Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

TREXLERTOWN Air Products has told employees it is exploring opportunities for its corporate headquarters, including one scenario that would involve building a new base of operations elsewhere in the Lehigh Valley, within a "reasonable commuting distance" from the current campus.

That is one of four scenarios the industrial gases producer outlined to employees at a meeting Thursday morning, with the other three options involving renovation and modernization of its existing 235-acre campus in Trexlertown.

No matter what the company ultimately decides, CEO Seifi Ghasemi stressed the company is committed to keeping its headquarters, where approximately 2,000 people work, in the Lehigh Valley, spokesman Art George said. Ghasemi also told workers that he wants a main facility that reflects the "world-class company" that is Air Products, George said.

The company said it expects to make a final decision by the end of the year and for it to be a "multi-year process."

The company has hired an outside consultant to assess its options, which are:

Retain its existing Trexlertown campus and perform routine maintenance and necessary upgrades.

Significantly transform the main administrative buildings, gutting and rebuilding them from the ground floor. Consolidate and rebuild its industrial gases research and development facilities.

Completely demolish the existing administrative buildings and construct new office space and laboratories.

Build a new headquarters and lab facility elsewhere "within a reasonable commuting distance from its current campus" at 7201 Hamilton Blvd. The company would then explore a sale of the Trexlertown campus.

George said under the first three scenarios, there may be a reduction in the company's campus footprint. Some campus buildings are vacant, though George could not provide specifics on what percentage is unoccupied. The company said most of its headquarters facilities are more than 30 years old, outdated, and have increasing and costly maintenance requirements.

Air Products' sprawling headquarters, reminiscent of a university campus or a center for research, was first constructed in the mid-1950s, about 15 years after the company was founded in Detroit by the late Leonard Parker Pool.

Through the decades, the headquarters emerged as a simple yet powerful symbol of corporate culture that also came to symbolize something else, namely the move of American business from the city to suburbs, according to the 1990 book "Out of Thin Air," which chronicles Air Products' first half-century.

As recently as June, Ghasemi publicly stated the company's commitment to the Valley, despite slashing hundreds of local jobs in a corporate-wide restructuring.

"We're not going anywhere," Ghasemi said, responding to a question about the company during a speech he gave to the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

About 2,000 out of Air Products' 3,000 Lehigh Valley employees work at the headquarters, George said. The rest work at other company locations in Allentown, Bethelehem and elsewhere. The company is one of two Fortune 500 companies based in the Lehigh Valley, and is also one of the region's largest employers. The company employs about 16,000 people worldwide.

Tony Iannelli, the Chamber's president and CEO, said he believes Air Products will keep its word.

"Air Products feels the need to assess its physical plant," Iannelli said. "Like any internationally successful company, they could go anywhere in the world. They have chosen to make that commitment in the Lehigh Valley, and I applaud that."

Don Cunningham, president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, said Air Products is evaluating real estate space options within the Lehigh Valley, but did not have any specific information on the company's plans.

Air Products has a presence in downtown Allentown, occupying the entire fourth floor of the Two City Center office building. If Air Products has designs on moving more employees downtown, there will be no shortage of office space to welcome them. City Center Corp. is building the 12-story Tower 6, due to open next year, and has another office tower called Five City Center on the drawing board.

City Center CEO J.B. Reilly said he has "not had talks"with Air Products to rent additional space.

Air Products also could consider relocating to the proposed Waterfront development along the Lehigh River. Mark Jaindl, a banker and developer who is one of the principals behind the Waterfront, declined comment.

Air Products' plans are in line with what other major companies are doing with their corporate headquarters, said John Boyd Jr. of the Boyd Co. Inc., a corporate site selection firm in Princeton, N.J. He said companies today want more collaborative, smaller work spaces, noting how the average square footage per worker has dipped to about 90 square feet vs. approximately 125 square feet 30 years ago.

