The 18th annual FICAP convention at Longboat Key Club was a rocking success from start to finish. Preston and Michele put together a great convention that once again will be hard to top. The Longboat Key Club staff was stellar, as usual, we had great beach weather all weekend, and I've never seen the golf course in better shape. Speaking of the golf course, congratulations are in order for the winning team at our golf tournament: Chuck Parliment, Jack and Mark Smith, and Ben Lazo. The scores were very close this year and I think everyone had a great time.   

The ladies had a unique Concretians outing on Saturday morning as they were joined by an artist from the Ringling College of Art and Design who assisted them as they paired off and painted 8 individual  canvas panels that were brought together to make one large "FICAP ROCKS" themed painting. On Saturday evening, the masterpiece was unveiled by the budding artists and it was auctioned off with the proceeds going to our scholarship fund. We were fortunate to have two connoisseurs of fine art in the crowd, namely Matt Sitter and Terry White, who became locked in a bidding war, with Terry finally winning the prize and making a nice contribution to our cause. Thanks to the ladies for your contribution to the convention. 

Our banquet was very memorable, as usual. The costumes were  exceptional again this year and everyone I saw was having a great time. If you can't have fun at a FICAP banquet.....you just can't have fun. This year we were treated to live music (Thank you E.R. Jahna Industries) by Slick Willy, and what a treat it was. The music was great and the dance floor was crowded all night. I am hoping we will see them again.

During the awards portion of our banquet, Adam Freeman (A1 Block) and Larry Farmer (Cemex) received the FICAP Producer and Associate of the Year awards. Thank you Adam and Larry for all you do for FICAP.

Finally, I must thank Michele, Cali, and Patty for their tireless work and endless creativity in planning and decorating for our convention and banquet. They have never been better.     

Cement Products and Supply Company

FICAP Convention Co-Chairman

Florida construction industry on verge of a comeback

The next big thing driving Florida's job growth could be the same as the last big thing: construction. If forecasts prove true, the archetypical boom-and-bust state will... Read More 

High-wind testing demonstrates resilience of modern masonry  

Construction spending reaches highest level since December 2009

Construction spending in June hit a high, with double digit percentage increases in private-residential and non-residential construction. Costs reached their highest level since December 2009 and offset an ongoing downturn in public construction, according to... Read More 

California, Pennsylvania keep municipal bankruptcy in headlines

As predicted, the Stockton, CA Chapter 9 filing was not alone, as now two more California communities have decided to take the path of municipal bankruptcy. Meanwhile, across the country in Pennsylvania, another city could be... Read More 

2012 Annual MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub Research Progress Update for Industry and Key Stakeholders will be held September 27, 2012, in Cambridge, MA. The theme of this year's event is Research With An I4 Sustainable Change. The MIT researchers have developed groundbreaking models over the last three years and now is the time for stakeholders to invest themselves in the research results and models, begin to innovate their own design and manufacturing processes based on the findings, invigorate various constituencies to learn and apply the methodologies, and finally implement sustainable change. Click here for more information and to access the registration form.    

Home values rise in Orlando, nationwide  

Home values are on the rise in metro Orlando, and for the first time since 2007, national home values increased as well, according to the latest report from Zillow.com. Metro Orlando had... Read More 

Orlando-area home starts at 2008 levels

New construction during the second quarter was the strongest Central Florida has seen since 2008, the Orlando Sentinel report. Two research firms, MetroStudy and... Read More   

Southwest Florida home builders remained busy in July

Home builders in Southwest Florida had another busy month in July. In unincorporated Collier County, 147 permits were issued for single-family homes last month - the same number as... Read More 

Despite the economic climate and against some conventional wisdom Southwest Florida lenders are giving loans again. The number of mortgages recorded in Sarasota County by the area's top 10 lenders jumped 34 percent through... Read More 

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Florida's consumer confidence jumps in July... Read More 

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Florida regains its Top 10 status in attracting venture capital

Florida is back in the top 10 states for winning venture capital investment with South Florida enjoying half the money, according to Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. From April to June, $94.8 million was invested in 11 business ventures... Read More 

Florida unemployment down   

Florida is quickly becoming the nation's leader in job creation and economic growth by consistently doing the right things month after month to create the nation's premier environment to start, relocate or expand a business. Read More  

Fed index: Florida's economy will keep growing

Florida's economic future became slightly brighter on Tuesday. Florida's index rose by .35 in June. That's a bit better than May's close-to-zero reading of .19. More importantly... Read More   

Florida revenue $407.1M over estimate for budget year 

A new report shows Florida's tax and other state revenue collections came in $407.1 million over estimate during the last budget year ending June 30. But legislative economist... Read More  

Q: I understand that the Notice of Commencement contains useful information on the property, the owner, and contractor, but beyond that, what's the big deal?

A: The Notice of Commencement (NOC)  is a legal instrument described in Section 713.13 of the Florida Statutes.  Not only does it contain important information about the property, owner, and contractor; it also has significant impact on the legal rights of all those parties as well as potential lienors.  The NOC must be recorded in the public record and is effective for 1 year after it is recorded unless a longer duration is specifically noted.  The NOC becomes invalid if the improvements to the property do not commence within 90 days of the recording.  The validity of the NOC has significant impact on lien rights and on the priority of lienors.  When a lien is recorded it attaches to the property on the date the NOC was recorded assuming it is still valid; lienors recording after the NOC expires will likely stand in line behind those lienors who recorded during the time the NOC was effective.   The NOC is also valuable to identify bonds on the project that potential lienors need to know about because of statutory notice requirements necessary perfect rights under Chapter 713 or Chapter 255 if the project is on public property.   

Rocco Cafaro 

Board Certified Construction Attorney
 

If you have a question, please submit it to the FICAP office and we will

try to get you an answer and publish it in the next newsletter.

Florida's Workers' Compensation Check Fraud

Just months after Florida lawmakers enacted a new law designed to target the role of check cashing companies in the construction industry, state officials announced a string of arrests netting more than $140 million in fraudulent transactions. Read More   

White House announces expedited East Coast port expansions

Before you give a customer the boot, read this

Problem accounts can cost us, both emotionally and in terms of profits. It's tempting to tell certain customers to take a hike when we conclude that they are simply not worth keeping anymore. All of us have had that idea fly through our minds. After all, getting rid of... Read More