GlensFalls.com logo
GlensFalls.com logo
  • Back to GlensFalls.com
  • Lodging
  • Restaurants
  • Things To Do
  • Events
Glens Falls Business Journal
  • Home
  • New Businesses
  • Business News
  • Business Reports
  • Business Briefs
  • Business Registrations
  • Personnel Briefs
  • Contact Us

Category Archives: Building Trades

Carpenters Local Union 291 Works To Ensure Those In The Trade Are Well Trained

Posted onJune 17, 2024
New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Warner visits a group of high school students interested in learning about a career in the carpentry trade.

By Susan Elise Campbell

Carpenters Local Union 291 is not rapidly growing but has the potential to, according to its president, James Margiotta. Skilled union carpenters can make a six-figure income with benefits, and no vocational school education or even a high school diploma is required, he said.  

“Membership has been at the status quo the better part of the past 20 years,” said Margiotta, who has been a member of Local 291 for 25 years and in several of its elected positions for 11 years.

There are 1,600 members currently in 14 counties encompassing the Capital Region and North Country of New York. There are surges in membership at times but Margiotta said the union is “staying afloat because of a two-fold issue.”

“One reason growth isn’t as good as it could be is the ability to find skilled people that could command the wages that we negotiate for members,” he said. 

“There has also been an issue of finding younger people interested in starting this kind of career in the carpentry trade,” said Margiotta. 

Read More

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Should Ease The Burden Of Impact Fees On Developers

Posted onJune 17, 2024

By Paul Post

Area builders applaud a recent federal court ruling that could save them large sums by prohibiting some types of development fees local municipalities charge them.

Towns, cities and counties quite often impose such fees for new construction projects and use the money for things such as road, infrastructure and recreation facility upgrades.

But the U.S. Supreme Court, on April 12, sided with a rural California resident whose local government required him to pay a $23,420 “traffic impact fee” in order to obtain a building permit for a small pre-fab home he wanted to put at the rear of his property for his grandson.

“How’s that going to impact traffic? It wasn’t going to impact anybody,” said attorney David Robinson, of the California law firm Holland & Knight, whose clients include numerous builders and developers.

“This decision will have a major impact because it will result in a lot of changes in the way government operates,” he said. “For so very long the fox has been running the henhouse. If a developer wants to build something on one side of town, they’ve been charged a massive fee to build a public amenity on other side of town that has nothing to do with project in question. The bottom line is, that’s going to be really hard for the government to do now.”

Moving forward, impact fees must be able to stand up to two basic considerations. One is a proximate test. The impact local government is seeking compensation for has to be in some way logically or proximately related to the development.

Second, is the fee in reasonable proportion to the impact? For example, government couldn’t require a $100,000 fee for a $10,000 impact.

“This is going to be a serious check on what governments can do,” Robinson said. “It’s not going to be business as usual any more. It’s new, it’s very powerful. It will save developers money. But it’s also going to create a lot of litigation. There’s no question about that. You’re going to see a whole lot of experts on both sides, arguing whether an impact is directly related or proximate and whether the fee charged is reasonable. There will be a lot of debate about how this new rule is applied in any given situation.”

John Munter, president of Greenfield-based Munter Enterprises Inc., said, “Municipalities in some cases make a ridiculous request like, we want you to put in a mile of sidewalk where there isn’t any. They can come up with very expensive mitigation that doesn’t fit into the economics of a project. If you have a $1.5 million project, but have to spend $300,000 to do it, obviously it doesn’t make any sense. In those cases a law like this would certainly help.”

Read More

Darrah Land Surveying Provides Important Information To Homeowners And Developers

Posted onJune 17, 2024
Kristin Darrah, owner of Darrah Land Surveying, became interested in the profession while attending Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks.

By Christine Graf

It was while attending Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks that Darrah Land Surveying’s Kristin Darrah developed an interest in becoming a land surveyor. After meeting some neighbors who worked in the field, she changed her major from environmental studies to surveying technology.

“I had never even heard of land surveying,” said Darrah. “I observed them working on one of their projects– hand drafting a topographic map. I thought it was really interesting.”

