Warm Up
Here are some upcoming opportunities to sharpen your game.

The International Erosion Control Association will host over 125 technical sessions at the 2014 IECA conference being held Feb. 25 – 28 in Nashville, Tenn.
https://www.ieca.org/conference/annual/sessions.asp?conid=20

The Rain Bird Academy Boot Camp, a review for the Irrigation Association's Certified Irrigation Technician exam, is scheduled in more than 30 U.S. locations. At the end of each four-and-a-half-day session they will host the exam. Rain Bird and IA are offering early registration discounts.
https://www.rainbirdservices.com/training

In conjunction with the FenceTech trade show in Las Vegas, the American Fencing Association is hosting the Fence Industry Education Week from Tuesday, March 4 through Saturday, March 8.
https://www.fencetech.us/education.php


Get a New Contract
Publically funded projects will use private sector companies.

The Obama administration intends to direct up to $5 billion in federal grants and tax incentives for structural improvements to distressed urban and rural "promise zones." The first designated zones are in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Antonio, southeastern Kentucky and the Choctaw Nation. Fifteen more will be added over the next three years.
https://www.ed.gov/new-promise-zones

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced approximately $67 million in funding for 63 pedestrian, bicycle and multi-use path transportation improvement projects across the state of New York.
https://www.governor.ny.gov/press/01152014-bicycle-pedestrian-enhancement-proj

The EPA has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to New England states for programs that protect wetlands.
https://www.epa.gov/region1/topics/ecosystems/wpdg.html


Season Outlook
Indications are good for a strong year.

Fannie Mae's Economic & Strategic Research Group expects an increase in consumer and business spending will boost economic growth to 2.9 percent.

A recent BMO Harris Bank study found that 94 percent of business owners and executives believe that their businesses will either grow or at least remain the same in 2014.

The industrial products sector, which includes construction machinery, is predicted to grow 8.6 percent this year.