Another factor, Boyd said, deals with companies' branding. "A company wants to position its headquarters to attract new talent and position it as a company looking forward toward the future," he said. He also pointed to Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America's consolidation into a new, modern regional office complex off Route 512 in Northampton County as an example.

The headquarters property also has three tenants, Intertek Group, an inspection, product testing and certification company based in London; Versum Materials, a spinoff company formed out of a division of Air Products last year; and Evonik Industries AG of Germany, which acquired Air Products' performance materials division in January.

Evonik employs about 200 employees, Versum has 158 employees, and Intertek employs 46 people at Air Products' headquarters. Last fall, Versum announced it was moving about three-dozen administrative employees to a neighboring business park, as it shifted its corporate headquarters to Tempe, Ariz.

Air Products ranks 288th on the latest Fortune 500 company list. Air Products stock closed at $135.18 Thursday, down 6 cents.

Morning Call reporter Matt Assad contributed to this report.

asalamone@mcall.com

610-820-6694

Get the inside scoop on the Lehigh Valley's business scene on The Business Cycle, themorningcall.com/business. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/LVBizCycle. Follow us on Twitter: @LVBizCycle.

Where: 7201 Hamilton Blvd., Trexlertown, Upper Macungie Township

How old: First building constructed in 1955-56; latest construction in 2004; several buildings were built between those years, predominantly in the 1970s and 80s.

Size: 235 acres

Taxes: Air Products pays nearly $1.5 million in property taxes to Lehigh County, Upper Macungie Township and the Parkland School District, according to county records.

Tenants: Evonik Industries AG, Versum Materials, Intertek

Original post:
Air Products: Construction of new Lehigh Valley headquarters on the table - Allentown Morning Call

OTTAWA The value of Canadian building permits fell in February, driven by a decrease in construction plans for single-family homes, government buildings and elementary schools, data from Statistics Canada showed on Thursday.

Permits decreased 2.5 percent, though January's figures were revised slightly higher to show a gain of 5.8 percent, from the originally reported 5.4 percent.

Intentions for residential buildings slipped 1.5 percent as plans for single-family homes tumbled 5.4 percent, with the province of Ontario seeing the largest decrease.

However, building plans for multi-family residences rose for a second month, up 3.0 percent on increased intentions for apartment buildings in British Columbia and Alberta.

Non-residential permits dropped 4.5 percent, amid a decrease in the institutional sector due to lower construction plans for government buildings and elementary schools.

Permits for industrial buildings fell 2.7 percent after a nearly 10 percent increase the previous month. On the upside, intentions for commercial buildings rose 1.0 percent on higher construction plans for office buildings in Quebec and Manitoba.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

SAN FRANCISCO Shares of beaten-down shopping-mall retailers bounced back on Thursday after March sales figures from L Brands, the owner of Victoria's Secret, were not as bad as feared.

WASHINGTON U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross held out hope on Thursday that the Trump administration will revive the U.S. Export-Import bank's full lending powers, saying the institution is part of its "trade toolbox" to boost exports.

WASHINGTON White House economic adviser Gary Cohn said he backed bringing back the Glass-Steagall Act, a Depression-era law that would revamp Wall Street banks by splitting their consumer-lending businesses from their investment arms.

See more here:
Canada February building permits fall on single-family, institutional buildings - Reuters

Sloss House

Sloss House, pictured in 1944. Students can be seen in period clothing standing around the building.

Sloss House, pictured in Spring of 2017. Gerdin can be seen in the background.

Built in 1883, with an addition in 1903, the Sloss House has not changed a lot in the past hundred years. Sidewalks have been paved, a sign added and decorations are hung in the window.

The original tenant was Charles E. Bessey, who lived there for two years. It was next occupied in 1925by Thomas Sloss, who was the superintendent of buildings. Throughout his tenure, he renovated the house, extending the porch, adding a garage, study, bath and sunroom. Thomas Sloss was the father of Margaret Sloss, who was the first female to graduate with a doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1938.

