FROM
THE FIELD
By Ernie Casados, Market Development Representative
– Gulf States
ecasados@steelframing.org
Economic Conditions for Alabama,
Mississippi, and Louisiana
While uneven across several industries, economic indicators
for the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Mississippi and
Louisiana are showing some improvement. Industries such
as construction and durable goods manufacturing are
producing more than pre-Katrina and Rita, while others
continue to produce at levels significantly below their
output before the hurricanes hit.
Officials and developers in all three states are citing
a slowdown in the overall economy as well as the difficulty
in securing funds due to the banking industry’s
sub-prime mortgage problems and banking problems overall.
Still, the national decline that is affecting these
three Gulf States doesn’t seem to be slowing progress
with the number of condominium and hotels being planned.
MID-RISE ACTIVITIES
In the Gulf States, the Steel Framing Alliance has qualified
and is currently researching those projects that are
in the planning stages and fit our value proposition
criteria of five- to 10-story buildings, including:
apartments, condominiums, hotels, military housing,
and assisted living facilities. The following is a break-down
of activity of the 27 target projects we have qualified:
| |
ALA |
LA |
MISS |
| Apartments and Condominiums |
8 |
3 |
6 |
| Hotels |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| Assisted Living |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Other Commercial |
1 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
12 |
5 |
10 |
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
While residential construction in these Gulf States
continues to experience barriers with financing, insurance,
and flood-plain elevation issues, there is still an
increase in the number of homes being framed with steel.
To date, the SFA’s efforts have resulted in six
residential builders converting to using cold-formed
steel for their framing material, and other builders
also showing a serious interest in switching to steel
for their residential and commercial construction projects.
Meanwhile, both Madisonville and Mandeville, La., made
“Relocate America’s” list of 2007
top 100 places to live in the United States based on
categories that include education, employment, economy,
crime, parks, recreation, and housing.
|
