists of various chapters and company profiling is a major among them. Company profiling garners business intelligence and track key elements of a business, such as:

AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market: Insights

Automated turf harvesters are used to harvest turf in the form of rolls and slabs from turf cultivation farms. It is an upgrade to the manually operated turf harvesters and provide one-man operation for cutting, rolling, and stacking of turf.

The automated turf harvesters have features such as product quality monitoring, which rejects the defective roll or slab by sensing its weight and thickness.

Moreover, the automated turf harvesters are provided with remote monitoring and diagnostics features, cellular or wireless communication systems, bilingual interface and many other features. This propels the automated turf harvesters market growth significantly.

Furthermore, the implementation of automated turf harvesters on turf cultivation farms increase harvesting speed by 20% and reduce fuel consumption as well. The customers, majorly sod farmers, are switching towards automated equipment in order to increase the overall quality of the harvested turf.

In addition, the labor costs are mainly reduced by the implementation of automated turf harvesters on sod farms. Furthermore, the major consumers of automated turf harvesters are from the developed nations like European and North American regions, mainly owing to the better living standards, resulting in improved housing with bigger lawns, participation in luxury sports like golf.

The shift of consumer preferences toward automated agricultural equipment is a major driver for the automated turf harvesters market. The introduction of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in farming has helped the cultivators to obtain better quality and more yield in less time.

Thus, the farmers are inclining toward autonomy for various agricultural processes. Moreover, the lack of labor and high cost associated with labor intensive farming promotes the use of automated equipment for turf farming applications.

The stacking of turf pallets is the most tedious task as each pallet weighs around 1,500 to 3,000 pounds, which requires maximum effort which can be eased with the use of automated turf harvesters, which provide automatic stacking. Automation enables high quality turf harvesting and reduces the time required for turf harvesting process.

Furthermore, various sports federations are choosing natural turf over artificial turf to conduct various sports such as football, soccer, cricket, and others. The artificial turf use has led to many negative results such as increased field temperature and is expected to contribute to on field injuries including fatigue, shortened career of the players, and negative effect on life after retirement of the players, hence the sports organizations are choosing natural turf over the artificial turf which increase the requirement of turf cultivation and in turn, bolsters the automated turf harvesters market growth.

On the contrary, high costs of automated turf harvesters is a major restrain for the growth of automated turf harvesters market. Also, the versatility of artificial grass is increasing its popularity over natural grass in the residential sector.

However, the growth in construction of golf courses in countries such as China, creates a demand for turf cultivation and thereby, creates lucrative opportunities for the growth of automated turf harvesters market during the forecast period.

The global automated turf harvesters market is segmented on the basis of product type, application, and region. By product type, it is divided into roll turf harvesters and slab turf harvesters.

The slab turf harvesters segment is anticipated to dominate the global automated turf harvesters market in the future, owing to the growth of residential construction activities mainly in the U.S. and the UK. By application, it is classified into residential, commercial, golf courses, and sports/ athletics.

The commercial segment is projected to dominate the global automated turf harvesters market during the forecast period. Also, the residential segment holds the highest share in the automated turf harvesters market.

Get a Sample Report for more Expert and Official insights: @www.reportocean.com/industr_id=AMR152

The Global AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market is segmented into various sub-groups to understand the market scenario in detail, the market segmentation are as follows:

By Product Type- Roll Turf Harvesters- Slab Turf Harvesters

By Application- Residential- Commercial- Golf Courses- Sports/Athletics

Other Report Highlights Competitive Landscape - Sales, Market Share, Geographical Presence, Business Segments Product Benchmarking. Market Dynamics Drivers and Restraints. Market Trends. Porter Five Forces Analysis. SWOT Analysis.

Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year 2013-2017

Base year 2018

Forecast period** 2019 to 2025 [** unless otherwise stated]

Regional split of the Global AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market research report is as follows:

The market research study offers in-depth regional analysis along with the current market scenarios. The major regions analyzed in the study are:

Get Free PDF Brochure of this Report: http://www.reportocean.com/industr_id=AMR152

Questions answered in the AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER market research report:

Key highlights and important features of the Report:

Overview and highlights of product and application segments of the global AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market are provided. Highlights of the segmentation study include price, revenue, sales, sales growth rate, and market share by product.

Explore about Sales data of key players of the global AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market as well as some useful information on their business. It talks about the gross margin, price, revenue, products, and their specifications, type, applications, competitors, manufacturing base, and the main business of key players operating in the AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market.

Explore about gross margin, sales, revenue, production, market share, CAGR, and market size by region.

Describe AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;

Research Methodology:

We identify the major drivers and restraints for every region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, & Middle East) of any particular market with a weightage value of how it is impacting the market. For each driver and restraint, we provide weightage in short term, medium term, and long term.

Here the driver acts as a pull factor and restraint as a push factor.