Margaret Sloss was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1901. She served many roles on campus, including technician in veterinary pathology, associate professor, professor and professor emeritus. She also authored multiple publications on topics such as women in veterinary medicine, a biography over Charles Stange, and she even wrote (and later revised) a textbook called Veterinary Clinical Parasitology. She was awarded numerous awards for her work not only on campus but also for women as a whole.

Margaret died in 1979 and is buried in the Iowa State Cemetery.

Today, the Sloss House is home to the Margaret Sloss Womens Center. The Margaret Sloss Womens Center at Iowa State University is committed to the development of a campus community that promotes gender equity and social justice. Through a feminist lens, the center advocates for individuals and groups; provides support, referrals, community and programming; and maintains a safe space.

The Margaret Sloss Womens Center hosts programs and events for all genders, including the Vagina Monologues, International National Womens Day and the Womyn of Colour Retreat.

For suggestions for further publications of Throwback Thursday, email ian.steenhoek@iowastatedaily.com.

Excerpt from:
Throwback Thursday: Sloss House - Iowa State Daily

Stock image

Senior Connections is a monthly section of the Greene County Daily World which runs on the fourth Friday of each month, meant to feature elderly members and related events of the entire community. This month, it will run on Friday, April 28.

Ive decided to try something a little different with my contribution this time around.

In addition to writing for the world, I also photograph weddings, portraits and commercial images, as I studied photography at Indiana University in Bloomington.

So, Im intersted in finding out more about the roots of my new community, (Im a transplant Pennyslvania native--I moved here just two years ago!), and I am reaching out to you, the readers--to tell me yours.

Do you have an old photo of a well-known landmark or business in Greene County you would like to share? If you have a some-what lengthy story to accompany it, I will be happy to help you tell it!

Maybe it was at the now ghostly Linton drive-in or the old ice cream shop on Main Street; perhaps you have an old prom photo of you and your friends from the past or maybe you arent quite old enough, but know of someone else who has an interesting tale to tell.

If you are open to sharing your memory, please send me an email via kslavengcdw@outlook.com or call the office and ask for Kelly.

If you are a regular reader, you probably also know I love animals. Maybe you have had a dog or cat for a long time--Im interested in how having a pet at an old age or living alone might enrich ones life? I know how enriching my own has been residing with an exotic bird and yorkshire terrier, and Im 23.

I want to help you tell your story--the only stipulation being that it come from a senior, of course.

Some of my favorite memories when living with my grandmother are simply sitting in her sunroom and reminiscing over a few cups of coffee--its never too late to share.

One of my favorite authors and role models J.K. Rowling once said, Youth can not know how age thinks and feels, but old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.

Kelly is a Staff Writer for the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, or she can also be reached via email at kslavenGCDW@outlook.com.

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Seniors: Do you have a story to tell? - Greene County Daily World (blog)

Hiring has been strong so far this year.(Photo: Keith Srakocic, AP)

Some economists expect the government to report Friday that hiring slowed in March from a surprisingly strong pace early in the year amid harsher weather and uncertainty about tax and regulatory policies.

Analysts on Wednesday stuck with those measured expectations despite payroll processor ADPs announcement that businesses added a booming 263,000 jobs last month. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the Labor Department on Friday to tally still-solid gains of 175,000 in the public and private sectors, but that would be down from an average pace of about 237,000 the first two months of the year.

ADP tries to foreshadow Labors report but often varies from it noticeably. In February, ADP recorded 298,000 payroll gains among businesses while Labor reported 227,000, and 235,000 total additions, including government hiring.

A big reason the two reports could vary more sharply in March is weather. Unseasonably high temperatures likely pulled forward hiring in sectors such as construction to early in the year, economists say. That could spell relatively subduedjob gains in the spring, especially since snowstorms may have posed a further hindrance to job totals in March.