The field of land surveying has a rich history, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln all having worked as land surveyors. The famous duo of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark created close to 140 maps while surveying the Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific Northwest.

Land surveying draws heavily on mathematical principles, the fundamentals of geometry being of particular importance, used to calculate angles, distances, and elevations.

Read More

Contractors Say Inability To Fill Jobs Drives Up Costs And Brings About Project Delays

Posted onJune 17, 2023
People earn good wages via construction jobs in the area, but contractors continue to report that there are not enough people to fill the positions that are needed.

By Paul Post

In the 1989 baseball classic, “Field of Dreams,” a mysterious voice tells character Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), “If you build it, they will come.”

 These days, Kinsella might have a hard time finding the help he needs as a nationwide labor shortage continues to impact the building trades industry, a problem that’s especially acute in the Greater Capital Region.

 “There’s not nearly enough bodies to fill the openings,” said Chris Dudley, a heavy equipment instructor at the WSWHE BOCES center in Hudson Falls. “All the big employers like DA Collins and Peckham Materials are really hurting for heavy equipment operators, truck drivers and laborers. State, county and town highway departments are reaching out to us, looking to hire kids directly out of high school. They’ve never had to do that before. Everybody’s really having issues.”

 There are so few truck drivers that the state recently lowered the age for obtaining a Class A commercial drivers license from 21 to 18, allowing more young adults to drive tractor-trailers.

 A recent U.S. Labor Department study says there were 7.6 million unfilled trades jobs and only 6.5 million people looking for work.

Read More

At Local Plumbers & Steamfitters Union, ‘People See They Have A Future’ Manager Says

Posted onJune 17, 2023
Officials at Local 773 Plumbers & Steamfitter say they have union members ready to take on jobs in an industry that complains of worker shortages.
Courtesy Local 773 Plumbers & Steamfitters

By Christine Graf

At a time when local contractors are struggling to find qualified skilled trade workers, Local 773 Plumbers & Steamfitters has at least 40 qualified applicants anxious to join the union’s five-year apprenticeship program. 

The union represents more than 450 plumbers, pipe fitters, steam fitters, refrigeration fitters, and service technicians in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. The local headquarters is in Glens Falls.

“I am seeing no shortage, and I know that I can recruit the people I need because we pay a living wage,” said Mike Jarvis, business manager at Local 773. “People see that they will have a future with us. They know they will be treated right.”

Despite being overwhelmed with applicants, Local 773 has been able to accept just three people into the Glens Falls apprenticeship program so far this year. Jarvis expects that number to top out at six, with an additional three apprentices likely to be selected from another large applicant pool in Plattsburgh where the union has its second location, he said.

Expanding its apprenticeship program will be possible only if the union is able to secure additional signatory union contractors. 

In recent years, Jarvis and Brian Kill, business agent at Local 773, have been working to attract contractors from the residential and light commercial sectors. 

Read More

Officials Say Considering Building Trades As A Career Is Becoming More Common

Posted onJune 17, 2022
WSWHE BOCES is devoting more resources to promoting the building trades.
Courtesy WSWHE BOCES

By Christine Graf

As the skilled labor shortage reaches an all-time high, educators and trade professionals are working to eliminate the widespread perception that vocational training is not a viable career paths for students of all academic levels. 

While a four-year college degree costs an average of $127,000, a trade school degree averages just $33,000. Although college graduates earn an average of $16,900 more than those working in the skilled trades, the pay gap is shrinking as companies pay higher salaries to fill open positions in various trades.

Data provided by the U.S. Department of Education indicates that workers with trade school training are slightly more likely to be employed than those with academic credentials. They are also more likely to be working in their field of study and less likely to be burdened by crippling college debt. The amount of student debt in the U.S. has surpassed $1.73 billion.

According to Mike Martell, assistant business manager at IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) 236, students and their parents no longer believe that college is the only option. 