Primary ResearchKey players in the market are identified through review of secondary sources such as industry whitepapers, annual reports, published reports by credible agencies, financial reports and published interviews of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from leading companies. During the primary interviews, KOLs also suggested some producers that are included under the initial scope of the study.

We further refined company profile section by adding suggested producers by KOLs. KOLs include Chief Executive Officer (CEO), general managers, vice presidents, sales directors, market executives, R&D directors, product managers, procurement managers, export managers.

During the research process, all the major stakeholders across the value chain are contacted for conducting primary interviews.

Browse Premium Research Report with Tables and Figures at @ http://www.reportocean.com/industrode=RO-013

There are 15 Chapters to display the Global AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Market:

Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER, Applications of, Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, Export & Import, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia, Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to explore the Market Analysis by Application Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type, Market Trend by Application;Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER by region, type and application;Chapter 12, to describe AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe AUTOMATED TURF HARVESTER sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read the original post:
CAGR of 12.6%, Automated Turf Harvester Market forecast by 2026 made possible by top research firm - WhaTech - WhaTech

ST. IGNACE, MI -- The Mackinac Bridge Authority is simplifying the crossing process for MacPass card holders.

The MacPass toll card, which are frequently used by commuters and motorists who regularly cross the Mackinac Bridge, is being replaced with an automatically recognized windshield-mounted sticker.

The new system will increase customer convenience and make for quicker times in toll lanes, according to the MBA.

"Unlike the old MacPass cards that required drivers to roll down their window and hold the card near the reader device, the new system will automatically scan the windshield sticker when drivers pull up to the toll booths," said MBA Executive Secretary Kim Nowack.

"Drivers still need to stop and wait for the gate to rise before proceeding, but the new process will speed transactions for frequent customers."

The MBA has been slowly replacing current MacPass cards with the new stickers for the past few months. Any card holders who havent can do so online. There is no charge for the sticker until July 1, 2020, when the price will be $1.

MacPass customers use toll lanes designated for MacPass by the overhead signs, or any open lane. Current MacPass cards can still be used through the end of 2020.

Passenger vehicle MacPass accounts require an initial deposit of $80 and a $7 one-time set-up fee. Commercial accounts require a $200 deposit and $7 one-time set-up fee.

More information on the MacPass is available at http://www.MackinacBridge.org/MacPass.

See the rest here:
Mackinac Bridge Authority replacing MacPass cards with windshield sticker - MLive.com

The Blaugrana won their Champions League group and sit top of La Liga but could try to strengthen Ernesto Valverde's squad during the winter break

Barcelona are top of La Liga at Christmas and sailed through their Champions League group to reach the last 16. So far, so good? The mood around Camp Nou would suggest otherwise.

Fans and local media are unhappy with the teams performances, if not the results, and believe they could come a cropper once again in the knock-out phases in Europe unless they sharpen up.

One way to do that would be by bringing in a top player or two in the impending transfer window.

Article continues below

Its hard to imagine Barcelona making any major moves in the winter market because they need to keep the books balanced.

However, as we saw when they lavished 160 million (137m/$179m) on Philippe Coutinho in January 2018, they are sometimes willing to break the bank in order to get their man.

Barcelona experienced Lautaro Martinezs threat up close and personal in the Champions League group phase, with the Inter forward passing his 'audition' for the Catalans with flying colours by turning in a particularly impressive performance when the two sides met at San Siro.

It is no secret that the club are looking to find Luis Suarezs successor and the feisty Argentine forward looks a perfect solution.

If the club are looking for, or wish to bring in another No. 9, it would not be strange; it is the reality of football, said Suarez recently.

Lautaro has eight goals in 16 games in Serie A this season and the explosive forward would be confident of boosting those numbers alongside compatriot Messi.

Whether Barca could really persuade Inter to part company with arguably their most prized possession midway through a season in which they're challenging Juventus for the Scudetto is another story altogether.

Lautaro does seem bound for Catalunya - but perhaps not just yet.

Barca could also look to sign a left-back, given Junior Firpo has not impressed since arriving from Real Betis. However, it is unlikely that the Catalans will look to find a replacement in January and will instead give Firpo more time to settle at Camp Nou before reviewing the situation in the summer.

On the plus side, Samuel Umtitis return to form means they will not be looking for a central defender and the Frenchman seems happy to stay at the club despite falling behind Clement Lenglet in the pecking order.

Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal is closest to the exit door at Camp Nou because he is not playing as regularly as he would like.

He stormed out of training before the Clasico after learning Ernesto Valverde wasnt going to start him against Real Madrid, but was picked against Alaves in the last game before Christmas, scoring as Barcelona won 4-1.

The all-action South American offers goals and physicality in support for the attack, which is something the other players in midfield at the club dont bring to the table.

Im happy and content, well see what happens after I get back, said Vidal before jetting off for his winter break.