Small businesses boost benefits, tout quality of life to lure job hunters

ADP typically counts employees asworking as long as theyre on the payroll, but Labor only includes those who are working when it conducts its survey, notes Jim OSullivan, chief U.S. economist of High Frequency Economics. As a result, Labors reported payroll gains, unlike ADPs, could be depressed by weather effects.

ADP tends to be less responsive to weather-affected hiring either on the upside or the downside, UBS economist Samuel Coffin wrote in a note to clients.

Some other indicators also hint at a slowdown. Networking service LinkedIn said Wednesday that hiring moderated for the second straight month in March, with employers taking a slight step backto see how the economy takes shape in the months ahead. LinkedIn spokesman Joseph Roulades says strong business confidence in President Trump's proposed cuts in taxes and regulations likely lifted hiring in January but firms are now taking a wait-and-see approach after some early stumbling blocks to Trumps agenda in Washington.

Also, ameasure of service sector employment fell sharply in March to a seven-month low, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday. Andinitial jobless claims, a gauge of layoffs, trended higher through March, though they remained near four decade lows.

Economy grew 2.1% in Q4, faster than believed

Theaverage 237,000 monthly job gains reported by Labor this year have soundly beatthe estimates of economists who figured the low4.7% unemployment rate would slow hiring by supplyingemployersfewer available workers. Many analysts still expect monthly additions to fall back to an average of about 170,000 because of the tight labor market.

In March, ADP said, professional and business services led the broad-based job gains with57,000. Leisure and hospitality added 55,000; construction, 49,000; health care, 46,000; and trade, transportation and utilities, 34,000.

Manufacturers added 30,000 jobs as the rise in oil prices and an improving global economy continued to stokea healthy rebound forthe nations factories.

Some economists are more bullish, believingthe robust performance could foretell another month of better-than-expected job growth in Fridays report.

"The ADP survey is clearly another indication that, despite the apparent slowdown in (economic) growth in the first quarter, labor market conditions have remained unusually strong," economist Andrew Hunter of Capital Economics wrote in a note to clients.

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2oHRPtJ

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Hiring slowdown? Some economists think it's happening. - USA TODAY

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Sabres forward Ryan OReilly calls it pathetic that his under-achieving Buffalo team will miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year.

Were not a very good hockey team. Weve let a lot of things go that we normally shouldnt, OReilly said during a six-minute session at his locker Wednesday before the teams final home game of the season against Montreal.

Its so frustrating coming to the rink right now. Practicing. Theres no purpose to it, he added. Im sick of losing. Its getting exhausting and its not fun. It sucks the fun out of the game.

OReilly blamed the Sabres troubles on season-long struggles with consistency and players falling back into bad habits. He also blamed himself for a failure to assert himself more in a leadership role.

I think I really didnt step up and hold guys accountable and be a voice, and its tough, he said. I think at times I didnt say enough, and at times I maybe said too much.

OReillys frustrations reflect the disappointment surrounding a team thats suddenly grown stagnant under an ambitious rebuilding plan which began after the Sabres finished with the NHLs worst record in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

OReilly was pegged as a key fixture in the Sabres future. Buffalo acquired the multi-purpose forward in a multi-player deal with Colorado during the 2015 NHL draft, and shortly before the Sabres selected another key building block, Jack Eichel, with the No. 2 pick.

The additions began paying off last season, when Buffalo finished with a 35-36-11 record, which marking a 27-point improvement over the previous year. This year, Buffalo (32-25-12) needed to win its final three games to match last years win total.

Though second-year coach Dan Bylsma is taking much of the heat for the teams troubles, OReilly said the criticism should fall on the players.

Were the ones on the ice, OReilly said. You cant look at him to take the fall. Its a lot of us. Weve all kind of let it slip here.

Despite a series of injuries that sidelined numerous players during the first two months of the season, the Sabres worked their way into contention in mid-February before they completely unraveled. Starting with a 5-1 loss to Chicago on Feb. 19, Buffalo endured a 2-8-2 skid.