Read More

Several Companies In Construction Industry Give Free Tool Bags To High School Grads

Posted onJune 17, 2022
These are among the tools that were loaded into packs and distributed to area high school students pursuing careers in building trades. Curtis Lumber partnered with local companies in the effort.
Courtesy Curtis Lumber

Curtis Lumber has partnered with several local companies in the construction industry to help graduating seniors at WSWHE BOCES and Questar III BOCES in Career and Tech Ed programs. 

Curtis Lumber has spearheaded an effort to provide over 250 tool bags filled with some starter items in support of graduating seniors at  those schools who will be entering the workforce in the areas of  construction, heavy equipment, HVAC and welding. 

Participating companies include Belmonte Builders, Bennett Contracting, Callanan Industries, DeGraff Bloom Customer Builders, DA Collins, Hoosick Valley Contractors, Malta Development, Munter Enterprises, North Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters, Otterbeck Builders, Teakwood Builders, Trojanski Builders, Turner Construction, Weyerhaeuser, and Witt Construction.

The tool bags will be given to the students through the middle of June. 

“The trades are in desperate need of labor,” said Doug Ford, vice president at Curtis Lumber. “We wanted to do something to show our support and appreciation for students embarking on a career in the trades.”

Read More

Dr. Turina Parker Becomes WSWHE BOCES District Superintendent And CEO

Posted onJune 17, 2022
Dr. Turina Parker, WSWHE BOCES district superintendent and chief executive officer.
Courtesy WSWHE BOCES

The Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES has named Dr. Turina Parker as the new WSWHE BOCES district superintendent and chief executive officer.

Parker has been assistant superintendent for educational and support programs for the WSWHE BOCES. She is set to begin her official duties as district superintendent on Aug. 16.

She replaces James Dexter, who is retiring in August after 12 years of service to WSWHE BOCES. 

“Dr. Parker has demonstrated the ability to lead and work cooperatively across the region,” WSWHE BOCES President John A. Rieger said. “We are confident that Dr. Parker will build on our successes, fulfill our strategic plans, and provide a vision that will take the organization to the next level and provide even stronger support and opportunities for the education of our children and the school districts that we serve.”

With a career spanning 20 years, Parker is an experienced school district leader, with a passion for leading and supporting schools. She previously served as Director of Day Treatment and Principal at St. Catherine’s R. & E. May School in Albany, where her experience also included serving as the coordinator for curriculum and assistant principal. 

She has served as assistant superintendent for educational and support programs for the past 14 years, including serving as principal for special programs, executive principal, and executive director for educational and support programs. 

Read More

Skilled Trade Labor Shortages Continue As Boomers Retire, Replacements Aren’t There

Posted onJune 17, 2021
Union leaders in the building trades are looking for ways to attract new workers.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Christine Graf

The nationwide skilled trade labor shortage has reached critical levels as baby boomers continue to retire. Baby boomers make up the majority of the skilled trade workforce, and there aren’t enough qualified younger workers to take their places, say people in the industry.

An estimated 31 million skilled trade workers retired in 2020, and many of those jobs remain unfilled. Sixty-two percent of companies report that they struggle to fill skilled trade labor positions.

“Ten thousand baby boomers are retiring every day. We have to bring in the next generation to fill those jobs,” said Dr. Jonathan Ashdown, dean of science, technology, engineering, and math at Hudson Valley Community College. “We’re doing everything we can at Hudson Valley to meet the demands for today in terms of helping to solve the skills gap issue.”

Local union representatives for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 236 in Albany and UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773 in Glens Falls report that their apprentice programs are in high demand. Both unions have long waiting lists for their multiple-year programs.

According to Mike Martell, assistant business manager at IBEW Local 236, they typically have hundreds of applicants for the approximately 50 spots that are available in their apprenticeship program each year. Union apprenticeships are typically in high demand because union jobs offer above average pay and benefit packages. Local 236 apprentices earn a starting wage of more than $17 an hour and receive an excellent benefit package.

HVCC plans to build a new $65 million facility for skilled trades education. The proposed 130,000-square-foot Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) will allow the college to expand its training of the skilled technical workforce. Although the college continues to expand capacity, long waiting lists remain for many of their most popular programs.

