Free Online Courses from the SBA

For many years, the SBA has provided classes in a wide variety of important subjects for small business owners. Many of these classes are now available online for free at http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html. In general, the courses are self-paced and take 30 minutes to complete. Most courses require a brief online registration.
Topics covered include:

• Starting a Business


• Surviving in a Down Economy


• Business Management


• Financing and Accounting


• Marketing and Advertising


• Government Contracting


• Business Planning


• E-commerce


• International Trade


• Federal Tax Training

Symons is the Best Buy

In 2001, Best Buy contracted with architects Perkins & Will and Opus Architects & Engineers to design a new corporate headquarters to consolidate their operations which were scattered around the Minneapolis area.

A unique design element of the Best Buy Campus is the 215,000 sq ft, two-level connector called the Hub. The Hub is intended to create an environment that is "fun, flexible and productive, while acting as a catalyst for learning, collaboration, community and creative solutions." Best Buy wanted the Hub to be an interaction space promoting what they call "casual collisions" between employees fostering a sense of familiarity, teamwork and an open exchange of ideas. The 1000 foot long Hub also links the four office towers to the 7,000 car, 2 million sq ft, five-level parking ramp.

Government Loans Available

As part of the the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the U.S. government has provided extra funding for business loans. See http://www.GovLoans.gov for types of loans, qualifications, and applications.

ENR Features Economics of Construction

Like many construction-related sites, ENR.com is keeping a close eye on the economic health of the industry and publishing their analyses. Their latest 2nd Quarterly Cost Report, Razor-Thin Margins As Contractors Fight For Stimulus Projects, details how intense competition for projects has driven bids down to levels that threaten profitability.

More information from the Economics section of ENR.com is available at
http://enr.construction.com/economics/default.asp

Earth-Friendly Release for Concrete Forms

It used to be that "going green" meant paying a premium for poor performance on the jobsite. Symons new bio-based technologies can contribute significantly to LEED Credits while out-performing other older technologies.

Environmental Release EF

Environmental Release EF is an Earth-Friendly (EF) form release agent that contributes to LEED EQ Credit 4.2. It is designed for use on a wide range of forming materials, including wood, fiberglass, steel, aluminum, plastic and architectural form liners.

Environmental Release EF is a truly green, biodegradable material, containing no petroleum products.

Environmental Release EF is a water-based formula containing no VOCs, making it VOC compliant in all regions. It is ideal for architectural concrete, precast and general forming applications. The material is non-staining and minimizes concrete dusting.Environmental Release EF is NSD approved for use in potable water structures.

This and all the other Symons chemical products can be referenced from the Internet at: http://www.symons.com/products/brochure/chemical/chemical.htm

What To Do If the Bank Says "No"

It's no exaggeration to say that cash is in tight supply. The credit crisis has left customers, lenders and investors skittish, forcing businesses to re-examine their cash flow. But untapped sources of funds remain.

It's been increasingly difficult to find funding, whether from banks or private investors. If your business is short on capital, consider these alternative funding sources.

Read more in the article on Thomasnet.com

Quick and easy Round Pads

When Winnipeg contractor, Westland Construction Ltd., contacted the local Symons branch, they needed advice about forming two large round pads for tanks. It was a small job, but it had some unique requirements.

The forms for the two tank pads could not utilize turnbuckles with stakes anchored in the ground. Because of the geo-textile membranes underneath them, driving stakes for turnbuckles to plumb the forms was not an option.

Symons immediately suggested Steel-Ply. Because of the low pour height and the slow concrete placing time, it was suggested using 1" steel strapping, the kind used with banding machines, to wrap around the circumference.

Subsequently, the tank bases were completed ahead of time and under budget. Westland commented, "Had we done these in wood, it would have taken a lot longer and the results would not have been nearly as good".