OReilly has been inconsistent this season, though his play was hampered by an abdominal strain which forced him to miss six games in November. Hes third on the team with 20 goals and second with 53 points.

OReillys frustrations echoed those expressed by Eichel following a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Monday.

As much as Im a young guy, Ive got to take on more responsibility, be more of a leader on this team, Eichel said. Ive got to expect more out of myself.

For more NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

See more here:
O'Reilly sums up Sabres missing the playoffs as 'pathetic' (Apr 5, 2017) - FOXSports.com

Feb 27, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman Tyler Saladino (20) singles during the second inning against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

White Sox: Jose Quintana Struggles In Season Opener Against Tigers by Etheria Modacure

Report: White Sox Near Minor League Deal With Mike Pelfrey by Rob Hill

A few hours before Mondays postponed game, the Chicago White Sox Opening Day lineup was released. There are no doubts that this starting lineup will change many times over the season, hopefully featuring a few of the acquired prospects, but breaking down the team that Sox manager Rick Renteria will start the season with, there are a few no brainers and few surprises.

Leading off was Tyler Saladino who earned the vacant second base spot in Spring Training over teammates Yolmer Sanchez and Leury Garcia. After the release of Brett Lawrie, Saladino was the best option at second base after both Sanchez and Garcia continued to struggle at the plate.

In the second spot was shortstop Tim Anderson, no surprise there. He had a great rookie season and just signed a huge 6-year deal last week. The Sox are hoping Anderson can build on his very successful 2016 season.

Third, in left field was Melky Cabrera, one of the few starters from last season. Cabrera had a very productive year and looks to continue his success that goes largely unnoticed. He hit .296 with 175 hits, 14 home runs, 42 doubles, 86 RBI and only 69 strikeouts.

At first base, Jose Abreu was slotted in the cleanup spot and rightfully so. Hes the best hitter the White Sox have had since he arrived in 2014 hitting at least 25 home runs, driving in at least 100 RBI and hitting at least .290 in the past three seasons.

In the five-hole was slugger Todd Frazier at third base. Again, no surprise there but on the bench was the former highly-rated prospect third baseman Matt Davidson. The White Sox signed Frazier on a one-year deal so his future, especially at the trade deadline, is very much in question with a backup inDavidson. In the heart of the order, Frazier hit 40 home runs last season.

Surprisingly, batting sixth and the designated hitterwas outfielder Cody Asche. Asche had a decent Spring, hitting .289, logging 13 hits, four home runs and nine RBI. However he does not have that DH spot secured. He could even lose his spot in the lineup to the aforementioned Davidson.

Seventh and in right field was Avisail Garcia, who won the spot by default. He has shown a few flashes of greatness but too few to count in his time in Chicago. Garcia needs to have a better season than his previous two to keep his spot in the lineup.

Eighth was another surprise. Catcher Omar Narvaez was slotted at the bottom of the lineup after a solid showing at the end of last season. He had a decent Spring but won his spot mainly because of lack of depth. The only competition Narvaez has on the Major League roster is veteran catcher Geovany Soto, who has had his fair share of MLB playing time with limited success.

In center and finishing off the lineup was the story of the Spring, outfielder Jacob May. After the trade of Adam Eaton and the injury to Charlie Tilson, the opportunity for May to make it to the Majors had finally presented itself. He was one of the best players this Spring and Renteria and the staff rewarded the 25-year-old.

In addition to the Opening Day lineup and rotation, the full 25-man roster was announced. Among the notables were Dylan Covey and Anthony Swarzak, who are both in consideration to take Carlos Rodons missing spot in the rotation. The rest of the rotation will remain the same, with Jose Quintana first, then James Shields, Derek Holland and Miguel Gonzalez. Jake Petricka and Zach Putnam were also noteworthy additions to the roster. The pair of relief pitchers are both are returning from season-ending injuries.

Overall, after the initial evaluation and assessment, the coaching staff has filled in the missing gaps in the everyday roster. It might take some time to fine-tune and readjust some pieces but its expected with the growing pains of the rebuilding process.