Read More

Electricians In Region Say Work Is Plentiful, But Finding People For Jobs Is A Problem

Posted onJune 17, 2021
Electricians in the area have plenty of work, says, one in the industry.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Jill Nagy

Area businesses are taking different approaches to deal with a shortage of skilled workers in the building trades.

Mr. Electric of Queensbury runs ads year round on several online help wanted sites. Eastern Heating and Cooling has a well-established apprenticeship program in order to “grow our own.” 

Jim Curran Electric in Saratoga Springs is a situation where the owner was rescued by a son who, seeing his father “overwhelmed,” relocated from Virginia to join the company.

Electricians are busy. “There is an avalanche of work,” according to Fred Giardinelli of Eastern Heating and Cooling. “Nine out of ten companies will give you the same answer: it’s “almost impossible” to find qualified people. 

Curran reported that he is “too busy to train somebody in the proper way.”  Mr. Electric also is “extremely busy.”

Curran, for his part, has soured on the idea of trying to hire and train new people.

“I used to try to hire people,” he said, “but they were not skilled enough.” 

People hired as apprentices often did not show up. At the other end of the spectrum, “if they get too trained, they go out on their own.”

He has been on his own for most of his 33 years in business. Since March, his son Jeff, a licensed electrician in Virginia, has been working with him and will soon become a partner in the business. Jeff and two other sons all worked with him as kids, he recalled, but the other two are following other career paths.

Read More

Posts navigation

1 2 3 4 Next
Subscribe to Our Newsletter View the Latest Virtual Edition
 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS FEED

Categories

  • 50-Plus
  • Banking
  • Banking / Asset Managment
  • Building Trades
  • Business Briefs
  • Business News
  • Business Registrations
  • Business Reports
  • Commercial / Residential Real Estate
  • Construction
  • Construction Planning
  • Corporate Tax / Business Planning
  • Cyber/Tech
  • Dining Guide
  • Economic Outlook 2017
  • Economic Outlook 2018
  • Economic Outlook 2019
  • Economic Outlook 2020
  • Economic Outlook 2022
  • Economic Outlook 2023
  • Economic Outlook 2024
  • Economic Outlook 2025
  • Economical Development
  • Education / Training
  • Entrepreneurial Women
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environment / Development
  • Exclusives
  • Financial Planning / Investments
  • Fitness / Nutrition
  • Health / Community Services
  • Health & Fitness
  • Health & Wellness
  • Healthcare
  • Holiday Shopping Guide
  • Home / Energy
  • Home & Real Estate
  • Insurance / Employee Benefits
  • Insurance / Medical Services
  • Legal / Accounting
  • Meet The Chef
  • My Turn
  • New Businesses
  • Non-Profits
  • Office / Computers / New Media
  • Office / HR / Employment
  • Office / New Media
  • Office / Tech / eCommerce
  • Office / Technology
  • Office / Work Place / Legal
  • Outlook 2016
  • Outlook 2021
  • Personnel Briefs
  • Retirement Planning
  • Senior Living / Retirement
  • Summer Construction
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness
  • Women In Business
  • Workplace / Legal / Security
  • Year-End Tax Planning

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2010
Mannix Marketing Logo
GlensFalls.com logo
  • Home
  • Lodging
  • Restaurants
  • Things To Do
  • Nightlife
  • Events
  • Health & Beauty
  • Real Estate
  • Businesses
  • About
  • Home & Garden
  • Guides
  • Blogs
  • Sweepstakes
  • Advertising
Official Guide to the Greater Glens Falls Region
Full-Service Internet Marketing: Search Engine Optimization, Website Design and Development by Mannix Marketing, Inc.
Mannix Marketing, Inc. is headquartered in Glens Falls, New York
GlensFalls.com All Rights Reserved © 2025
Disclaimer & Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Copyright Policies
[uc-privacysettings]

We strive to insure accuracy on GlensFalls.com however accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Information is subject to change.
Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here.

Having trouble using this site? Accessibility is our goal, please contact us with site improvements.