However, Vidal has since gone public with his frustration with Barca over alleged unpaid bonuses and a parting of the ways would appear to suit both parties, with a transfer to Inter the most likely outcome.

Carles Alena has already left, joining Betis on loan until the end of the season, which should mean more midfield starts for Arthur and Ivan Rakitic, and perhaps even Sergi Roberto, who has been shunted to right-back.

In defence, Jean-Clair Todibo appears Italy-bound, with AC Milan interested in securing the French centre-backs services, although Manchester United have also been linked.

Valverde has a predilection for B team defender Ronaldo Araujo, meaning Todibo has barely featured. Barcelona would ask for a buy-back clause in any prospective deal.

Despite the intense interest in Lautaro, it seems unlikely that the Argentine will arrive in January. If Barca were to pull off what would be a sensational deal, he would obviously go straight into the starting line-up in place of Suarez.

Griezmann is starting to find his feet on the left flank, while Messi has been in typically fantastic form on the right.

Frenkie de Jong has been a fine addition to a midfield still anchored by Sergio Busquets but Barca will be hoping that Arthur gets back to his best sooner rather than later.

Semedo appears to be ahead of Sergi Roberto in the battle for the right-back berth, while the rest of the defence pretty much picks itself, despite Umtiti's resurgence.

Read more:
What Barcelona need in the January transfer window - Goal.com

Mackinaw City A new toll scanning method could meantravelers who frequently cross the Mackinac Bridge see shorter wait times at the bridge's toll booths, the bridge authority said.

The bridge's MacPass toll card is beingreplaced with a windshield-mounted sticker that is automatically scanned when a driver pulls up to the toll booths,Kim Nowack, Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Secretary, said in a statement.

"Drivers still need to stop and wait for the gate to rise before proceeding, but the new process will speed transactions for frequent customers,"Nowack said.

Maintenance crews are giving the Mackinac Bridge a new coat of paint.(Photo: John L. Russell, file, Special to The Detroit News)

The new sticker can only be used by those with aMacPass account.Those who are not account holders will still have to roll down their window and pay at the toll booth each time they cross the bridge.

The MacPass sticker is currently free,and will be $1 each after July 1, 2020.Customers who already have a MacPass account can still use their cards through the end of 2020 and do not need to open a new account to get a sticker.

The stickers are part of a new tolling software system installed in the fall of 2019. Anyone can open a MacPass account, which allows for online deposits and transaction information.

Drivers interested in receiving a sticker are encouraged to visit the MacPass websiteto sign up for an account and receive stickers in the mail.

ecarter@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @EvanJamesCarter

Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/30/mackinac-bridge-macpass-card-replaced-with-sticker/2776506001/

Here is the original post:
Mackinac Bridge 'MacPass' toll card to be replaced with windshield-mounted sticker - The Detroit News

Its that time of year when transfer speculation goes into overdrive, but which Premier League teams are likely to do some big business to get them through the second half of the season?

A good place to start is Chelsea, where Frank Lampard reportedly has around $200m to spend now that their transfer ban is out of the way. The Blues could probably strengthen at left-back and they are favorites to sign Leicesters Ben Chilwell. They might even try and bring Bournemouths Nathan Ake back to the club for defensive support.

But if Chelsea is to spend in January, it will probably be on a striker. Tammy Abraham is looking fatigued and both Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are fading in relevance. RB Leipzigs Timo Werner is thought to be their number one target.

This window could also be critically important for Manchester United, who must push for the top four in order to keep some of their star players happy. Ole Gunnar Solskjaers side has a high-quality front three, but they need some quality in midfield behind them. Leicesters James Maddison and Aston Villas Jack Grealish have both been hotly tipped, while a big-money bid could also be made for Jadon Sancho, who remains unhappy in Dortmund.

Manchester City, meanwhile, has seen their title chances fall apart mainly because of a lack of cover at center-back. Aymeric Laporte should be returning in the coming weeks, but they are still paper-thin in the position.

Perhaps Napolis Kalidou Koulibaly could provide the quality they desperately need? Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho may not have a huge war chest this January, but he will have a wish list. The key position that needs covering is right-back, where Serge Aurier hasnt exactly excelled. Leicesters Ricardo Pereira would be a great replacement and his deal might be funded by the sale of want-away midfielder Christian Eriksen.

And finally, lets talk about Arsenal. Mikel Artetas squad is not deep, there are plenty of injuries and the likes of Granit Xhaka look destined for the door. The Gunners could really do with some defensive strengthening, particularly at center-back, and Wilfred Ndidi is believed to be a big target to help screen the defense. But Arsenal wasted a lot of money on Pepe in the summer and it remains to be seen if they will back their new manager with cash this winter.

For more on the beautiful game - follow @FCYahoo on your favorite social channelsand stay up to date on Yahoo Sports.

More here:
Five EPL clubs who could make big moves in the January transfer window - Yahoo Sports