Want your voice heard? Join the Southside Showdown team!

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White Sox: Breakdown of Opening Day Lineup and Roster - Southside Showdown

At the March 27 selectmens meeting, Town Administrator Nina Nazarian suggested removing from the FY18 budget cycle several known capital building projects until a feasibility study is done.

That includes proposed projects at the Princeton Center [fire alarms], Bagg Hall, including determining whether the northwest corner of the building is actually settling, partial repointing of the bricks on some sections of the building, exterior door repairs, window replacement, some roof repair at the Princeton Center building, and roof repair at the public safety building, and an exhaust system for the fire department.

Nazarian is suggesting that $35,000 be added to the $65,000 voters approved at last years annual town meeting earmarked for a Bagg Hall feasibility study, for a total of $100,000. The board of selectmen heard a proposal to complete a building plan for long term improvements for the needs of the departments, said Nazarian. The board of selectmen will prioritize the building plan and work with the advisory committee, she added. Selectmen voted to place the request for the $35,000 on the town meeting warrant. The building study group suggested that money be put into the infrastructure stabilization fund toward future work.

Nazarian said she didnt think it was practical to put pieces of things into that fund and discussed with Phil Connors, building maintenance supervisor, for the best understanding of how long things will last. If we were to start in two years, what would we not do now? she asked. There are tough decisions that need to be made, but were trying to balance this and move forward as a community.

Nazarian suggested that the Sheriffs Community Service Department may be able to do exterior painting of the town hall annex, thus saving approximately $10,000. Officials will ask whether Monty Tech students could work on the roof and trim at the town hall annex, possibly saving $25,000.

Nazarian said the window issue at Bagg Hall is related to the windows on the second floor. The windows on the first floor arent the problem, she said.

Select board chairman Stan Moss suggested removing the $20,000 from the warrant that was earmarked for IT improvements at the library. Lets wait for the IT audit, he said.

Requests for a dump truck for the highway, roof repairs at the library, field drainage and fencing for the softball field and vault restoration continue to be considered for the warrant.

The town counsel budget is expected to increase from $20,000 to $45,200 due to the use of special counsel for the cable franchise issue. Were asking for an additional $10,000 for the snow and ice budget, said Nazarian. This years overage of approximately $55,000 is partially due to the kind of snow, more icy, and limited staffing, requiring the hiring of outside contractors, she added.

Road advisory committee member Bill Holder asked whether funds from the infrastructure stabilization account could be used to help pay costs for the bridge replacement of East Princeton Road.

Dont even think about it, said Moss.

The town is slated to receive a $500,000 grant toward the work, but that leaves a gap of approximately $500,000 to pay for the work.

I recall that if you got the grant money you were going to put off some other road projects to pay for the bridge work, said Nazarian.

Bridges have a life of 75 years, said Holder. We could fund it for a longer period of time rather than take it from the operating budget.

Most towns dont fund much beyond their Chapter 90 funds, said Moss. Weve spent $2 million since 2008 and spent nothing on buildings, he added.

Road reconstruction is listed as an operational expense and the suggestion was made to put it on the warrant as a special article, separate from the highway department operating budget.

The road committee is resistant to that, said Moss.

I would encourage you to keep the $350,000 in the budget, said Holder.

I didnt mean to stir up a hornets nest, said Holder. There just may be a more productive way of borrowing.

Nazarian is recommending an increase in hours [25 to 30] and salary [$36,541 $43,620] for the town accountant. Since shes been here she has demonstrated substantial performance, learned municipal law and has a CPA, said Nazarian. She has increased responsibilities and according to the audit report we need to make improvements.

The change in general government expense has increased by 50 percent since 2015 and this year shows a 42 percent increase, said advisory committee member George Handy. We always talk about sustainability, he said.

The total increase in the FY18 budget is $448,000, said Moss. That would mean 85 cents on the tax rate or an increase of $200 on the average tax for a four percent increase, he added. Available free cash is $610,444.27.

