BUCHAREST, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- A large part of Romania's budget next year will go to construction, the local Ziarul Financiar daily reported on Monday.

The Romanian government has set infrastructure, education and healthcare as priorities of the 2007 budget, the daily said.

The government has scheduled to spend some 6.6 percent of GDP, or 7.1 billion euros (8,9 billion U.S. dollars) next year, the daily said.

A large part of the budget, or 2.5 billion euros (3.1 billion U.S. dollars), will be poured into the construction market, through infrastructure projects related to road, railroad, school and healthcare.

The money is fuelling the already strong demand on the construction market, boosting its growth at a pace of about 15 percent in 2007.

Commercial Construction Gains Ground as Residential RE Slips

BY MOLLY NANCE

As the end of the year approaches, the construction industry will see a smooth transition into 2007, a prediction based on the 31st annual CIT Construction Industry Forecast.

CIT Construction offers financial products and services to contractors, equipment dealers, equipment-rental companies and other construction-related clients. The firm is a unit of CIT Group Inc., a New York City-based commercial and consumer finance company, with $68 billion in managed assets.

Its annual report is a national culmination of industry insiders predictions for a relatively positive future for the next year, including an upswing in the commercial real estate market.

The 900 contractors and equipment distributors that were surveyed measured their perceptions of next years progress from what is called an Optimism Quotient, or OQ.

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MANATEE COUNTY

The School District of Manatee County is accepting statements of qualifications from firms for Construction Management at Risk Services for Manatee High School-Davis Building-Remodeling and Renovation. The Davis Building was constructed circa 1926 and had renovation work performed in the 1980's and 1990's. Scope of work will include structural issues as well as systems, cosmetic, and functional remodeling and renovation. The total project budget is $10,000,000.00.
The applicant must be certified to perform the work in the State of Florida at the time of application. Further, if a corporation, the applicant must be registered by the Department of State, Division of Corporations, to operate in the State of Florida at the time of the application.
The selection will be made in accordance with State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF), as may be amended, Florida Statute 287.055, and the School Board of Manatee County's procedures and criteria.

Prefabs and Pods in the Construction Industry

The use of prefabricated pods and modules within the construction industry is rising dramatically, as these constructions potentially offer major reductions in costs and time spent onsite. This seminar will address this growing industry by focusing on:

The pros and cons of using a pre-fabrication and pods in construction The design cycle required to make prefabs and pods work Integrating the manufacture and installation of pre-fabricated sections and modules into the construction cycle The lessons learned off-site the view of the fabricator How well does it work? Case studies from completed projects

Benefits of Attendance

The seminar will highlight the benefits of using a pre-fabricated solution in the construction industry, addressing the requirements for design, planning installation and integration of both the building fabric elements and the building services systems; and the potential pitfalls of introducing this method of building.

Classy new home a big victory for sports hall of fame

FROM OLD-TIMERS who have been inducted to young athletes still competing who may be future members, the new Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame is a huge hit.

The interactive area referred to by Adrienne will be a major attraction for the video-game set and for adults, too.