Advisory committee members had several questions regarding increases in the proposed FY 18 budget and Nazarian said she welcomed further analysis and discussion regarding the budget.

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Officials to wait for report before repairing certain buildings - The Landmark

A new nonprofit organization aims to help low-income Carter County residents perform needed home improvements and upgrades that they would be otherwise unable to afford.

The Carter County Home Improvement Project, Inc., was recently formed to repair and improve substandard housing of county residents. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, which means that all donations to the group are tax deductible.

The organization plans to place a particular emphasis on wheelchair ramp installation, floor repair or replacement, repair of unsafe windows and doors, and gutter repair and replacement.

The board of directors for the organization consists of Jim Speaks, president, Chris Yates, vice president, Robert Caummisar, Secretary, Steve Kuhner, treasures, Pearl Crum, Jason Greer, Jackie Clevenger, and Ronnie Graves.

We would welcome new board members who could commit to regularly attending meetings, said Caummisar. More than anything, however, we would love to get together with skilled individuals who would be willing to volunteer services such as carpentry, roofing, window repair, and other valuable work.

The organization will follow federal poverty guidelines in determining eligibility for work. Individuals must be at or below poverty in order to qualify for help.

Its important to note that this is for property owners only. We cant work in tenant situations because we wouldnt be helping the tenant as much as we would be helping the landlord, said Caummisar.

Both the Grayson and Olive Hill branches of the Carter County Public Library have applications available for those who would like to be considered for assistance. The group also says it is in the process of developing an online presence, both on the web and in social media, so that applications can be taken online.

Joe Lewis is a freelance writer for The Journal-Times.

Original post:
Help with home improvements - Journal-Times

Chris Mooney and Juliet Eilperin The Washington Post

Environmental Protection Agency officials are proposing to eliminate two programs focused on limiting children's exposure to lead-based paint - which is known to cause damage to developing brains and nervous systems.

The proposed cuts, outlined in a 64 page budget memo revealed by The Washington Post on Friday, would roll back programs aimed at reducing lead risks by $16.61 million and more than 70 employees, in line with a broader project by the Trump administration to devolve responsibility for environmental and health protection to state and local governments.

Old housing stock is the biggest risk for lead exposure - and the EPA estimates that 38 million U.S. homes contain lead-based paint.

Environmental groups said the elimination of the two programs, which are focused on training workers in the safe removal of lead-based paint and public education about its risks, would make it harder for the EPA to address the environmental hazard.

One of the programs falling under the ax requires professional remodelers to undergo training in safe practices for stripping away old, lead-based paints from homes and other facilities.

The training program for remodelers was set up under a 2010 EPA regulation that aims to reduce exposure to toxic lead-paint chips and dust by requiring renovators to be certified in federally approved methods of containing and cleaning up work areas in homes constructed before 1978.

The rule applies to a broad range of renovations, including carpet removal and window replacement, in homes inhabited by pregnant women and young children.

Some operators in the home renovation industry have criticized the rule as too costly, noting that some customers simply opt to hire contractors who deliberately skirt the federal standards.

Lead is a potent neurotoxin, and particularly harmful to children and the elderly. Its many dangers in gasoline, paint, and drinking water have been scientifically documented over many decades, which has led to stronger regulatory protections.

In a 2014 report, the Centers for Disease Control found that 243,000 children had blood lead levels above the danger threshold - and that permanent neurological damage and behavior disorders had been associated at even lower levels of lead exposure.

"The most common risk factor is living in a housing unit built before 1978, the year when residential use of lead paint was banned in the United States," the CDC found.

EPA spokeswoman Julia Valentine said in an email that the two programs facing cuts are "mature," and that the goal of their elimination is to return "the responsibility for funding to state and local entities."

The Lead Risk Reduction Program, which would be cut by $2.56 million and 72.8 full-time equivalent employees, is charged with certifying renovators who work in buildings that may contain lead-based paint and upholding federal safety standards for such projects. Located in the agency's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, the lead risk reduction program also helps educate Americans about how to minimize their exposure to lead in their homes.

The second cut, a much deeper $ 14.05 million, would zero out grants to state and tribal programs that also address lead-based paint risks.

"The basis for the EPA reduction is that states can do this work, but then we're going to take away the money we're going to give to states," said Jim Jones, who headed the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, which administers the lead-based paint program, in the Obama years. "I think it's just one of many examples in that budget of the circular thinking there that just doesn't hold together."

But the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, which represents some of the industry's biggest players, welcomed the plan to abolish the two programs. The association's chief executive, Fred Ulreich said in a statement that the group "has long supported moving" the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program "from EPA down to the individual states."

Fourteen states - Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin - currently run programs to train contractors how to properly handle renovations involving lead paint, according to the EPA's website. The rest rely on the federal government to provide training.

Ulreich said in his statement that his group "believes that the program can be better run and enforcement can be more vigorous the closer it is to the local contractors."

But Ulreich added that the group would object to states who seek to run a lead "abatement program." The group has successfully delayed a program in Maryland that goes further than the current federal requirements when it comes to lead paint removal.

Erik Olson, who directs the Natural Resources Defense Council's health program, said in an interview that the move leaves children in dozens of states unprotected.

"If the state doesn't have a program, which is true in most states, and if the EPA doesn't have a program, how are you going to have compliance with the lead rules?" Olson asked. "Basically, this is the guts of the program that protects kids from lead poisoning from paint."

State efforts to reduce lead risks have had mixed results. In 2004, New Jersey created the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund, which was supposed to provide loans and grants to homeowners and landlords to help them remove lead-based paint from aging housing stock. The program was supposed to be funded by sales tax revenue from cans of paint, which was expected to be $7 million to $14 million every year.

Instead, over the next dozen years the legislature and Democratic and Republican governors diverted more than $50 million from the fund toward payment of routine bills and salaries.

The EPA's Valentine said in an email that the agency is "working towards implementing the president's budget based on the framework provided by his blueprint" and "while many in Washington insist on greater spending, EPA is focused on greater value and real results."

"Administrator EPA in a more effective, more focused, less costly way as we partner with states to fulfill the agency's core mission," she added.

The cuts to the lead-paint programs would not directly affect EPA programs related to lead in drinking water, as in the case of Flint, Michigan. Those programs fall under the agency's Office of Water. But the EPA memo does propose reducing funding and staff for the agency's drinking water programs as well.

Changes to how the federal government addresses lead paint could affect hundreds of thousands of renovators, noted Remodeling magazine editor in chief Craig Webb.

The latest U.S. Census classified 78,000 firms as being in residential remodeling, with 278,921 employees. But since the 2010 rule also affects many siding, painting and wall covering contractors, as well as individual proprietors, the total number could be much higher.

The EPA announced in November 2016 that they had pursued more than 100 enforcement actions for lead-based paint hazards - much of those focused on the nation's largest companies.

In 2014, Lowe's home improvement chain agreed to pay $500,000 and create a compliance program across its 1,700 stores as part of a settlement agreement with the EPA.

Lowe's had "failed to provide documentation showing that the contractors it hires to perform renovation projects for Lowe's customers had been certified by EPA, had been properly trained, had used lead-safe work practices, or had correctly used EPA-approved lead test kits at renovation sites," the agency charged. (The company did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.)

Later, Sears reached a similar settlement with the agency. Sears also declined to comment for this story.

The National Association of Home Builders has objected to EPA's regulation, charging that it is "an inefficient tool for achieving the environmental and health goals of the underlying statute and rule."

On Tuesday, association spokeswoman Elizabeth Thompson said in an email, "At this point, it is premature to comment until something official has been announced."

Read more:
Trump's EPA moves to defund programs that protect children from lead-based paint - Norwich Bulletin